Arthritis Pain in Dogs

Updated: May 24, 2022

Arthritis pain in dogs is one of the most common illnesses that affect your dog's joints. It can happen to any dog, not just in senior dogs. As arthritis takes place, the affected joints will cause pain to your furbaby.

Arthritis in dogs

Arthritis in dogs is inflammation of the joints. This happens because a dog's joints are covered with smooth cartilage and joint fluid that allows the joints to move over one another with the least amount of friction. With arthritis, cartilage is damaged and becomes less smooth, causing the bones to rub painfully against each other.

"Arthritis pain in dogs is one of the most common illnesses that affect your dog's joints. It can happen to any dog, not just in senior dogs."

Arthritis pain discomfort: symptoms

Arthritis pain can lead to many signs of discomfort. The following includes:

  • Limping. With arthritis, your furbaby will be limping on one or more of his legs. Some limping can go unnoticeable, some appear to be much worse.
  • Moving difficulties. Arthritis pain also causes your furbaby to move and do things with difficulty even if he used to do those things comfortably before. Your dog will act reluctant towards walks, playtime, going for car rides, playing fetch, etc.
  • Spinal problems. Arthritis also causes big changes in some parts of your furbaby's spine. These problems can include an abnormal posture, a sore neck, a "hunch" back, and sudden lameness on either one or more legs.
  • Lack of energy. Your furbaby gets tired easily. Walking can become slower and shorter as it is painful for your pet.
  • Mood changes. Pets with arthritis are irritable. They may snap at anyone when approached, especially at strangers.
  • Possibility of muscle atrophy. Your pet who has arthritis can develop muscle atrophy (dying off of the muscle tissue because of inactivity).
  • Licking, chewing, biting. Your furbaby will begin to lick, bite or chew the body areas that are affected by arthritis.

According to The Kennel Club, arthritis is usually a problem in older dogs, but the condition can develop from an early age due to problems with bone and joint development. Depending on the cause, arthritis may affect one joint, or any number of your dog's joints. Most cases develop as a result of abnormal rubbing within the joint caused by:

  • joint instability (e.g. after ligament damage
  • damage to or abnormal cartilage developmen
  • damage caused by trauma (e.g. fractures

Managing arthritis pain in dogs

As science and medicine continue to evolve, there are a lot of therapy options available today that target joint and arthritis pain. However, there is no single treatment, management or prevention method for arthritis in dogs. To be able to manage arthritis and the pain that comes with it, you should:

Focus on weight control. Weight control greatly depends on what you feed your furbaby and how often. Dogs who are fed in an unlimited manner (feeds whenever the dog wants to eat) are at risk for obesity. Ideally, you should give your dog two to three meals a day instead of providing food at all times According to VCA Hospitals ,  the most recent scientific data reveals that moderate excess weight alone actually shortens a dog’s life expectancy by as much as two years. Being overweight and obese set the stage for increased risk of joint damage and subsequent osteoarthritis, leading to chronic pain.  As a responsible pet parent, you should be very conscious of your furbaby's feeding time and the quality of food  they are  eating.

Provide quality dog food. Preventing your furbaby from becoming obese also depends on the type of foodthey ar eating. Provide your dog with high-quality dog food composed of fiber, whole foods, protein, calories, minerals, et that fits your furbaby's age, activity level, and weight

Exercise management. It is always best for your furbaby to get those bones and muscles moving. Expose your dog early to doing exercise that are easy on the joints like swimming and walking. These exercises also helkeep the joints healthy and help reduce the chances of cramps, sprains, and muscle injuries in your dog.

Provide a comfortable environment.Give your pup well-padded bedding that will keepthe dry, warm and away from the cold. It is not advisable for your dog to lay flat on bare ground or on the hard floor. You can opt to use Pawtect® Pad that are waterproof, leakproof, & equipped withStickyPa™ backing. It grips the floor providing an anti-slip grip so your furbaby can roll over anytimethe want Also, make sure to it that your furbaby is not laying down on any wet or cold surfaces as this will only worsen arthritis pain 

Supplements. There are a numbr of joint supplements available in the market that promote hip, joint and cartilage health but only a few are of high-quality and from trusted brands. One of these is Pet Parents® Hip and Joint SoftSupps® for dogs that can help in maintaining your furbaby's joints and lessens the symptoms of arthritic pain. What makes it stand out from all other joint supplements is that it hasGlucosamine HCL,a compound that helps create a cushion around your furbaby's joints, promoting flexibility & relief from pain & discomfort and boosting the repair of the cartilage. It also has one of the purest forms ofMethylsulfonylmethan (MSM) in the world,PurforMS, providing a variety of health-promoting benefits boiling down to mobility support, joint issue prevention, and joint stress improvement.

Consult your vet.The above ways mentioned will be more effective if you consult your vet about it for proper diagosis and treatment plans for your furbaby's arthritis pain. They always know what’s best and saf for our pets

Note: Joint supplements are not a cure for arthritis pain. They are only meant to supplement, help support joint health, and can only enhance the medical management of arthritis pain in dogs and are not meant to stand as a cure. These supplements work well with a healthy & balanced diet and exercise to help prevent hip and joint issues.

"It has Glucosamine HCL, a compound that helps create a cushion around your furbaby's joints, promoting flexibility & relief from pain & discomfort and boosting the repair of the cartilage. "

Arthritis pain in dogs can be avoided by doing a combination of things, such as the ones mentioned above. As pet parents, we all strive to support and raise fit & healthy dogs, for a happier and healthier life.