| Osteoarthritis is a painful disease that frequently | | | | the joints or evidence of pain they can tell if the dog is |
| affects small animals, and very frequently older pets. | | | | suffering from this condition. |
| While arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, | | | | For dogs suffering from osteoarthritis, it is important |
| osteoarthritis is the most common skeletal disease in | | | | that they do not become overweight. This could lead |
| dogs. It is also called degenerative joint disease and it is | | | | to more stress for the joints. A moderate amount of |
| a progressive deterioration of the cartilage in | | | | exercise is necessary even for dogs who have this |
| moveable joints. The changes in joints cause pain, | | | | disease. The dog will tend to be less active and try to |
| stiffness and a reduction of flexibility. The cartilage is | | | | rest most of the time and having a less active lifestyle, |
| eroded and there are areas of deposition of bone | | | | weight can easily become a problem. |
| which are abnormal. | | | | Pet owners will have to look for foods that promote |
| There are breeds of dogs that tend to develop arthritis | | | | weight loss and encourage exercise for their dogs. |
| because of genetic make-up. German Shepherd, for | | | | Easy and short walks will be very helpful. The more |
| example, are prone to it and to hip dysplasia as well. | | | | frequent such walks, the better. However, long hikes at |
| Secondary osteoarthritis occurs when an injury to the | | | | the weekend are not a good idea when you have a |
| joint, an infection, fracture, trauma or excessive stress | | | | dog suffering from osteoarthritis. |
| have been present. | | | | There is medication to treat osteoarthritis, but the |
| Owners usually notice the problem when the dog | | | | disease will not be cured. The drugs used for |
| becomes lame. If only one joint is affected the problem | | | | osteoarthritis only offer alleviation from pain and help |
| is more easily noticeable. When more than one joint is | | | | the animal function normally. Non-steroidal |
| affected, the dog might just walk more carefully and | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed for osteoarthritis |
| slowly, or becomes less active. This is why it is more | | | | can have side effects though. The most common are |
| difficult to spot. | | | | gastrointestinal problems. |
| The classic signs of osteoarthritis are stiffness and | | | | If the dog has problems with kidneys, liver or heart, |
| difficulty of movement after rest or sleep. The animal | | | | medication can cause blood clotting or gastric ulcer. |
| moves better after some time, so owners might not | | | | The benefits of administered drugs should be weighed |
| be able to recognize the problem. Sometimes they | | | | against the additional problems they may cause. There |
| only become aware if the dog cannot jump into the | | | | is also the possibility of surgical treatment when the |
| car anymore or go up the stairs. Dogs are more | | | | arthritis is limited to one joint and it has proven to be |
| irritable and nervous and generally less active as they | | | | highly successful for arthritic problems of the hip joint. |
| feel chronic pain. | | | | Surgery should be considered only if other methods of |
| Veterinarians can diagnose osteoarthritis even without | | | | treatment were inefficient. |
| using x-rays or other tests. By checking for swellings in | | | | |