What Do People and Dogs Have in Common? Arthritis.

Is your dog having trouble getting up from the floor or climbing stairs?
Is she running, jumping and playing less?
Is he limping?
Does your dog yelp when you touch her, or move away to avoid being touched?

These are behavior changes commonly seen in a dogthat has arthritis.

The causes and symptoms of arthritis are the same in dogs as in people. The main feature of arthritis is persistent swelling of one or more joints—the place wherever two movable bones come together—that causes pain.

Normally, cartilage acts as a cushion to keep bones from grinding against each other and wearing down. A layer of cells surrounding a joint produces a thick, clear fluid, which keeps the cartilage lubricated so the joint can move freely. Anything that reduces the production of fluid increases friction in the joint. If this condition continues, the excess friction will wear away the cartilage so movement becomes more difficult and painful.

The cause of the excess friction in a dog’s joints determines the type of arthritis it has. The two main classifications of arthritis are degenerative arthritis and inflammatory arthritis. Treatment of every type of arthritis focuses on removing the cause of, or reducing, the inflammation in the joint.

Degenerative Arthritis

A. Degenerative arthritis occurs when the cartilage dries out.

Veterinarians often see this condition in older dogs, because aging reduces production of the lubricating fluid in the joints. Any joint—including the vertebrae in the spine—can be affected. For 20+ years, veterinarians in Europe have been achieving significant improvements in joint mobility and comfort with natural substances that support cartilage growth and health (Foster & Smith, n.d.). Whether or not your senior dog already has signs of joint stiffness, ask Dr. Baker if your pet will benefit from nutritional joint support. He can provide you with supplements that deliver the right combination of special nutrients to help cartilage maintain or recover a healthy condition and friction-free function.

B. Degenerative arthritis occurs when the cartilage wears out.

Short bouts of vigorous activity can strengthen muscles and bones without damaging joints. However, abnormal amounts of stress applied for an extended period to a normal joint can wear away cartilage faster than the dog’s body can replace it. Working dogs, performing dogs, and dogs that race are especially prone to degenerative arthritis due to continuous jumping, running, or other strenuous activity in excessive amounts. Deterioration can also develop in outdoor dogs who get riled-up, and constantly strain at the end of their chains or race back and forth alongside the fence as people or other animals go by. Talk to Dr. Baker about whether nutritional joint support will help prevent or delay development of degenerative arthritis, if you think your dog’s joints have had more than their fair share of stress.

Cartilage can also wear away from normal amounts of activity, if there is a deformity in the joint. Some breeds are prone to joint malformations. Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the bones in the hip joint that begins between 4 and 12 months of age. It is commonly found in many large breeds, such as St. Bernards, Old English Sheepdogs, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Setters, Pointers, Collies, Dobermans, English Bulldogs, Boxers, Standard Poodles, Huskies, and Alaskan Malamutes. The only way to fix hip dysplasia is by surgically replacing the hip. This procedure has been very successful, and allows the dog to live a normal and pain-free life (Canine Hip Dysplasia, n.d.).

Small dogs, like Boston and Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Pekingese (Canine Hip Dysplasia, n.d.) tend to have a deformity that causes the kneecap to move out of its normal position—a condition called “patellar luxation,” better known in humans as a dislocated kneecap or “trick knee.” In half of cases, patellar luxation affects both knees (Griffon, D., 2008), as shown in the photo below (Harasen, G., 2006). (The oval masses beside the dog’s knees are the dislocated kneecaps). The incidence in large dog breeds has increased so that the Chinese shar pei, flat-coated retriever, Akita and Great Pyrenees (Griffon, 2008), as well as the Labrador, Golden Retriever, Malamute, Boxer, and Husky (Harasen, 2006) are also considered predisposed to this disease. This condition begins to develop at 3 to 4 months of age, and can cripple the dog by age 6 months (Knight, 1963). Surgery to correct patellar luxation has a 90% satisfaction rate (Griffon, 2008).

Patellar luxation

Although hip dysplasia and patellar luxation are common in the breeds mentioned above, other breeds of dog can develop these or other deformities as well (Griffon, 2008). Because most types of deformities become evident during the first year of life, it is important to bring your puppy to the vet for examination and immunization at the scheduled times. Dr. Baker routinely looks for deformities during a puppy’s initial checkup and at each immunization visit. Early detection of deformity allows owners to take steps to minimize the damage and pain involved until the condition can be corrected with surgery.

C. Degenerative arthritis occurs after injury to bones, joints, or cartilage.

Fractures, sprains, torn ligaments, and other injuries can begin the process of degenerative arthritis. When a broken bone heals without being properly aligned, the movement of cartilage in the nearby joint is affected. The increased friction in the joint will cause the cartilage to gradually wear away. A severe sprain may tear cartilage, and allow joint movement to become “sloppy,” causing cartilage to quickly wear away so bones move against one another. Any time your dog refuses to touch the ground with one of his feet; if he stops walking or standing on all four legs, or stops moving one or more of his joints, promptly bring him to Dr. Baker for examination. It is not possible to know the extent of inner damage without an X-ray. Proper attention to a sprain or fracture early on can prevent years of painful complications in the future.

Inflammatory Arthritis

A. Inflammatory arthritis may be caused by infection in the joint.

The type of inflammatory arthritis caused by joint infection is called infectious arthritis. Joint infections in dogs are typically due to bacteria or fungus, and common causes of bacterial infections in joints are the diseases carried by ticks: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme’s Disease. Veterinarians treat joint infections with antibiotics. If treatment is delayed, joint damage that leads to arthritis occurs. If the infection goes without treatment, infectious arthritis develops. If you find a tick on your dog, remove it properly (view “Safely Remove a Tick”) and observe your dog for signs of generalized illness. If, during the next week, the dog develops a fever, acts overly tired or lame, loses her appetite, or behaves in any way that indicates she does not feel up to par, take your dog to Dr. Baker as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment. A simple and timely course of antibiotic can eliminate years of pain and suffering!

B. Inflammatory arthritis may be due to attack by the dog’s own immune system.

For reasons that researchers have not yet pinpointed, occasionally a dog’s immune system will turn its invader-fighting abilities against parts of her own body, damaging cells as if they were an enemy needing to be destroyed. Inflammation of joints caused by immune system attack is called rheumatoid arthritis. The dog with this type of arthritis has a fever that may come and go, along with loss of appetite that is typical during a fever. Joints swell (especially in the feet), causing the dog to walk painfully or limp. The lameness may move from leg to leg, because the site of inflammation tends to move about. Dogs with rheumatoid arthritis are treated with medicines that prevent the immune system from attacking their own body. Dr. Baker can test your dog for rheumatoid arthritis, and if she tests positive, provide the medications to control her immune system’s misdirected overactivity.

III. The Owner’s Role

As the dog’s owner, you can help prevent sprains and fractures to her limbs by removing debris and branches from the area where she runs and plays. Sometimes, dips or holes in the ground can be covered over by grass, but can injure a dog’s foot or leg if he steps into them. Watch for such depressions when you walk around or mow your lawn, and fill them in with dirt to make your yard a safe playground for your pet. Locate your pet, if possible, where he won’t be teased by mean-spirited kids or daredevil squirrels into behaving recklessly and suffering an injury.

When accidents do happen, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of your dog’s injuries will go a long way to preserving joint health. So, be alert to changes in your dog’s behavior. If your dog does not have a smooth, easy gait; limps or walks abnormally; avoids weight-bearing on any leg; yelps or avoids being touched in a specific area; never runs or jumps; has trouble climbing stairs; frequently trips, stumbles, staggers, or falls; or if you notice leg or joint swelling or tenderness, it is possible that your dog has arthritis, or a condition that will lead to it if left untreated.

Dr. Baker can usually tell by veterinary examination whether your dog’s unusual behavior is due to an injury or arthritis. X-rays let Dr. Baker see the extent of the injury or how badly a joint has deteriorated; and analysis of fluid taken from the affected joint helps him to distinguish infectious arthritis from the inflammatory type (Nash, H., n.d.).

Arthritis can become a crippling and activity-limiting disease, but the limitations can be postponed and many years of misery can be avoided with early and proper treatment. After determining the cause of arthritis, Dr. Baker will explain the treatment options available to your dog, so you can select the best one for your situation. The goal is to keep your dog active and pain-free, so he can continue to delight you with his playful antics and show how happy he is to be a part of your family, for as long as possible.

Dr. Tim Baker and the staff of Hillsdale Veterinary Hospital are prepared to help you achieve that goal. Call us if we can be of service.

References

Canine Hip Dysplasia. (n.d.). Retrieved July 4, 2011 from http://www.peachgroveanimalhospital.com/PGAH/Pages/Articles/Canine/Caninehipdysplasia.htm

Foster & Smith. (n.d.). Glucosamine & chondroitin for hip dysplasia & arthritis in dogs. Retrieved July 4, 2011 from http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=670

Griffon, D. (2008, June 6). Patellar Luxations. Retrieved July 5, 2011 from http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/MedialPatellarLuxations/

Harasen, G. (2006, August). Patellar luxation (also Image). Canadian Veterinary Journal,47(8): 817–818.

Knight, G. C. (1963). Abnormalities and defects in pedigree dogs–III. Tibio-femoral joint deformity and patella luxation. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 4: 463–464. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1963.tb01303.x

Nash, H. (n.d.). Rheumatoid arthritis (immune-mediated disease) in dogs. Retrieved July 4, 2011 fromhttp://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=355

Tim Baker, DVM–Hillsdale Veterinary Hospital
280 S. Broad Street Hillsdale, MI, 49242 USA 
timbakerdvm@gmail.com •&nbsp517-437-4431