Arthritis is defined simply as the inflammation of a joint. In dogs, this term tends to refer to osteoarthritis (“OA,” also called degenerative joint disease, or “DJD”). Osteoarthritis is a syndrome characterized by bone remodeling, low-grade inflammation and degenerative, progressive and permanent deterioration of the articular cartilage of joints.
The symptoms of arthritis in dogs appear very gradually, and then they progressively worsen over time. Arthritis causes pain, and this pain will cause arthritic dogs to slow down. Dogs with arthritis may begin to get up slower in the mornings, they may take longer to ‘warm up’ and get moving.
Fortunately today there are many non-surgical treatment options for arthritis in dogs. These treatments can be effectively used to treat mild, moderate, and even severe cases of arthritis, and they include: supplements which support joint health, weight management, acupuncture, NSAIDS, and steroidal therapies.
In extreme cases of arthritis, surgical procedures can be used to improve a dog’s quality of life and relieve the painful and debilitating symptoms that are associated with severe arthritis.