Arthritis is a painful malady that many people suffer, but humans are not the only species that must endure its consequences. Dogs, especially large breeds, are susceptible to this crippling illness too. Recognizing the early signs of arthritis for dog owners may be a challenge, but this list of common symptoms and corresponding phases should help owners identify the condition. 

Early Arthritis

The Early phase is the most difficult stage to identify arthritis symptoms because the signs are typically subtle and mild. The dog may feel pain, but may not show discomfort. The dog may rise from lying down or sitting and go up stairs more slowly than normal. In addition, the pet may limp after exercise and have trouble jumping. Early treatment includes weight management, a high protein and low fat diet, and nutritional supplements.

Moderate Arthritis

During this moderate stage, a dog with arthritis will exhibit having even more trouble with rising, going up stairs and show lameness after exercise. The signs of discomfort and pain are more obvious in this stage as the pet is often reluctant to run, exercise, or go up stairs. The dog may even hop when going up stairs and running to ease the pain. In addition, the pet may show a decrease in muscle mass of its thigh and gluteal muscles. Treatment during this stage includes all the previous methods and sometimes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Advanced Arthritis

 

Finally, a dog with advanced arthritis will possess very serious and highly painful symptoms. The pet needs help in order to rise from sitting or lying down, cannot jump, cannot climb stairs, always limps, and may have trouble urinating and defecating. Exercise is nearly impossible due to great discomfort and crippling caused by this condition. A severe loss in muscle mass of the thigh and gluteal muscles is observable in dogs with severe arthritis. Pain is obvious and the pet may even flinch or indicate discomfort when touched near the sites of arthritis. Advanced treatment involves the same techniques as mentioned previously, but might also replace NSAIDs with cortisone.

Arthritis has serious consequences that greatly affect the quality of a dog’s life. Often the symptoms are subtle in the early stages, but will often steadily become more obvious to the dog owner and more painful to the pet during the moderate and especially the advanced phases. Early detection is crucial because often the effects of arthritis can be reversed, and arthritis progression slowed with early treatment. Dog owners, help prevent your dog from suffering the painful symptoms of arthritis. Look for the signs!

 

Article Sources: Maybeckvet.com - http://www.maybeckvet.com/arthritis.html Animalsguru.com - http://www.animalsguru.com/dog-arthritis.html CityPets.net - http://citypets.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/dolce_vita-heat_diagram.jpg




Starting at $9.99

PSCPets Joint Support for Dogs

Helps support healthy joints, bones and tissue, for ailments such as dog arthritis.