KSAH - Osteoarthritis in Dogs
Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital
5/207 Balcatta Road
Balcatta WA 6021 AU
08 9447 4644
[email protected]
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Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Osteoarthritis or arthritis is the irreversible and progressive deterioration of joints that causes pain and a reduction in joint motion. It can severely limit your pet’s quality of life.

Although arthritis is not curable, the good news is that there are several strategies we can use to help manage the condition, relieve pain and improve quality of life. Early treatment is key to prevent progression of the condition and ‘wind-up’ of pain. Wind-up is the sensitisation of nerve pathways to pain making things feel more painful or sensitive the longer the pain persists and makes chronic pain more resistant to treatment.

Common signs of arthritis in a dog:

  • Stiffness, especially after resting.
  • Difficulty or hesitancy in jumping or climbing stairs.
  • Difficulty rising from lying down.
  • Prefers to lie down rather than sit or stand.
  • Lack of interest in exercise and games.
  • Long nails from less movement.

These changes can develop gradually over time making them easy to miss initially. It is important to actively monitor for these signs of chronic pain as the earlier management is started the better.

MANAGEMENT

Arthritis management is based on decreasing pain and clinical signs, slowing disease progression, and improving the quality of life. Management is multimodal and must be sustained, and regular follow up is important to ensure we are successfully managing your pet's condition. 

Keys to successful arthritis management involves:

  • Weight control
  • Exercise modification
  • Environmental modification and enrichment
  • Joint supplements/nutraceuticals
  • Pain management
  • Joint stabilisation via surgical options

Weight Control

Keeping your pet at its ideal weight is important as the increased weight will increase the pressure on the pet’s joints (both the physical weight and the fact that fat tissue is pro-inflammatory) and lead to further inflammation and pain.

Exercise Modification

It's important to maintain regular moderate exercise. Joint movement can stimulate joint lubrication and increase mobility.

Shorter, more frequent walks are better than long occasional walks. Never push your pet to do more than it can and if your pet is stiffer or more uncomfortable the following day then you have done too much.

Dogs are really poor at knowing when to stop exercising. So, avoid exercises such as chasing a ball to avoid repeated twisting, turning, or stopping as this can cause further joint inflammation.

Swimming is a great form of exercise as it is a weightless exercise that helps build muscle to support the joints. Using a buoyancy vest can help reduce a pet’s fear of the water and prevent them from tiring.

Environmental Modification

Minor adjustments at home can do wonders for the quality of life of a dog with osteoarthritis.

  • Provide a warm environment as cold weather can worsen symptoms.
  • Place beds away from cold draughts and invest in a good quality orthopaedic bed.
  • Avoid slippery areas such as tiles or place non-slip surfaces down to aid in mobility.
  • Provide ramps instead of stairs to avoid jumping or falls.
  • Provide assistance in and out of the car.
  • Trim nails more often as less active pets have less opportunity to wear down their nails.

Joint Supplements

Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements that can also help manage arthritis and work best earlier in the disease process.

  • Prescription diets with added omega fatty acids such as Hills j/d or Delicate Care mobility. These diets also help maintain an optimum weight.
  • 4-cyte oral joint supplement containing Epitalis.

Pentosan

Pentosan is an injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG) and is a disease modifying drug which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and joint protective actions. Pentosan consists of a course of 4 injections 5-7 days apart. This can be followed up by monthly injections or by repeating the 4 injection course every 3-12 months.

Beransa

Beransa is a safe and very effective treatment for arthritis in dogs. It is a monoclonal antibody therapy delivered as a monthly injection. It helps reduce arthritic pain and prevent the progression of the disease. Follow this link for more info on Beransa.

Pain Medications

Pain medication is an important tool in managing arthritis. 

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are a very effective anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication for arthritis. They are prescribed based on the health and weight of the pet and must be closely monitored for side effects, with regular blood tests if your pet is on them long term.
  • Gabapentin is a safe medication that can be used for chronic neuropathic pain associated with arthritis. It may cause sedation.

Summary

Osteoarthritis is a common and often underdiagnosed condition in our pets. It causes chronic pain and can significantly affect your pets quality of life.  It is important to actively monitor for signs to ensure early management of disease. Although we can not cure arthritis, we have lots of tools we can use to help manage the disease, relieving pain, slowing progression and improving quality of life. It’s important to remember to continually monitor your pet so changes can be made in your pet's treatment when necessary.