Dogs can experience joint pain at any age. However, it's most often diagnosed in senior dogs. Though many dog owners notice their older dog slowing down as they enter their golden years, this is not necessarily due to natural causes and may be caused by joint pain instead of old age.
How do you know if a dog has joint pain?
Identifying joint pain in dogs can be challenging, especially since dogs often hide discomfort. Here are some signs that may indicate your dog is experiencing joint pain:
- Limping or Lameness: If your dog favors one leg over the other, it may indicate joint pain.
- Stiffness: Especially noticeable after rest or sleep.
- Reluctance to Move: Hesitation to climb stairs, jump, or play.
- Swelling: Around the joint area.
- Behavioral Changes: Increased irritability, depression, or aggression.
- Difficulty Rising: Struggling to stand up after lying down.
What causes joint pain in dogs?
Problems that trigger a dog's joint pain can fall into one of a few categories: developmental joint issues, or acute injuries.
Developmental Joint Issues
Genetics can cause developmental joint issues for some dogs. If your dog's joints develop improperly starting when they are young, this can lead to more serious conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia.
Several dog breeds, particularly large and giant breeds, are susceptible to a variety of joint issues that can lead to painful joints. For example, Bernese mountain dogs often develop elbow dysplasia, while Rottweilers are prone to ankle and knee joint problems. Newfoundlands are one breed that's most likely to develop issues with the cranial cruciate ligament (which is similar to a person's anterior cruciate ligament).
If you've decided to purchase a dog from a breeder, ask about any predispositions your chosen lineage or breed may have to joint issues. While you should receive this information from any reputable breeder upfront, it's a good idea to ask if you don't receive it.
Degenerative Joint Issues
Degenerative joint problems develop over time. In these cases, the cartilage in a dog's joints deterioriates, or tendon injuries happen. Cruciate ligament issues are the most common type of joint problem. Tissues degenerate over time and with repeated use, which causes pain and more severe problems.
The underlying cause of degenerative joint issues can vary widely, from stress fractures to osteoarthritis. However, these often occur in larger dogs whose weight places more stress on their joints over time.
Acute Injuries
Sprains and strains are common injuries. A sprain is a stretch or tear in the ligament, which is a band of strong connective tissue that join two bones together.
On the other hand, a strain is an injury to the muscle itself, or the tendons that connect bones to muscles. While athletic dogs can experience strains, this can also happen if your dog slips, falls, or jumps while playing. Strains commonly occur in a dog's hips or thighs.
Ligaments are bands of strong connective tissue that connect two bones together, while tendons are bands of connective tissue that connect bones to muscles.
There are various types of sprains and strains in dogs, including:
- Achilles tendon injury/avulsion (rupture): Injury to the tendon in the heel
- Bicipital tendinopathy: Injury to the tendon in the arm
- Carpal hyperextension: Injury to the ligaments in the wrist
- Iliopsoas muscle strain: Injury to the muscle in the hip
- Supraspinatus tendinopathy: Injury to the tendon in the shoulder
Infections
Joint infections, or septic arthritis, occur when fungi or bacteria or introduced into the nutrient-dense joint fluid, leading to an infection.
Joint infections typically develop after a wound occurs near or over a joint, but can also develop due to widespread bacterial infection in the body or after joint infections.
Some factors can leave a dog more vulnerable to septic arthritis. For example, this condition is more common in dogs that have:
- Diabetes mellitus, Addison's disease and other diseases that suppress the immune system
- Osteoarthritis or other joint damage
- Injections into a joint
- Trauma that penetrates a joint (gunshot, bite wound, migrating foreign body like a grass awn)
- Surgery involving a joint
How can you help a dog with joint pain?
The approach to each dog's joint pain is unique. To create a treatment plan, your vet must examine your dog to identify the underlying causes of its joint pain. Conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia may require surgical intervention. In contrast, if caught early, some degenerative joint conditions can be treated with nutrition, rehabilitation, and exercise as your vet prescribes.
Most treatments will also involve evaluating your dog's weight and size. If your dog is overweight, it is placing additional strain on its joints, and a diet may be recommended to help alleviate the burden on their pained joints.
While the specific treatment may vary, the primary objective of addressing joint pain in your dog is to restore their regular mobility and level of activity. This is particularly crucial as well-developed muscles around your pup's joints can help diminish the stress and strain on their joints. An active dog is a healthy one.
Cold Laser Therapy for Joint Pain in Dogs at Van Roekel & Associates
Cold laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment our vets in North Fort Myers offer to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation while facilitating healing in dogs with joint pain.
This treatment involves using a handheld device emitting low-level lasers. The light emitted penetrates the skin and tissue, stimulating cellular activity and enhancing blood circulation in the affected area.
The treatment sessions are typically short and generally safe, with no reported side effects.
When to Seek Professional Help
Always consult a veterinarian if you notice any signs of joint pain in your dog, such as visible discomfort, validation of pain, swelling around the joint, or fever. This could be a sign of infection.
Early intervention can prevent further deterioration and improve your dog's quality of life. A veterinarian at our animal hospital in North Fort Myers can provide a comprehensive diagnosis and tailor a treatment plan specific to your dog's needs.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet to accurately diagnose your pet's condition.