Treatment of Arthritis in Dogs
Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment for Dogs with Arthritis
Arthritis in dogs results in painful joints and is most commonly caused by degenerative joint changes. Arthritis can occur in any joint and more than one joint may be affected. Arthritis is most common in older dogs. However, under certain circumstances, younger dogs can also be affected.
Canine arthritis is usually a result of long-term stresses to the joint and may be the result of old injuries. Joints with less than perfect conformation can also develop arthritis. Common examples of this are hip dyplasia and elbow dysplasia.
Infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, can also cause joint disease.
Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs
For dogs, arthritis can result in various clinical symptoms, most of which are related to the pain associated with the arthritic joint or joints. Potential symptoms are:
- limping
- reluctance to walk or climb stairs
- difficulty rising from a resting position
- difficulty finding a comfortable resting position
- crying or whimpering
- lack of appetite
- irritability
Diagnosis of Arthritis in Dogs
Arthritis in dogs is normally diagnosed by finding radiographic evidence of the degenerative changes which occur in joints as a result of arthritis.
Your veterinarian will probably also perform a routine blood screen to evaluate the overall health of your dog, allowing safe and effective treatment choices for your dog's arthritis.
Blood tests for infectious diseases may also be performed by your veterinarian if diseases such as Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis are suspected.
Treatment of Arthritis in Dogs
Multi-model treatment is usually the best choice for treatment of arthritis in dogs. There are various medicines which may be used in the treatment of arthritis for dogs.
NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are commonly used for pain relief. They work by reducing the inflammation present within arthritic joints. These medicines typically work fairly quickly to relieve pain. Examples of NSAIDS include:
- Rimadyl
- Deramaxx
- Etogesic
- Metacam
- Previcox
- Zubrin
There are also several analgesics (pain relievers) which do not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects which may be used in treating arthritis for dogs. These medications include:
- Tramadol
- Gabapentin
- Amantidine
Neutroceuticals are another class of arthritis medicine commonly used in dogs. Neutroceuticals are nutritional supplements which also exhibit medicinal properties. Response to these medications may take weeks to months to be noticeable. Examples include:
- Glucosamine (Cosequin)
- Chondroitin Sulfate
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
- Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM)
Adequan injections are another option for the treatment of arthritic dogs. Adequan injections contain a protective cartilage component known as polysulfated glycosaminoglycans which can be effective in improving the health of the joint and relieving pain.
Corticosteriods, such as prednisone and dexamethasone, are sometimes used for pain relief as well. However, corticosteroids carry a higher risk of side effects than many of the other treatment options and are contraindicated when NSAIDS are used.
Physical therapy in many forms is also becoming more readily available and can be an effective means of dealing with arthritis pain in dogs. Swimming is one form of physical therapy being used commonly.
Alternative therapies such as acupunture are becoming increasingly useful in treating chronic arthritis pain in dogs.
Another therapy which is showing great promise in the treatment of arthritis in dogs is adult stem cell therapy. Stem cell treatment involves removing tissues from arthritic dog, typically fatty tissue, and processing the stem cells present in these tissues for injection into the affected joint. These stem cells then function to improve the health and function of the joint and can be quite effective in treating canine arthritis.
Weight control is another important factor in managing arthritis in dogs. Obesity is a problem commonly seen in arthritic dogs and can actually contribute to the amount of pain present for the affected dog.
The best results in treating arthritis in dogs is seen when two or more of the above treatments are combined to provide optimal relief from arthritis pain.
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