Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common disorders in dogs. Statistics show that 4 in 10 dogs suffer due to degenerative changes in joints, considered the most important cause of chronic pain in dogs. For a number of years, dysfunction of the locomotor system has been recognized as the dominant factor contributing to chronic pain in dogs, and places in the ten most common disorders diagnosed in these animals.
The majority of osteoarthritis cases occur in elderly dogs, overweight dogs, and dogs of larger races. Dogs of giant races and quickly growing races, which are highly popular with breeders and dog owners, are especially at risk of musculoskeletal system developmental disorders, among which the main ones are osteoarthritis and dysplasia. However, dogs of various weight, age, and races can suffer from it. Osteoarthritis influences a number of aspects of the dog’s life, the ultimate and most apparent aspect of which is decrease in the dog’s life quality.
Osteoarthritis, as a chronic inflammation, leads to gradual degeneration of joint cartilage. The disorder attacks mainly hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, tarsal joint, and vertebral joints. The main symptoms of the development of OA is the animal’s discomfort stemming from chronic pain, manifested in limping, shaky and stiff gait, problems with getting up, general aversion towards physical activity, muscular dystrophy of hind limbs, and licking of aching joints. The symptoms of OA can appear at any age, in several-month-old dogs, as well as in several-year-old ones.
Diagnostics
The faster the disorder is correctly diagnosed and treated, the quicker can the dog’s physical fitness be returned and the pain alleviated, thus improving its quality of life. It is important for dog owners to realize that their pets age faster than they do and pain related to joint damage appears significantly earlier in them than a diagnosis of the disorder is made.
