Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative, painful and progressive condition of one or more joints. It is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease. The pain associated with osteoarthritis leads to various symptoms including lameness, stiffness and a reluctance to climb stairs. Osteoarthritis cannot be cured but can be managed effectively in most cases.

Osteoarthritis is often simply called “arthritis” which means “inflamed joint”. There are, in fact, several forms of arthritis in the dog but the only common form is osteoarthritis and this discussion is limited to that type.

The most common joints to be affected are the stifles (equivalent to a human knee), the elbows and hips. Any breed or cross-breed can be affected but larger breeds, such as Labradors, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Great Danes are more at risk. Dogs are more likely to be affected in middle or old age.

Anatomy of the Joints

Joints are made up of cartilage (which covers the ends of the bones), ligaments (which limit the ways a joint can move), joint fluid (which lubricates the cartilage and keeps the joint moving freely) and a joint capsule (which contains the joint fluid). In a healthy joint the cartilage is thick and “springy” and allows near friction-free movement but when a joint is arthritic the cartilage is worn, which causes rubbing within the joint, inflammation and pain.

Causes

Osteoarthritis is often caused by “wear and tear” but in some cases there may be identifiable underlying causes. Obesity is a risk factor because abnormal forces act on the joints. Normal forces acting on abnormal joints can also cause arthritis and examples of this include torn knee ligaments (cruciate rupture) and hip dysplasia.

Symptoms

The most obvious symptoms of osteoarthritis are limping, a reluctance to jump or climb stairs and stiffness, especially on first rising. Some owners also report detachment, reluctance to play, “grumpiness” and unwillingness to allow stroking or petting. Dogs have often become less active before these symptoms are noticed.

Lameness tends to be worse at the start of activity but improves when the joints “warm up” but dogs may then struggle towards the end of a walk. Lameness can be brought on or made worse by “doing too much” and cold or damp weather.

Symptoms are often intermittent, especially in the early stages of the disease, but are often continuous as the condition progresses.

Osteoarthritis treatment options

Anti-inflammatory Medicines
The most widely used treatments for osteoarthritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are available as oral suspensions, palatable tablets and injections. They are related to asprin but modern, animal-licensed forms are both more effective at controlling discomfort and much safer for long-term use. Used correctly the side effects of these drugs are minimal. They should not be used in dogs with pre-existing kidney disease and it is worth testing and monitoring kidney function where this is a concern. Some vets like to change the type of anti-inflammatory drug used every six months or so to improve safety. Anti-inflammatory drugs do not modify the course of the disease but they are very effective at controlling the discomfort. It may be worth noting that the most common cause of poisoning in dogs, as reported by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, is the administration of ibuprofen by well-intentioned pet owners who have not taken veterinary advice. Ibuprofen is not a veterinary-licences anti-inflammatory and it should never be given to dogs.

Cartrophen
Another approach to osteoarthritis is the use of an injectable drug called Cartophen. Cartrophen is not primarily an anti-inflammatory drug. It works by stimulating cartilage to produce the components of cartilage that make it springy but it also has pain relieving effects. Treatment consists of four injections given at weekly intervals and is repeated three or four times per year. In theory Cartophen slows down the progression of the disease. It is not used at the same time as anti-inflammatory drugs.

Weight Management
It is important to try to keep dogs with osteoarthritis in exercise. Regular, light exercise is best. Complete rest should be avoided as the muscles which help to support the joints become weaker and the arthritis can be worse when exercise is resumed. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for dogs with arthritis as it is impact-free and dogs can get a good “workout” in a short period of time. A swimming pool for dogs called Paws to Splash is available at Armathwaite. A link to the Paws to Splash website can be found at the bottom of the page.

Exercise
It is important to try to keep dogs with osteoarthritis in exercise. Regular, light exercise is best. Complete rest should be avoided as the muscles which help to support the joints become weaker and the arthritis can be worse when exercise is resumed. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for dogs with arthritis as it is impact-free and dogs can get a good “workout” in a short period of time. A swimming pool for dogs called Paws to Splash is available at Armathwaite. A link to the Paws to Splash website can be found at the bottom of the page.

Joint Supplements
Many people with arthritis take joint supplements and they are also available for dogs. The two most commonly used supplements are condroitin sulphate and glucosamine. These substances are natural components of cartilage and the aim of supplementation is to build up their concentration in the cartilage to make the cartilage thicker and “springier”. They may actually play a role in slowing down the progression of the disease and have no known side effects. Ideally all dogs with arthritis should receive joint supplements, but if only one type of treatment can be given due to treatment costs anti-inflammatory drugs are probably the better option.

Surgery
Some dogs may benefit from surgery for some sorts of osteoarthritis. Hip replacements are now commonplace in veterinary medicine and vets are trying to develop effective and reliable elbow replacements. These procedures are, however, relatively expensive and are only performed by specialist vets. If you think joint replacement might be an option for your pet you should discuss this with your vet.

“Alternative” Therapies
Alternative treatments are those treatments that cannot or have not been proven to work. If they had or could be proven to work they would be “conventional” medicine. Alternative treatments include acupuncture and homeopathy and are not offered or recommended by Craig Robinson Vets.