Dogs With Arthritis – What You Should Know

There are a lot of dogs with arthritis just like there are humans. It is a disease that can cause severe mobility problems in your beloved pet. Some dog breeds are predisposed to having canine arthritis compared to others. Large breeds are more prone to develop this condition compared to others. Small breeds can also develop this condition, depending on their genetic make-up. Depending on your dog’s condition and type of arthritis, your dog may start to show signs of arthritis as late as 10 years or as early as 4 years.  

Types of Canine Arthritis 

There are many types of canine arthritis in dogs.  Each have different causes, but all create the same mobility and comfort problems that your dog has to cope with.   

Ø Osteoarthritis: commonly a problem of old dogs, this is a degenerative joint condition that results from the destruction of the cartilage that protects the joint heads. If this protective coating is destroyed, the bones would rub against each other, causing progressive erosion. 

Ø Immune-mediated: a type of arthritis where your dog’s own immune system attacks the join’s protective coating. This would result to an inflammatory response that can cause swelling, pain, and stiffness. 

Ø Infections: some forms of arthritis are caused by microbial infections. 

Ø Idiopathic: a type of arthritis where the cause is unknown no matter how intensive the clinical studies are performed. 

Causes of Canine Arthritis 

Each type of arthritis has different causes.  The following are among the common causes of canine arthritis documented through extensive studies and research. 

Ø Age: as dogs grow old, their bodies degenerate and that includes their joints. Although a common cause, some dogs can reach old age without experiencing arthritis, or some dogs can suffer the condition without necessarily being old. 

Ø Genetics: some breed types are much more predisposed to experiencing arthritis compared to others. Bad breeding techniques applied by indiscriminating dog breeders have also caused some changes in the genes of dogs that normally should be tolerant to arthritis 

Ø Diet: poor feeding practices in dogs can cause arthritis in dogs. Improper balancing of minerals and protein can cause some inflammatory problems that can lead to formation of arthritis. 

Ø Hip Dysplacia: dogs that have this condition are certainly predisposed to having the disease. Caused by genetic and/or environmental factors, a dog with this condition his observed with weak and painful joints.  

Ø Obesity: since the problem is often located on weight-bearing joints, a dog that his obese will be predisposed to this condition because of the excess weight that is causing pressure on joints. 

Ø Trauma: a highly active dog may experience some repeated trauma, or have a severe one that can damage a joint cartilage or two. Trauma can include accidents, falls, a bad landing from a high jump, or a bad step while running.  

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