Arthritis In Dogs

Arthritis is one of the most common afflictions affecting dogs.  Although there is no “cure” for this disease, arthritis can often be controlled, or even avoided, through early detection and treatment. 

Are certain breeds of dogs more likely to get arthritis than others?

Certain breeds are more prone to different types of arthritis.  For example, big dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia, while smaller dogs have a greater chance of developing arthritis in the knee.  Then there are breeds like the dachshund that are more likely to become arthritic in their backs.  Of course, there are exceptions to this rule.  The Doberman and Great Dane are large breeds, but they aren’t particularly prone to hip dysplasia arthritis relative to dogs like the St. Bernard, bull mastiff and German shepherd.

What can pet owners do to help reduce the risk of their pet developing arthritis?

The first step is to be pro-active.  If you detect a hip or knee problem early, within the first year of the dog’s life, you can improve the chances of avoiding arthritis.  The way to do this is with corrective surgery. 

Unfortunately, many dog owners are reluctant to undertake this step.  They say, “But my dog is still young and isn’t in any pain, so why should he undergo surgery?”

Although it’s true that the pet isn’t exhibiting any signs of dysplasia or knee problems, a veterinary exam can show that there’s a malformation in the hips or knees that will eventually lead to arthritis.  Once, the dog is actually exhibiting symptoms of arthritis, treatments are much less effective.  So I would advise puppy owners to have their pets examined, and if necessary, look into corrective surgery to reduce the risk of arthritis down the road.

Aren’t there things a pet owner can do to help a dog that’s already suffering from arthritis?

Yes there are many things you can do to control the effects of arthritis, and even though these steps may not be as effective as corrective surgery, they can make an arthritic dog much more comfortable, and improve its quality of life.  As a general step, you should keep the arthritic dog lean, and well muscled.  So don’t overfeed your dog, and do force him to do a little exercise.  For mild arthritic pain, give your dog aspirin, but consult your vet first.

There are some drugs called GAGS (for Glycosamino Glycans) that actually get inside the joint, and may even reverse some of the effects of arthritis.  I’m also a very firm believer in giving older dogs antioxidants, which improve their general health and makes them more resistant to arthritis.  Another possibility is acupuncture, which has been very effective in reducing swelling and the level of pain associated with arthritis.

Can pet owners do anything to reduce their dog’s risk of developing arthritis?

In many cases, there are steps we can take as owners to make our dogs less likely to develop arthritis.  The first step is to keep your dog’s weight down, and make sure that it gets the proper amount of exercise.  A common problem we see is that people exercise their puppies too vigorously.  A puppy should not maintain the strenuous exercise level of a two-year-old dog, because its hips aren’t fully developed yet. 

II is also recommended that large breeds not be fed puppy food for more than nine months.  If you feed bigger breeds puppy food for too long, they’ll grow too fast, which will put added stress on their hips.  When you introduce these dogs to adult food early, it slows down their rate of growth.  They’ll still grow to the same size, but it will take a little longer.  This will give the dog’s hips a chance to catch up with the rest of him.