A Helpful Overview of Dog Arthritis

Comprehending Dog Arthritis

There are over 9 million dogs in the US that are distressed with arthritis and it is probable that your dog may have it. Here’s a little overview of what the dog arthritis epidemic is.

Dog Arthritis Related to Aging

There are some breeds of dogs that experience lower incidence of arthritis while most dogs are prone to it especially as they age. There is no conclusion as to the principal causes of arthritis, but one leading cause is to aging where the cartilage as the dog age tends to hold back the chemical absorption being released by the body especially when an injury occurs. Once these chemicals are blocked, the healing process is stalled which can result in cartilage deterioration and malfunctioning of joints.

Dog Arthritis Caused by Joint-related Conditions

The flux of the joints is a condition which arises when ligaments break or sprained. If this happens, the ligaments no longer can accommodate the joints properly which allows the joints to move outside their borders.

An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament part of the knee (cranial) is a common condition; and dogs that have these pains in their hind legs may be experiencing an anterior cruciate injury.

The joints’ failure to fit together is a type of condition which is known as joint incongruity, which results from a scarred cartilage caused when a bone gets fractured, a malformed cartilage, fusion of the bones are not combined properly, or the knee caps not staying in their normal place.

Clown Joints

You may have heard the term clown joints. It’s another term for a poor conformation especially to those small dogs whose feet are pointed sideways like that of a clown’s feet. The term conformation refers to the arrangement of the joints. Its abnormality creates an unequal tear on the cartilage and contributes to the dog arthritis condition. Joint inflammation which results from infections or illnesses like the rheumatoid arthritis also has a huge impact on joints.

It’s Not Always about Aging

There may be a connection between aging and arthritis to dogs as well as humans, but there are a lot of younger dogs that are also affected with dogs arthritis. In cases like these, it is advisable to bring your dog to the vet for proper examination because your dog deserves a better life and pain-free.

Download our PDF file here.