Keeping dogs healthy and active is a joint effort–quite literally. From puppyhood to their golden years, a dog’s joints play a vital role in their quality of life. Conditions like arthritis and common joint injuries, such as ligament tears and dysplasia can rob a dog of their mobility and peace of mind. Luckily, preventative care, early detection, and innovative treatments can extend a dog’s active years and help them recover more completely.
Understanding Canine Arthritis
Your dog’s body is a complex and intricate machine with hundreds of moving parts that keep it in motion. Over time, these parts experience wear and tear, leading to damage and discomfort–the condition we often refer to as “osteoarthritis.” One-time or repeated trauma to the joints can also result in swelling and damage, which results in arthritis.
What is the Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Arthritis?
The term “arthritis” is often used interchangeably for osteoarthritis. While both conditions affect the joints and can cause similar symptoms, they are different conditions.
Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage between joints due to wear and tear, resulting in the bones rubbing together as the joint flexes. Because it occurs over time as a result of aging, this disease is considered degenerative and is more likely to affect older dogs.
Arthritis is not caused by aging or normal wear and tear. Arthritis is the result of inflammation and associated secretions that can destroy the joint structure. Arthritis is more likely to affect middle-aged and younger dogs.
What Causes Arthritis and Osteoarthritis?
Over the course of a lifetime, joints see a lot of action. This repeated use slowly degrades the cartilage that cushions the area where the bones terminate at the joint.
While osteoarthritis is the result of aging, arthritis can be caused by infection, genetics, or metabolism.
Symptoms of Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Both of these conditions result in joint pain, limited mobility, and even depression. However, there is one difference between how these conditions affect a dog. Osteoarthritis is most painful when the patient uses the joint (the bone-on-bone interaction causes pain). Patients with arthritis often experience relief from the pain when the joint is used.
What Breeds Have a Higher Predisposition for Joint Issues?
While any dog can develop joint problems, there are some breeds that have a genetic predisposition and physiological build that puts them at higher risk. These include:
- German Shepherds
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Poodles
- Doodles
- Dachshunds
- Newfoundlands
- Saint Bernards
- Boxers
- Rottweilers
- Great Danes
- Mastiffs
- Old English Sheep Dogs
- Greyhounds
- Pugs
- Bulldogs
- Pit Bulls
- Chow Chows
Other Forms of Joint Damage
Of course, arthritis isn’t the only medical condition that affects a dog’s joints. Many dogs suffer from other joint diseases and serious injuries that can limit their mobility, cause severe pain, and result in life-long lameness.
Dysplasia
Joint dysplasia occurs when the joint does not develop properly due to genetics or nutrition. This condition begins during the time of greatest growth in a dog’s life and can result in pain and permanent damage. While most common in large and giant breeds, any dog could develop joint dysplasia.
Often, dysplasia results in an “over-looseness” of the joint, resulting in a higher predisposition to ligament injury due to instability. Dysplasia often causes osteoarthritis and pain as a dog ages.
Ligament Tears
One of the most common traumatic injuries dogs face is a ligament tear. This can result in limping, lameness, and even amputation for some dogs.
A cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear is one of the most common ligament ruptures dogs experience. This ligament performs a similar function to a human’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In fact, many dog owners refer to this injury as an ACL tear.
A CCL tear causes the knee joint to shift position, with the tibia moving forward, becoming misaligned with the femur. While many dogs can still walk, and even run, with this condition, the shifting of the joint results in osteoarthritis due to the bone-on-bone rubbing. Dogs with an unrepaired CCL tear also experience greater instability and likelihood of pain.
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy is the procedure veterinarians use to correct the position of the femur and tibia after a CCL tear. During this procedure, the tibia is cut and repositioned in relation to the femur for greater stability and fewer joint-related issues in the long term.
What Do Dog Owners Need to Know to Prevent Joint Problems?
Like people, some canine joint injuries are unavoidable. All it takes is a leap into a pond or a misstep for a dog to experience a ligament tear. For other dogs with a high predisposition for arthritis, the best an owner can do is mitigate symptoms and prolong their dog’s mobility.
However, there are some things owners can do to reduce the risk of joint damage and support their joint growth as their puppy develops. These include:
- Feeding a quality diet and maintaining a healthy weight
- Avoiding extreme wear and tear before the age of one
- Checking with their vet should they notice any signs of lameness or joint discomfort
- Keeping regular veterinary appointments
Joint Health for Dogs
While joint pain and injuries can be a major source of discomfort and mobility issues, proper joint care is within reach. With preventative care and prompt treatment of any issues or injuries that arise, most dogs can live long and active lives.
Are You Concerned About Your Dog’s Joint Health?
Hilltop Bio is working to advance the treatment options available for your dogs and cats. Talk to your vet to see if our products might work to help your four-legged friend.
Photo by Linoleum Creative Collective on Unsplash
