What You Need To Know About Canine Arthritis

Canine arthritis involves the inflammation in a joint or joints. This can result in changes to the joint cartilage, the joint fluid, the bones involved in the joint and the actual capsule of the joint depending on the cause of the inflammation.

There are many causes that create arthritis. Listed below are the main types:

Osteoarthritis – trauma, wear and tear

Immune-mediated – Rheumatiod

Genetic – malformed hips, elbows or knees

Infective – Lyme or Anaplasma

Idiopathic (where the cause is unknown)

Arthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis or degenrative joint disease is a painful condition and can make your dog’s life miserable, therefore the sooner you detect the signs of dog arthritis, the faster you can adopt measures to slow its progression and help save your dog from further pain. Here is a rundown on some of the symptoms that your dog may have athritis:

 

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• Stiffness, lameness, or limping after rest


• Loss of appetite or unusual weight gain


• Inactivity and sleeping a lot more


• Relutance to walk, run or climb stairs


• Unusual urinating in the house


• Irritability and behavioural changes


• Depressed or withdrawn

If your dog has any of these symptoms, take it to a veterinarian for a full diagnosis. Typical dog arthritis evaluation will involve some physical examinations, blood tests and X-rays. In some cases, a synovial (joint) fluid analysis may be performed if joint swelling is noticed.

Treatment of Canine Arthritis

Once you confirm that your dog has joint pain due to arthritis, you will need to know what you can do to help relieve the pain and minimize your pet’s arthritic discomfort.

There are many ways to keep your dog’s arthritis condition under control and to substantially improve the quality of your dog’s life. Some treatment options available for canine arthritis include:

Physical Therapy

Light to moderate exercise is encouraged because it helps maintain your dog’s muscle mass and perserves joint flexibilty. Swimming is an exccellent exercise that improves muscle mass without overstressing the joints. Overweight dogs should be encouraged to lose weight to delay the onset degenerative arthritis.

Medication

There are always conventional medications to treat arthritis and help relieve dog joint pain. The use of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and their anti-inflammatory properties can help provide rapid relief for your dog’s arthritis pain, but they do not repair or heal cartilage.

Caution: Never give your dog any human form of medication such as common household aspirin. If you are going to give your dog aspirin or steriods for arthritis pain, make sure you understand the possible side effects that may affect your dog.

Surgery

Surgery is usually recommended as a last resort treatment for dogs with canine arthritis because the treatment is expensive and it may also cause even further pro-longed pain for your dog. Your veterinarian will only suggest surgery when all other possible non-surgical treatments are exhausted to relieve your dog’s pain. The types of surgery available include joint repair, fusion, hip replacement and arthroscopic surgery.

Alternative Supplements for Arthritis Pain Relief and Joint Health

Supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin can be very helpful for dogs primarily where the joints are involved. Glucosamine is naturally present in animal bones and as a dietary supplement, it can help to promote new cartilage growth, relieve joints and muscle pain and improve joint mobility.

Acupuncture can give excellent results in pain management and may eliminate the requirement for medications.

Herbal medicine can give great benefits also as they are designed to treat the animal in a holistic manner. Be confident in your choice of herbal practitioner and ask your veterinarian for guidance if unsure.

Future Prevention

If your dog is diagnosed with canine arthritis, work with your vet to establish a holistic treatment plan to help your dog live each day as pain free as possible.

Good healthy diets and proper exercise help your dog either avoid canine arthritis or reduce its affects.

A good healthy diet that prevents your dog from gaining too much weight is ideal. Diet is even more important when your dog is a puppy. Puppies need well-balanced, wholesome diets, with added calcium, to help minimize the likelihood of joint displacement. Adding omega 3 oil to the diet will also help to balance out its diet and add valuable vitamins and minerals it needs every day.

Contrary to what many people think, exercise is vital for dogs with arthritis. It should start out as gentle exercise to get your dog’s joints moving and progressively increase it as your dog’s fitness levels rise. Try gently massaging your dog’s painful joints to help restore the blood flow.

A dog with arthritic conditions can live normal, healthy lives and are better off out playing with a ball to keep their joints and muscles moving. A dog that gets little exercise puts on weight, and its joints and muscles seize up.

Buy a good orthopedic bed made for dogs with arthritis. Just like us, a dog’s painful joints may become inflame in cold weather so a good bed will keep your dog warm, support its weary bones and help your furry friend get a good night’s sleep.

Remember as a dog owner, there is much you can do to make a huge difference in the quality of your dog’s life to help your dog lead a pain free life especially if he/or she is suffering from joint problems like dog arthritis.

The Providence Veterinary Hospital Blog is a publication of Peter Herman, VMD, at the Providence Veterinary Hospital, 2400 Providence Ave. in Chester, PA. Contact Dr. Herman at 610-872-4000 or visit us at http://www.providencevet.com/.

Skepticism about Glucosamine for Arthritis in Dogs and Cats is Growing

Ok, maybe not. But still, any sign that folks are questioning this ubiquitous practice is a good thing.

I have written a number of times about the question of whether or not oral glucosamine and chondroitin are useful for arthritis in dogs and cats. Overall, the evidence in humans suggests it is likely no better than a placebo, and the much more limited evidence concerning veterinary uses is no better. Despite this, many veterinarians refuse to acknowledge the lack of support for their assumptions that glucosamine is beneficial. In looking for any skeptical perspectives on this subject, I was only able to find a couple.

A recent short feature in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association posed the clinical question,

Would treatment with a supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin be likely to yield a clinically meaningful improvement in the signs of chronic osteoarthritis in a dog without unacceptable adverse effects, either as an alternative or adjunct to NSAID treatment?

The answer, based on a brief review of the limited available literature was,

there was insufficient evidence to support a recommendation of glucosamine and chondroitin as an alternative to NSAID medication for treatment of clinical signs attributed to osteoarthritis in dogs…No literature addressing the possible use of a glucosamine-chondroitin product as an adjunct to NSAID treatment was identified.

A popular veterinary blog has also commented on recent studies in humans showing oral glucosamine to be no better than placebo for arthritis. The author expresses succinctly my own feelings on the subject:

I wish oral glucosamine worked. I want it to work. But I want many things that I cannot have. Effective arthritis treatment with oral glucosamine evidently is one of them.

Interestingly, the only other critical comments on veterinary glucosamine use I found was from a decidedly unscientific perspective. A proponent of BARF diets (which, as I’ve discussed previously, is even less rational a practice than using glucosamine) turns the unscientific and evidence-free arguments for raw diets against glucosamine supplements, He claims that,

glucosamine for dogs cannot work for any canine on a commercial dog food diet when the cocktail of chemicals they are comprised of routinely strip bones and joints of much needed nutrients…Only dogs on a diet of raw meat and bone have the proper balance of nutrients to ensure good bone and joint health throughout life.

Not exactly a position I can endorse, even if it sounds on the surface like it leads to the same conclusion on joint supplements. Glucosamine may not have significant proven benefits, but the risks are also apparently negligible. While the evidence does not suggest raw diets are beneficial, the evidence of potential harm is certainly greater than that for glucosamine, although still apparently quite small.

Obviously, the majority of veterinarians and pet owners are still more influenced by personal experiences and anecdotes that suggest glucosamine is beneficial than by the solid research data that shows it is not. Hopefully, the presence of at least a few skeptical voices will motivate more people to question the hype surrounding this supplement and to look closely  at the evidence.

If anyone finds any additional skeptical points of view on this subject, please let me know!

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Dogs with arthritis - Adequan - a great medication to ask your vet about!

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, affects a large number of my older canine and feline patients. When addressing early arthritis for many of my patients, I often recommend a combination of weight management, omega-3 fatty acids, an excellent chondroitin/glucosamine supplement (my favorite is Dasuquin), and for some canine patients, a prescription diet such as Joint Management by Purina. For moderate or severe arthritis, in addition to the aforementioned treatments, I will also prescribe pain management medications as needed, and I often also recommend Adequan injections.

Adequan is a polysulfated glycoaminoglycan (GAG). It is a building block of cartilage. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties of its own that helps slow down the actual damage to the cartilage. Adequan, and other GAGs, also promote enzyme systems that help with joint repair, and also help the joints create more lubricating fluid.

When injected, Adequan is distributed to the joints.

Adequan is very safe and is well tolerated. It is given on a tapering dose, typically once a week for 4-6 weeks, then every other week for 4-8 treatments, then once every 3-4 weeks as needed. If a reduction in efficacy is noted, the frequency is increased. It can take several months to notice a positive response.

Adequan can be administered by your veterinarian. You can also be instructed how to administer the medication to your pet, which may reduce the overall cost of the treatment.

Adequan works well with glucosamine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and omega 3 fatty acids.

It should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease or clotting abnormalities. Rarely, diarrhea or injection site pain or inflammation can occur.

I have been pleased with Adequan for its ability to reduce pain and inflammation in a number of my canine and feline patients. While it hasn’t worked for all patients, and does not seems as effective for arthritis of the hip and back, in general it seems to be a very effective treatment option for moderate to severe osteoarthritis.

More information about Adequan can be found here:  http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1800

Written by:

Laura Devlin Bacon, DVM DABVP

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice
Knoxville, Tennessee 
drlaura@lapoflove.com
www.lapoflove.com

Here are some other tips to help with an aging dog or cat that suffers from arthritis. Click here

Options for Arthritis in Dogs: Not another article about drugs by Shelley R. Epstein, VMD, CVH

First, could your dog have arthritis?Arthritis can affect dogs of any age.This condition develops typically when the bones of a joint don’t move normally. The smooth lining of the joint, known as the cartilage, starts to wear down, and this is painful. Over time- weeks, months, and years- the body responds by forming new bone that looks like bone spurs on X-rays. The joints may swell, and the nice sticky joint fluid, or synovial fluid, becomes thin and watery, losing its ability to lubricate the joints. The most common locations for arthritis are the knees, hips, and elbows, with the wrists (carpi) and hocks (tarsi) less commonly affected.

Arthritis can develop in the knees secondary to a condition known as “luxating patellas,” which is fancy terminology for the knee cap moving around in the wrong direction- side to side, versus up and down in its designated groove. This condition affects mostly small dogs. People often report that their dog “skips” when on walks- that’s actually the kneecap locking in the wrong position, then moving back into its correct position. 

Arthritis can also develop in the knees after an “ACL” tear. This is a torn ligament in the knee, and it results in the knee being unable to move in its normal hinge motion. The result is the abnormal wear in the cartilage. Even dogs that have had surgical repair of torn ACLs will develop some degree of arthritis in that knee. This can be severe, too. The dog may persistently limp or act stiff in that leg. We see a lot of this condition in Pit Bulls and Labs, especially.

Larger breeds can develop arthritis in the hips secondary to poor formation of the hips known as hip dysplasia. German Shepherds, Labs, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweilers commonly suffer from this condition, but it can affect any breed. These dogs are slow to rise from lying down, especially after they’ve been lying for a while. Slippery surfaces are particularly difficult for them.

The veterinary pharmaceutical companies have been particularly effective in marketing drug answers for arthritis. The pain is gone within hours and the dogs can run through beautiful fields of grass. At WAH, we reserve these drugs for our cases that don’t respond to any other therapies. Why? It turns out that all of these drugs can have side effects, including potentially fatal ones. If your dog is placed on one of these drugs, it would have to have bloodwork testing every 3 months to make sure the liver and kidneys are still happy. And you would need to keep a very close eye on the stools to make sure there is no evidence of bleeding from the stomach or intestines. (The stools would look dark and tarry, signaling digested blood.)

What are the kinder therapies that we recommend at WAH?

The simplest therapies are joint supplements containing GAGs, which is short for glycosaminoglycans, and which is why we like to shorten that to GAGs. You’ve probably heard of glucosamine and chondroitin. These are GAGs. The green-lipped mussel is also a natural source of GAGs, and VetriScience makes a wonderful supplement from this called Glycoflex Classic. Most dogs find relief and an increase in joint function on this supplement. Some dogs, in more advanced stages of arthritis, require even more joint support, and VetriScience makes levels 1, 2, and 3 for these dogs. By the time you get to the Glycoflex 3, they’ve thrown in just about every nutritional supplement known to help joints, and it seems to work.

For the past year, we’ve also been using Trixsyn, which is a joint supplement made from hyaluronic acid, or “HA,” that is actually made by bacteria. HA is the substance that bathes the joints. This particular supplement, when taken orally, has been shown in studies to go directly to the joints. It seems to work well when Glycoflex doesn’t. This supplement is in an almost-tasteless thick liquid form.

Ozzie: Read his story:http://wilmingtonanimalhospital.com/site/view/143142_OzziesLaserTestimonial.pml

For the past 3 years, we’ve been offering laser therapy.  We use a Class IV laser, which is the most effective in treating arthritis. The dogs just hang out with the owners while a tech runs a probe over and around the affected joint(s). Depending on the size of the dog, this takes anywhere from 4 minutes (one knee in a small dog) to 16 minutes (2 hips in a large dog). While the laser is stimulating all the good inflammation and squelching the bad inflammation, while the cartilage is being stimulated to heal, and while the nerve pain is going away, the dog’s happy hormones known as endorphins start to flow, making this a great experience all around. The results have been AMAZING.  For more information, visit: http://wilmingtonanimalhospital.com/site/view/137905_ClassIVLaserTherapy.pml

Acupuncture is another therapy that we have found to be very effective in treating arthritis and the rest of the dog that is sporting the bad joints. We have two veterinarians on staff, Drs. Green and Hanna, who are trained in acupuncture. This usually requires a series of 4 weekly treatments. For more information on acupuncture, visit: http://wilmingtonanimalhospital.com/services_acupuncture.php

Steve Fries, DC, has been our right arm for many years now. He’s a chiropractor who’s trained for over 1000 hours in animal chiropractic, and who devotes most of his practice to animals. He’s been coming to WAH to adjust our patients for over 10 years.  Most dogs with arthritis develop misalignments (known as subluxations) in their spines secondary to shifting the weight unequally. Some throw out their backs at the time of the trauma that resulted in the ACL tear, for example. Dr. Fries has been absolutely indispensible in our anti-arthritis drive. By realigning the spines and working on the arthritic joints, he’s restored the quality of life to hundreds of our patients. Here’s more on Dr. Fries: http://wilmingtonanimalhospital.com/veterinarians.php

And finally, the diet. Many dogs find relief from converting to a raw or home-cooked diet. It seems that the less the food is processed, the more anti-inflammatory it is for the dog. We’ll talk about diets for dogs in a later blog. For now, you can visit:http://wilmingtonanimalhospital.com/info_nutrition.php