Osteoarthritis and Decreased Mobility
Arthritis, directly translated, is joint inflammation. With this condition, there is often pain, swelling, and stiffness. Arthritis is generally categorized into two forms, noninflammatory joint disease and inflammatory joint disease. Noninflammatory disease includes osteoarthritis, trauma, and neoplastic (from abnormal growth of cells). Inflammatory disease is from infection or immune mediated responses.
The most common form of arthritis and the one I will focus on today, is osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease. It is caused by the changes of the cartilage and the subchondral bone (the layer of bone located just beneath the cartilage) as well as the soft tissue (synovium, muscle, ligaments, and joint capsule). These changes occur as a dog ages due to microtrauma, loss of muscle mass, increased fat, decreased bone mass, and decreased production of certain hormones.
There are many factors that may contribute to degenerative joint disease (DJD):
Congenital:
Conformational deformities of the limbs
Conformational defects (i.e. bowlegged, straight hocks)
Bleeding into the joints such as with hemophilia
Developmental:
Osteochondritis dissecans
Ununited anconeal or coronoid processes
Hip dysplasia or elbow luxations
Premature growth plate closure resulting angular limb deformity
Other conditions such as patellar luxations
Acquired:
Damage to the articular bone surfaces (from trauma, fractures, unusual stress on the area)
Damage to the joint’s supporting structures (tendons, ligaments, menisci)
Aseptic necrosis (i.e. Legg-Calve-Perthes)
Neuropathies
Obesity
SIGNS OF OA
Pain: You may see lameness in the affected limb and changes in how the dog walks, sits, lies down, or gets up
Stiffness: Often seen as slow moving upon waking in the morning or from a nap, that takes several minutes to “walk out of”
Crepitus: This is the crunchy, grinding sound you can hear with movement of the joint due to the irregular joint surfaces
Muscle atrophy: due to disuse because of the pain
TREATMENT
In an acute flare up, rest and anti-inflammatory medication is best. Ice packs may also help decrease pain and inflammation. In more chronic conditions, heat is more beneficial as well as regular, light, controlled exercise to help maintain range of motion, reduce stiffness, and improve comfort. Modifications to your dog’s normal routine may be recommended, such as frequent short walks rather than one 30 minute walk. The frequent short walks help to decrease stiffness and improve the joint’s nutrition, whereas a long walk may aggravate symptoms of pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
In severe conditions, surgery may be recommended if the bone is severely damaged and/or the discomfort is not manageable by other methods.
The use of chondroprotective agents (injectable medication) or nutraceuticals (oral supplements) may be used to try to slow the progression of OA and improve comfort. There are many nutraceuticals out there and all claim to be the best, but not all have the research behind them to support the claims. Some common ones are glucosamine/chondroitin, green lipped muscle, tumeric, hyaluronic acid, undenatured Type II Collagen, egg shell membrane, and boswellia extract, or combinations of these. From the information I have read, the one with the most supported research behind it is Omega 3 fatty acids from a marine source, but I encourage you to speak with your veterinarian and do your own research into what may help your pet the best.
If your dog is obese, the best thing you can do for him is get his weight into the normal range which will relieve pressure on the joints. Veterinarians use a Body Condition Score to determine your pet’s body type. Ideal is 5/9, however if your dog has any of the developmental conditions mentioned above, it may be recommended that they are more in the range of 4/9 to 4.5/9 to keep them lean and reduce strain on the joints.
Rehabilitation is also an excellent way to help your pet suffering from OA. There are many techniques your provider can utilize to improve comfort in your dog and then can guide you through a home exercise program to help maintain range of motion, strength, and comfort. If your dog is older and is having difficulty with transitions or needs help getting up from a lying position, your rehab professional can work with you on ways to assist your dog or recommend a harness to use so that it is safe for both you and your pet. The same applies for getting them in and out of the car or in and out of the house. There are many types of ramps, stairs, and assistive devices out there, but determining which one is best for your pet isn’t always easy, but we are here to help!
A great overall owner resource is CARE (Canine Arthritis Resources and Education). Check it out for lots of information and guidelines for helping your pet.
References:
DeCamp, C.E., Johnston, S.A., Dejardin, L.M., Schaefer, S.L. (2016). Brinker, Piermattei, and Flo’s Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair (5th edition), Elsevier
Millis, Darryl L. & Levine, David. (2014). Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (2nd edition), Elsevier
Zink, Chris & Van Dyke, Janet B. (2018). Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (2nd edition), WILEY Blackwell
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (2025). Dog Body Condition Score (BCS) Chart & Assessment Guide, https://www.petobesityprevention.org/dogbcs
Canine Arthritis Resources and Education. Pet Parents Dashboard, https://caninearthritis.org/pet-parent/
Up Next Week: Soft Tissue Injuries