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Did you know that just like humans, dogs could suffer from arthritis too? A survey conducted across the U.S. showed 1 out of every 5 dogs suffer this chronic disorder – that’s eight million dogs in the U.S. alone!
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Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that causes chronic and severe pain in dogs. The continuous degeneration of bone cartilage causes movement and pressure on the joint to become more painful until it is simply unmanageable. One culprit for the disease is the normal aging process; elderly dogs are in the high-risk category. But osteoarthritis can also strike the young and occur from an injury or a predisposing condition such as dysplasia, where there’s an abnormal development and conformation of the involved bones and joint as in the elbow or the hip. Lucky for humans, when they begin to experience this condition they can verbalize it and immediately seek medical aid. Unfortunately, our dogs, our best friends, cannot always immediately tell us when they are in pain.
So how do you as a pet owner identify the presence of pain in your dog? This can be difficult because a dog can’t speak to us where it hurts. Besides, an animal will instinctively hide his pain, either because he feels threatened or because he does not want to appear vulnerable. The key to unlocking a pet’s physical state lies in the pet owner’s powers of observation: have there been any significant changes in your dogs’ behavior? Consider this – a dog’s daily activities include taking walks, chasing balls in the backyard, and even jumping on their loved ones to show their affection. In the presence of osteoarthritis, these normal actions become taxing and the dog begin to avoid moving any more than he has to.
Osteoarthritis worsens as time passes. At the onset, signs of the disease may be subtle. While taking a walk, you might notice a slight stiffness and lameness in your dog’s gait. Perhaps during a bath, he whimpers from being touched at a certain limb. Later, you’ll notice your dog licking that limb. You’ll think this indicates fleas but actually your dog is trying to rid himself of his pain.
If such signs go unchecked, the disease will move into the moderate stage. Now the dog will walk with shorter strides, and his stiffness will be more pronounced. He might eat lying down and be slow to rise even when finished. The dog maybe reluctant to climb steps. And he may not be as eager to play ball in the backyard. Occasionally, you may hear your dog whining or whimpering for no apparent reason.
Finally, if osteoarthritis is allowed to advance further into the severe stage, the dogs’ quality-of-life will have been most seriously compromised. It will now be difficult to miss the dogs’ behavioral changes. At this stage, dogs are reluctant to rise or walk further than a few steps. He will lie around all day, disinterested in the sights and sounds around him. You may hear your dog often whining or whimpering and he will not let the affected joint be touched, so great is the discomfort and pain.
The aforementioned signs are some very real indications to the presence of osteoarthritis. However, take note dog owners: animals react differently to their pain and discomfort. Just as no two people experience the exact same level of pain from arthritis, no two dogs will express their discomfort in the same manner. Some may become quiet and withdrawn while others grow more restless and aggressive. If your dog is experiencing osteoarthritis, perhaps there will be blatant signs of the disease, perhaps only small, telling changes in the dogs’ behavior. But no one will be better equipped to recognize these signs than you, the dog’s owner. Use common sense and empathy – what you think that will hurt and discomfort you, most likely will hurt and discomfort your dog.
It is strongly advised that pet owners bring their dogs to the veterinarian at least once a year. The older the dog, the greater the need and responsibility to monitor his health. Studies show that a large percentage of dogs between the ages of eight and ten begin to exhibit the symptoms of arthritis. Turn to your veterinarian for advice and the best treatment possible. Animals react differently to type and dosage of medication so it’s imperative a qualified veterinarian be involved in prescribing the appropriate treatment for your dog’s pain.
Your dog’s well being resides largely in your hands. They cannot talk to tell us where they hurt; it is up to his human caregivers – you and your veterinarian – to provide pain relief. If you notice any changes in your dogs’ behavior or just suspect he’s in pain, don’t hesitate: bring him to the veterinarian right away.
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