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Arthritis And Dogs

Writer's picture: Nat GruinNat Gruin

Arthritis is a common disease in dogs just like in people, and is usually a result of ongoing

wear and tear and instability in joints. It can affect one or more joints anywhere in your

dog’s body, but the most common joints affected are the knees, hips, elbows and

shoulders. That’s because most of these joints depend on a layer of cartilage that acts as a

cushion which provides a smooth surface so adjoining bones can move freely over one

another. This movement is assisted by lubrication provided by synovial fluid found in joints.




So how can you tell if your beloved family friend is starting to show signs of arthritis, things

to look for are – reluctance to walk, jump, play or even climb stairs; falling behind on walks

or not wanting to go for a walk; stiffness or pain when getting up or down and they can

even experience a personality change (becoming aggressive when normally good-natured).


You may find these changes come on gradually, so it is easy not to notice them happening

at first. Coupled with the fact that large breeds were bred to be very pain resistant and

generally stoic, therefore they probably won’t show you they are in pain until their arthritis

issue is advanced and they are simply unable to manage it anymore. As your dog guards its

sore joints, their muscles and ligaments contract, resulting in a decrease in the joints range

of motion. This is when you’ll possibly notice they no longer want to jump up onto the

couch or into the car as previously did.


A common symptom of age-related (senior) arthritis is the joints becoming stiffer and more

painful after durations of rest, and that this will generally become better throughout the

day. Things that will help your beloved family member cope better is to ensure good weight

management, this will lessen the impact on their joints. Helping to keep them warm and

comfortable on colder days will also help to lessen the pain felt in their joints.


The good news is that once a formal diagnoses of arthritis is made, it can be managed with

a combination of exercise management, weight management, environmental changes,

home comforts and veterinary treatments. Your local vet has been educated to be a very

good judge of the subtle signs that dogs display to say that they are experiencing pain or

discomfort.


If you think your beloved family friend is starting to show signs and symptoms of arthritis

please contact your local vet clinic for a consultation.


@pawsativeobedience

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