Bayside Animal Hospital

Arthritis in Dogs
Pain relief options expanding

It is estimated that one in five of the 44 million adult dogs in the United States suffer from arthritis. There are some signs pet owners can look for to tell when dogs are experiencing pain from arthritis. First, you will see some sort of lameness or reluctance to get up or move around. Owners will often note that the dog doesn't jump on or off the bed as often, or climb stairs as well. The dogs also won't like their legs moved.

There are two common reasons dogs develop arthritis. The most common cause of arthritis is poor genetics; they inherit their parents' poor joints. Hip dysplasia and luxating patellae (loose kneecaps) are examples of common congenital diseases. Large dogs have dogs have bigger bones, which grow faster than normal, causing stress on the joints, which can lead to arthritis.

The second most common cause of arthritis in dogs is damage to joints from accidents. Damage to ligaments in knees and shoulders are frequent injuries received from accidents. In time, this can lead to inflamed joints and symptoms of arthritis.

The mainstay of arthritis treatment in dogs has always been buffered aspirin. Most dogs can handle buffered aspirin just fine, but some develop stomach ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding. Giving aspirin with food can help limit this side effect.

A more recent drug for arthritis pain in dogs, carpofen (brand name Rimadyl) is an anti-inflammatory that was approved for use in the United States in 1997. It is a more effective treatment for arthritis pain in dogs than aspirin and has less gastrointestinal side effects. Neither carpofen nor aspirin stops the advancement of arthritis. Analgesics such as these only make the dog more comfortable.

In addition to the analgesics, there are some other options that may help dogs with arthritis. The nutraceuticals chondroitin and glucosamine have become popular lately in both human and veterinary medicine. These nutraceuticals help make more lubricating joint fluid and help repair damaged joint cartilage. It sometimes takes awhile before their results can be appreciated because they actually help mend the arthritic joints rather than just alleviating the pain. Nutraceuticals can be given in the form of pills (Cosequin, Glycoflex), injections (Adequan) and are even added to some of the senior dogfoods (Natural Choice).

For most dogs with arthritis, analgesics and nutraceuticals make them feel much better. If they have severe, crippling disease, other options should be considered. For instance, with hip dysplasia, a total hip replacement will relieve the pain. For other arthritic joints, we can actually fuse those joints, taking away the motion, and eliminating the pain.