Canines, commonly known as ‘man’s best friend’, have been living alongside us for longer than our recorded history. Over this time, we have come to mold them to serve a variety of purposes, and they’ve become adept at tasks like hunting and herding thanks to this. Although a byproduct of this genetic manipulation is a variety of ailments which certain breeds become prone to, one of the most common being arthritis.

If you’ve ever experienced any degree of joint pain, then you’ll be aware of the severity of arthritis in dogs and humans. Although unlike us, our furry friends are much less able to communicate their discomfort, and can silently suffer from it for some time. The quality of life of our pets is our responsibility, so identifying and treating arthritis as soon as possible is a must.

Here’s an overview of what causes arthritis in dogs, as well as how you can identify it.

What is it?

Arthritis, or more specifically osteoarthritis, refers to the deterioration of the cartilage that lubricates the movements of joints. This causes joints to become rough, stiff, and painful to move due to swelling and inflammation. It’s not uncommon for this cartilage to wear down with age, although there are other factors such as genetics, malformed joints, or injuries which can also cause damage.

What Causes it?

The first consideration when looking at disorders such as arthritis in dogs, is their breed. This is because many breeds are prone to certain conditions, due to our primitive genetic manipulation which has come at a cost to them. Arthritis is a fairly common condition in most dog breeds, but if you have one of the following, you can almost guarantee that it will affect them.

Breeds Prone to Osteoarthritis

• Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to osteoarthritis in their hips and elbows
• German Shepherds are prone in their spine, hips and elbows
• Golden Retrievers are prone in their hips
• Labradors, Rottweilers, and Springer Spaniels are prone in their hips and elbows

Like Father Like Son

Even if your breed of dog isn’t necessarily prone to osteoarthritis, it may be built into their genetics. If their parents suffered from it then they are likely to suffer too, so be sure to enquire about the parents of your dog if you’re concerned.

Elbow and Hip Dysplasia

Another common cause of osteoarthritis is elbow and hip dysplasia, which can cause joints to grow incorrectly, which puts pressure on the bones in the wrong way and can lead to early onset arthritis. Recent studies have shown that not only are these caused by genetics, but also the environment in which you keep your puppy for its first 60 days. Some major takeaways from that research were the need to avoid slippery surfaces such as vinyl flooring, newspaper, and blankets; as well as the need for moderate exercise on soft ground.

Injury

While it’s commonly related to an unfortunate accident, injury-derived arthritis can also be caused by over-exercising young puppies, or not guiding athletic dogs through appropriate warm ups and cool downs before and after exercise. As a rule of thumb, dogs should not be over-exercised until they’re at least a year old, as their bones are still forming. 

Young dogs, even the most energetic, shouldn’t be doing more than an hour of moderate exercise at a time. It’s better to do short bursts of exercise with young dogs, rather than sustained blocks, and remember to include adequate warming and cooling periods.

Signs of Arthritis

It can be difficult to notice the more mild signs of arthritis, especially if your dog isn’t necessarily prone via breed, genetics, or injury. Dogs are excellent at seeming fine most of the time, so keep an eye out for:

• Depression, grumpiness or signs of a low mood or agitation
• Feeling the cold more than usual (i.e. sitting near heat sources even in temperate conditions)
• Intermittent or sustained limping or lameness in movement
• Lethargy and less enthused by the prospect of exercise
• Licking joints repeatedly
• Sensitivity in the joints when being touched or petted
• Slowing down on walks or their walking becoming less elegant

Treating Osteoarthritis

Despite our best efforts, dogs may still be afflicted by osteoarthritis, and finding effective treatment is a must. Look for the following active ingredients in any products which provide treatment for arthritis in dogs:

• Glucosamine
• Vitamin C and E
• Omega Fatty Acids

These and several other key ingredients common in supplements which treat arthritis in dogs can help to reduce their pain and improve the quality of their daily life.