What is degenerative joint disease?
Degenerative joint disease can be progressive, or it can be acute. It affects dogs of all ages. If your dog is suffering from acute degenerative joint disease, it is usually because of an injury or trauma, and it progresses towards osteoarthritis. However, if the disease is progressive, your dog may not show any signs of pain until the later stages of degeneration. Degenerative joint disease is one of the more common diseases that affect dogs. While there may not yet be a perfect cure for this disease, it is possible to alleviate the accompanying symptoms with treatment.
Due to a consistent degeneration of tissue, cartilage, and the synovial fluid, your dog is said to be suffering from degenerative joint disease. In some cases, bony spurs grow around the joints caused by the friction because of a lack of the lubricating fluid between the bones. Degenerative joint disease is also known as osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of degenerative joint disease in dogs
Your dog may not express the pain caused by degenerative disease in its joints. This is why this disease is discovered only later when the disease is already in progress. If you see any signs of discomfort, consulting your dog’s vet is essential.
- A change in gait
- Difficulty in jumping into the car
- Unwilling to go up and down the stairs
- Lameness
- Difficulty in getting up from a sitting position
- Loss of appetite
- Weight gain
- Lack of interest in any activity
- Losing muscle mass
- Flinching due to pain, when touched
- A popping sound during movements
Causes of degenerative joint disease in dogs
The causes of primary degenerative joint disease have not been discovered, although in the case of the secondary joint disease the reason is clearer. If your dog has suffered from a trauma or shows abnormal wear and tear of the joints and cartilage or a congenital defect such as dysplasia, it can result in degenerative joint disease. These conditions are made worse due to obesity; Diabetes, long term steroid treatment, and hyperlaxity.
It is also not known if the cartilage damage occurs before or after changes to the synovial membrane. Cartilages can be affected by biological, chemical, or mechanical changes such as a few chronic conditions and ageing.
- Here’s a list of some of the causes:
- Cartilage layers splitting
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Floating kneecap (Patella luxation)
- Chronic shoulder instability
- Slipped epiphysis because of trauma
- Abnormal bone growth (Osteochondritis dissecans)
- Death of tissue
- Too much weight on the joints
- Age
- Stressed joints
- Systemic disorder
- Trauma or injury to the joints
Diagnosis of degenerative joint disease in dogs
When you see symptoms of discomfort or pain in your dog, visiting the vet is the first step. Your dog’s vet will review the medical history of your dog and do a physical examination. Your dog’s vet will also need information such as the start of the symptoms. The vet will need to know when you first noticed any signs of lameness or if there were any behavioural changes in your dog. Other questions will include if your dog has been showing signs of consistent pain or only when exercising; if there has been any recent injury; is your dog a sporting or working dog; and if there has been any previous treatment or prescriptions for medication.
The vet will first diagnose the primary cause of the degenerative joint disease so that any progression of the disease can be slowed down. For a thorough diagnosis, the vet will observe and physically examine your dog’s movements and the range of movement. This helps the vet notice if there is a thickening of joints or if there is a popping sound when manipulating a joint. Looking for muscular atrophy will also be part of the process.
Apart from the above, neurological testing will have to be ordered in case there are additional secondary causes. Blood tests and urinalysis are always included to understand the general health condition of your dog. X-rays will be used to check for decreasing spaces between joints, calcification, bone spurs or cysts, and densification.
Treatment of degenerative joint disease in dogs
Treatment involves handling the symptoms more than curing the generative disease in dogs. There are long term medicines that can help in reducing the pain and swelling of the joints. One of the more common medications is anti-inflammatory drugs.
Surgery may help in slowing the degenerative process and alleviate the symptoms. Surgery may include reconstructive procedures, joint replacement or removal, and removal of bone or cartilage fragments in a joint.
Almost always, physical therapy will be part of the treatment plan. It is helpful to maintain the current range of movement or increase it as far as possible. Exercises such as swimming, have been beneficial to muscle strengthening. Arthritic pain is often alleviated with massages, as well as hot and cold therapy.
Any treatment plan that is designed will be to prevent progressive degeneration and keeping the pain at bay. Some other recommendations of treatment include acupuncture, glucocorticoids, ultrasound therapy, etc.
Recovery from degenerative joint disease in dogs
Your dog may be on certain pain medication for life along with supplements such as Omega 3. Your dog may also need to have a change in diet to keep the weight under control. You will have to monitor your dog’s movements to look for further changes or if there is a reduction in the range of movement. Therapy will be revised based on the symptoms. Recovering fully from the degenerative joint disease may never be possible. However, limited activity, vet’s instructions, and physical therapy will help.
What can you do as a pet parent?
Take action as soon as you notice symptoms. Ensure that you schedule regular appointments with your dog’s vet so that any hint of joint disease can be spotted early. Treatment must be prompt so that your dog’s condition does not get worse. Ensure that all activities, diet, and exercise are managed, keeping in mind the pressure or stress to joints.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in VOSD Vet Advice™ is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical action which is provided by your vet. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For any emergency situation related to a dog’s health, please visit the nearest veterinary clinic.
