Arthritis in Dogs

Arthritis is a complex condition involving inflammation of one or more joints. There are many causes of arthritis in pets. In most cases, the arthritis is a progressive degenerative disease that worsens with age.

The most common type of secondary arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA) which is also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Some common causes of secondary arthritis include obesity, hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, and so forth. Other causes include joint infection, often as the result of bites (septic arthritis), or traumatic injury such as a car accident.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of arthritis.
Analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common form of treatment for osteoarthritis. Other medications such as Gabapentin may also be used. The most common side-effects of analgesics include decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Pre-medication blood tests may be performed to make sure that the pet can safely metabolize and eliminate the medication and then periodic blood tests are necessary to ensure continued safe usage.

Nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and/or chondroitin, are also helpful in many cases. Talk with you veterinarian about these safe and simple to administer nutritional supplements and whether your pet could benefit from their use. Combining omega-3 fatty acids with glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate and NSAID therapy will help the majority of patients suffering from OA.