Old age arthritis (or osteoarthritis) is very common in both humans and dogs, and can be regarded as the same disease. It is usually a result of the ongoing wear and tear and instability in the joints, although other factors such as injury, genetic makeup, infection, immune disease and cancer can also affect the progress of the disease. Commonly in dogs arthritis will affect the hips, shoulder, elbow, knee and spine.
A normal hip joint
Advanced osteoarthritisMost of these joints depend on a layer of cartilage acting as a cushion which also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. With arthritis the cartilage deteriorates (compare the purple areas above) so that movement of the bones becomes less smooth.

How do I know if my pet has Arthritis?

Some signs you may notice include pain or stiffness when getting up or down, difficulty in climbing steps or getting into the car and general laziness on walks.

It is worth noting that about 1 in 6 adult dogs suffer from the disease. If you see any of these signs it is recommended to present you dog to a veterinarian for correct diagnosis.

How can I help reduce the discomfort of osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is not a disease that we can cure but we can now do a lot to manage the disease and reduce the amount of discomfort for our animals.

1. Weight management
First and foremost this is the most important aspect of managing any animal with arthritis. Overweight animals will place proportionally more weight on their joints and therefore cause more localised inflammation and irritation to the joint and often this will hasten the progress of arthritis.

2. Exercise management
Exercise is a very important part of managing arthritis. Regular controlled exercise (such as leash walking, swimming, etc) is very beneficial for keeping the joints mobile and the muscles working well. Uncontrolled exercise (such as long off lead walks, etc) can cause permanent damage to the joints.

3. Home comfort
In mild cases, some simple steps taken at home will help to reduce the level of pain and discomfort. Ensure that your dog has a warm, comfortable place to sleep that is away from drafts. Plenty of bedding will help protect any sore joints.

4. Veterinary treatments
Various treatments are available to manage osteoarthritis in dogs. The best option for your dog will depend on a number of different factors involving your animal; such as age, severity of signs, progression of the disease process, and whether they have any other health problems. Importantly all arthritis patients should be accurately diagnosed before starting a treatment plan, and this usually requires x-rays to be taken of the affected area. An accurate diagnosis will enable your veterinarian to give you an idea of the prognosis and ensure that there are no other diseases (such as small bone fractures or cancer).

The different treatments that can be offered include:

(i) Disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs)

a. Cartrophen / Pentosan

These medications are given as a series of injections. 1 injection per week for 4 weeks. They are known as "chondroprotective agents" because they slow down the action of the proteins and metabolites that cause osteoarthritis and they also protect and support the damaged joint cartilage.

b. Cosequin DS / Sashas Blend / Shark’s cartilage powder

These are dietary supplements that contain Glucosamine and / or Chondroitin Sulphate. These two drugs act synergistically to aid the protection of joints and can be given on a long term basis and help to reduce inflammation.

ii) Non Steroidal Antiflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

a. Rimadyl / Metacam / Zubrin

These drugs, prescribed by your veterinarian, help to reduce inflammation around the joints and are potent pain killers. Although the latest generations of these medications have improved and have very limited side effects they still require the liver and kidneys to work harder and may very occasionally cause some gastric ulceration.

These side effects can be monitored by your veterinarian and action taken if required to prevent any problems.

(iii) Steroids
Steroids such as prednisolone are very potent anti-inflammatory agents and can offer strong pain relief for patients suffering from severe osteoarthritis. Unfortunately they also can have side effects and their use needs to be closely monitored with your veterinarian.

(iv) Surgery
a. Total Hip Replacements
b. Canine Hip Joint Denervation
c. Femoral Head and Neck excision arthroplasty