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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