Osteoarthritis (OA) affects at least 20% of dogs over one year old and 80% of dogs over eight years old. It is a complex condition that involves inflammation and degeneration of one or more joints. It is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Dogs with OA experience joint pain and inflammation that interfere with daily activities.
OA is diagnosed through a physical examination, palpation (feeling with the fingers to localize pain and determine its intensity), and additional diagnostics, including radiographs (X-rays) and other imaging technology.
What are the clinical signs of arthritis?
Dogs can exhibit many different signs when they have OA, and they do not necessarily demonstrate all the same signs all the time. The most common signs dog owners may notice include:
- Difficulty getting up and down
- Walking slowly; they may be beside or behind you instead of ahead of you
- One or more enlarged or swollen joints
- Additional or worsening calluses over pressure points
- Slight hunches over the spine
- Weight shifting to one side or to the front or back
- Lameness in one or more legs
- Hesitation before going up or down steps
- Hesitation to jump up or down (e.g., onto or off furniture)
- Reluctance to be touched on some parts of the body
- Loss of stamina, being slower on walks or cutting them short
- Unexpected aggression toward other dogs or humans
- Abnormal coat pattern: hairs lifting away from or flattening to the body when they didn’t before
What causes OA?
There is no single cause of OA. Many factors influence its development, including:
- Body conformation (how a dog is built)
- Body condition and weight (excess weight and obesity are highly correlated with OA)
- Abnormal joint development (e.g., hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas)
- Activity history
- Injury history (e.g., past fracture, ligament damage, muscle injury, joint infection)
- Orthopedic surgery
- Nutritional history
Most dogs with OA experience a combination of these factors as their OA develops and progresses. It is now clear that simple aging is not a cause of OA.
How is OA treated?
Unfortunately, there is no “magic bullet” treatment OA. The goal is to manage OA rather than treat it, because OA cannot be cured. OA is a complex disease, so managing it is also complex, and the best results come from combining multiple treatment modalities. Typical multimodal management of OA includes the following:
Nutrition
Normalizing body condition is critical, so your veterinarian may prescribe a specific diet to accomplish this goal. There is a nutrient profile that can support the joints while helping to normalize body weight and condition. It is important to strictly follow the prescribed nutritional program.
Pain Medication
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally the first treatment used to address the pain of OA. Common drugs include meloxicam (Metacam® and other trade names), carprofen (Rimadyl®), deracoxib (Deramaxx®), grapiprant (Galliprant®), robenacoxib (Onsior®), and firocoxib (Firodyl®). Your veterinarian will determine if your dog is a good candidate for this class of medication.
In extremely rare circumstances, a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drug will be prescribed instead of an NSAID. The two classes of medication CANNOT be used together.
Gabapentin is a pain medication that addresses chronic pain differently from NSAIDs or corticosteroids and complements those medications. It addresses the chronic nature of OA pain and is especially helpful when the patient is older and unable to take an NSAID.
Other Drug Therapies
A newer drug called bedinvetmab (Librela®) is an injection that lasts for a full month. This medication is a species-specific, anti-nerve growth factor (anti-NGF) monoclonal antibody. NGF is elevated in arthritic joints and contributes to pain from OA. Bedinvetmab works to block this pain.
Other less commonly used drugs include tramadol, amantadine, and acetaminophen, but they are less effective unless paired with other drugs mentioned above. Never reach into your own medicine cabinet when your dog limps or has been diagnosed with OA.
Nutraceuticals
When a nutritional supplement has medicinal effects, it is called a nutraceutical. Many neutraceuticals are available, and many are labeled for use with joint disease. Common products include glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, and polysulfated glycosaminoglycans. Ask your veterinarian about the scientific data that supports any nutraceuticals prescribed.
Physical Therapy
Medical acupuncture can provide excellent pain relief for many dogs with OA, and other physical medicine disciplines like chiropractic and medical massage may be helpful.
Physical rehabilitation is a discipline that translates physical therapy techniques from human medicine to animal patients. These techniques include therapeutic laser, therapeutic exercise, joint mobilization, and hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill. Your veterinarian can refer you to a rehabilitation specialist.
Surgery
For the most extreme cases, surgical procedures can alleviate the pain associated with OA. Total hip replacements and femoral head/neck ostectomy (FHO) can be done with good results, as well as some joint arthrodesis (fusion) procedures. In very few patients, elbow or knee replacements may be considered.
Can I do anything else to help my dog be more comfortable?
There are simple ways you can help your dog with comfort and mobility, including:
- Provide soft, padded bedding
- Raise food and water dishes to elbow height
- Provide non-skid floor surfaces
- Provide a ramp or stool/step for entering and exiting a vehicle or getting on and off furniture
- Adhere to prescribed feeding and medication recommendations
What is the prognosis for my dog?
With appropriate management, dogs with OA can live a normal lifespan. Your veterinarian can provide specific guidance about lifestyle adjustments.
Can canine OA be prevented?
The most effective way to prevent OA is by allowing a dog to grow slowly as a puppy, maintaining a lean body condition throughout growth and into adulthood. Delaying spay and neuter procedures until dogs have reached full maturity (dependent on the breed) can help reduce the development of bone abnormalities. Growth abnormalities and injuries cannot always be predicted, so even your best efforts may not be enough to ward off OA in an older dog.
With slow growth, good nutrition, optimal body condition, and regular exercise, the odds of preventing or at least delaying OA are excellent. Your veterinarian will partner with you to create the best plan for your dog.