SHEET Osteoarthritis in dogs
Health info sheet
L' osteoarthritis
in the dog
What is osteoarthritis in dogs?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that manifests itself in persistent pain in the joints, caused by the abnormal wear and tear of the cartilage and the entire joint. It is a very common condition in dogs, and its incidence increases with age. It is a pathology very often under-diagnosed in cats.
The joints most commonly affected in dogs are the knee, hip and elbow. However, other joints, such as the shoulder, carpus and tarsus can also be affected. Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage of the affected joint.
The essential clinical element is the existence of chronic pain. When it reaches advanced clinical stages, the degree of disability can be very significant.
The clinical management of osteoarthritis is multimodal. It requires a combination of treatments, medicinal or surgical, in order to limit pain and inflammation.
It also and above all requires improvements in the lifestyle of the patient (and owners) in order to limit the aggravation of joint damage.
The joints most commonly affected in dogs are the knee, hip and elbow. However, other joints, such as the shoulder, carpus and tarsus can also be affected. Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage of the affected joint.
The essential clinical element is the existence of chronic pain. When it reaches advanced clinical stages, the degree of disability can be very significant.
The clinical management of osteoarthritis is multimodal. It requires a combination of treatments, medicinal or surgical, in order to limit pain and inflammation.
It also and above all requires improvements in the lifestyle of the patient (and owners) in order to limit the aggravation of joint damage.
How to establish the diagnosis of osteoarthritis in your dog?
Osteoarthritis is the main cause of articular pain "chronicle" of the dog and the cat. This is a complex pain involving local pain on the joint site affected but also pain amplified in the central nervous system by a phenomenon of hypersensitivity.
The cause of osteoarthritis can be a problem of conformation, malformation, disorder during growth or joint mechanics which requires surgical treatment.
For this reason, and because osteoarthritis requires prolonged medical treatment, it is imperative to confirm the diagnosis beforehand.
The lameness is a common sign of osteoarthritis, but not exclusive (especially in cats). Stiffness, difficulty getting up or lying down, difficulty jumping or on the stairs, tremors, spontaneous decreases in physical activity but also behavioral changes (vocalises, apathy, aggressiveness, apprehension, appetite disorders) are all regular signs reported and present in osteoarthritis.
All of these signs are frequently related to "ageing".
Osteoarthritis is the main cause of articular pain "chronicle" of the dog and the cat. This is a complex pain involving local pain on the joint site affected but also pain amplified in the central nervous system by a phenomenon of hypersensitivity.
The cause of osteoarthritis can be a problem of conformation, malformation, disorder during growth or joint mechanics which requires surgical treatment.
For this reason, and because osteoarthritis requires prolonged medical treatment, it is imperative to confirm the diagnosis beforehand.
The lameness is a common sign of osteoarthritis, but not exclusive (especially in cats). Stiffness, difficulty getting up or lying down, difficulty jumping or on the stairs, tremors, spontaneous decreases in physical activity but also behavioral changes (vocalises, apathy, aggressiveness, apprehension, appetite disorders) are all regular signs reported and present in osteoarthritis.
All of these signs are frequently related to "ageing".
At the end of the clinical examination and a discussion of the signs observed at home, additional examinations will be carried out (x-rays, CT sometimes).
It is according to all these elements that a treatment will be considered, discussed and implemented.
It is according to all these elements that a treatment will be considered, discussed and implemented.
This treatment is not only based on taking "traditional" medicines, it will also be important to review the lifestyle and diet of the sick animal (chondroprotective food supplements).
We can also set up support for functional rehabilitation or physiotherapy
(therapeutic laser sessions, balneotherapy, massages...)
Treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs by surgery:
When the cause of joint lameness is mechanical (abnormal conformation leading to mechanical overload such as elbow dysplasia or ligament weakness leading to instability such as rupture of the cruciate ligament), then the treatment is primarily surgical.
Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament, for example, is the most common and underdiagnosed cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. Its treatment is primarily surgical.
It is therefore necessary, for these diseases requiring surgical treatment, to quickly establish a precise diagnosis (including imaging examinations) so as not to delay the appropriate surgical treatment.
Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament, for example, is the most common and underdiagnosed cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. Its treatment is primarily surgical.
It is therefore necessary, for these diseases requiring surgical treatment, to quickly establish a precise diagnosis (including imaging examinations) so as not to delay the appropriate surgical treatment.
These interventions are all the more effective when they are carried out early in the degenerative process of the joint.
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Vetosud Veterinary Clinic
96 Avenue Carnot
11100 Narbonne
04-68-65-04-05
