Remedies for Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Osteoarthritis, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), affects one out of five dogs. Joint trauma, hip dysplasia, patella luxation, ruptured cruciate ligaments and other conditions can lead to DJD in dogs of all ages. However, osteoarthritis appears more in large-breed dogs than smaller breeds. DJD is a progressive disease that continually gets worse and is not curable. With the right treatment, reducing pain and slowing down cartilage damage is possible.

  1. Weight Control

    • Weight control is necessary for treatments to work in controlling osteoarthritis and many other dog diseases. While some dog breeds such as Labrador retrievers and beagles are prone to being overweight, most obesity is from overfeeding and not getting enough exercise. If you can’t feel your dog’s ribs, he is overweight and his body carries too much fat. Cutting down on or removing snacks and people food will greatly improve his weight. You may have to switch his diet entirely.

    Physical Therapy

    • Gentle exercise maintains muscle mass and joint flexibility. Avoid excessive exercise because it causes additional damage to the joint cartilage. Don’t allow jumping or standing on the hind feet if the dog suffers from pain. Walking on a leash or harness will prevent your dog from jumping and running. Swimming is one of the best exercises as it improves muscle mass without causing stress to the joints.

    NSAIDs

    • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) allow for quick pain relief. However, they do not heal or repair the cartilage in the joints. According to the Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, they are best used with supplements and given with food. Most of these drugs can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal problems. Rimadyl has few gastrointestinal side effects and appears to slow arthritis. A veterinarian may prescribe NSAID’s for fast pain relief.

    Steroids

    • Steroids such as corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs. Low doses seem to protect the cartilage. However, they destroy the cartilage when administered in high doses for pain relief. Steroids such as prednisone come in a tablet form and are taken orally, but longer-lasting injections are available. Steroids are dangerous drugs with many side effects that cause excessive eating and drinking and interfere with cartilage repair. Nevertheless, because of their fast-acting pain relief properties, veterinarians often recommended them.

    Chondroprotectants

    • These compounds protect and prevent the cartilage from breaking down further, which slows the progression of osteoarthritis. According to the Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, chondroprotectants are most effective when used early in the course of osteoarthritis. Chondroprotectants come in injections and in oral form. The most used is glucosamine and chondroitin. Some dog food manufacturers have included these natural ingredients in their dog food for large-breed dogs and puppies.

    Supplements

    • Many dog foods include anti-inflammatory supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.