Committing ourselves to the great responsibility of welcoming a dog into our home will undoubtedly bring us important benefits that derive from a very strong emotional bond that is created between the owner and the pet.
Throughout our dog's life we will be able to observe many changes that occur as the physiological and normal aging process advances, one of the anatomical structures of our pet that can suffer the most with the passing of the years is the musculoskeletal system.
In this article on our site we talk about the symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs, the most common joint disease that dogs suffer our pets.
What is canine osteoarthritis
Canine osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in dogs, primarily affecting middle-aged and older dogs and is estimated to that 1 in 5 suffers from this pathology, approximately 45% of large breed dogs.
This is a complex and progressive disease that produces degeneration in the articular cartilage (essential to avoid friction between the two ends joint) and the formation of new bone tissue at the joint margins, which can cause severe pain.
The most affected joints are the following:
- Elbow
- Carpus (wrist)
- Knee
- Column
- Hip
What causes osteoarthritis in dogs
Osteoarthritis is usually due to a secondary cause, such as trauma, inflammation, obesity, or excessive strenuous exercise. However, some breeds such as the German shepherd or the Labrador retriever have a genetic predisposition.
Canine Osteoarthritis Symptoms
The symptoms of osteoarthritis in dogs are diverse and our pet may manifest one or the other depending on the degree of the disease, which can range from mild to severe. Osteoarthritis can be manifested by the following symptoms and signs:
- Lethargy
- The dog is hiding
- Rigidity
- Growls and Moans
- Dog avoids moving
- Aggressiveness if you want to touch the affected area
- Limp
- Lameness after exercise
- Difficulty getting up
- Difficulty moving
- Loss of appetite
If we notice any of these symptoms in our dog, we should urgently go to the vet to assess the situation as well as the most appropriate treatment appropriate. To verify the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, the doctor will use an exhaustive physical examination, although he can also perform an imaging diagnosis using X-rays.
Treatment of canine osteoarthritis
The treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs should aim to relieve pain, improve mobility and quality of life of our pet and prevent future cartilage degeneration, for which a treatment is used that is not only pharmacological, but also includes hygienic-dietary measures.
Complete treatment of osteoarthritis can be done as follows. The veterinarian is the only person indicated to determine what type of treatment should be followed:
