Arthritis in Dogs

As dogs get older, the risk of acquiring or suffering from a developing disease is inevitable. One of the most common illnesses in caninies is arthritis. As defined, arthritis is an inflammation or an abnormal change in a joint. More common in older and larger breeds of dogs that are especially active in earlier years of life, arthritis in dogs may develop from joint tissue destruction followed by an infection, inherited defects that affect structural architecture, stress and trauma to joint surfaces and cause a dog to limp. This can result to the transformation of the joint cartilage, joint fluid in the bones affected and the actual capsule of the joint.

There are several types of arthritis that can affect a dog. One of the most common forms of arthritis in dogs is osteoarthritis. As dogs age, skeletal changes of the joint occur. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease relating to the degeneration of the articular cartilage. It is followed by remodeling and new bone formation which is a sure sign of arthritis in dogs. Another type of arthritis in dogs is immune-mediated or rheumatoid arthritis. This form of arthritis is caused by an overreaction of the immune system which affects several joints that cause pain and swelling. Cases of rheumatoid arthritis commonly occur in toy or small breeds of dogs. However, in general, this type of arthritis is rare and uncommon. A third form of arthritis is infective arthritis. It is an inflammatory arthropathy, which can be cultured from a dog’s affected joint. Bacteria, tick-borne diseases and fungal infections are some of the most common causes of infective arthritis. Finally, a lesser known type of arthritis is idiopathic arthritis. Causes of this form of arthritis in dogs are yet unidentified.

Indications of arthritis can be detected by dog owners through the changing habit and behavior of one’s pet. Limping or lameness that develops gradually may be a sign of a developing arthritis disease. On the other hand, sudden occurrence of limping due to a traumatic injury such as getting hit by a car could result to joint instability leading to arthritis. With either of these implications or none of both, a developing arthritis can also be seen with increased weight gain. An overweight dog can slowly acquire arthritis. With the increasing weight, which could further lead to obesity, it provides a threatening possibility of arthritis because of the concussive pressure the body forces down to the joint/s. A heightened sleeping habit, change in attitude or alertness, less interest in activity and play, reluctance to jump, run or climb stairs, and difficulty in sitting or standing are more signs of arthritis in dogs. Since joints begin to or genetically weaken, dogs with developing arthritis succumb to the disease by changing its regular activities. In young dogs, however, arthritis develops due to failure of proper bone development. In addition, other signs include pain and stiffness experienced in the morning or intermittently throughout the day, soreness on palpitation of the joints and swelling of the joints sums up some indications of arthritis that dog owners should watch out for.