Canine Degenerative Joint Disease

If you have an older dog as I do, chances are that as his age increases you will see a noticeable stiffness or even limp in his gait.  He might take a bit longer to get up and after returning home after a hunt, a very pronounced limp is observed.  While often times this limp can be attributed to a thorn or perhaps a cut or bruise in a paw, it could also signal that our venerable old bird finder is suffering from some form of arthritis.

Just like humans, canines are susceptible to various forms of arthritis.  In the case of active, working gun dogs the chances are even greater that as the dogs age increases so does the probability of the onset of arthritis.   Among the most common causes are:

·        Excessive stresses brought on by repetitive activity and/or exercise

·        Immune system deficits

·        Genetic conditions/ disorders

·        Injury

·        Infection

Some of the more common types of canine arthritis are:

·        Osteoarthritis

·        Rheumatoid Arthritis

·        Infectious Arthritis

·        Hip Dysplasia

Osteoarthritis

 This form of arthritis can usually be attributed to a dogs genetic make up and is considered a form of degenerative joint disease yet in some cases Osteoarthritis has been attributed to infection and injury. Osteoarthritis occurs when the bone and cartilage of a joint degrades to the point that inflammation occurs in and around the afflicted joint.  The dog’s body responds to the inflammation by way of a bony remodeling around the joint structure. Symptoms of Osteoarthritis usually progress slowly and show few outward symptoms.  In some cases however it has been found that Osteoarthritis can also progress rapidly and cause a great deal of pain and discomfort.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis in which the dog’s immune system actually produces antibodies that react against the dog’s own protein. The result of this reaction is severe inflammation that ultimately damages cartilage and surrounding tissues of the affected joints.  Rheumatoid Arthritis can be a real showstopper as it is extremely painful and debilitating if not promptly treated.

Infectious Arthritis

Infectious Arthritis is caused by a fungal, viral or bacterial infection in the dog’s joints and is the result of an infecting organism being transmitted to the joint by the dog’s bloodstream.  Perhaps the biggest cause of Infectious Arthritis in Arizona dogs is Valley Fever.  While treatments vary the only sure way to have a chance at beating Infectious Arthritis is early detection and treatment by a veterinarian.

Hip Dysplasia
Perhaps the most notorious of all osteoarthritis conditions is hip dysplasia.  This disorder is to a larger extent based on genetics than any other factor and is usually more prominent in large and giant breeds.  Hip dysplasia is the result of laxity in the hip joints, which in turn creates looseness in the hip joints.  Over time this looseness in the joints causes degradation within the joint, which in turn causes inflammation.  The affects hip dysplasia can have on a dog vary from minor discomfort to extreme pain. At present the best way to avoid problems associated with hip dysplasia are breeding only those dogs that have been certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

Minimizing The Effects Of Canine Degenerative Joint Disease

Let’s face it our dogs work hard.  Whether or not they’re a pointer, retriever or spaniel while there’s no place they’d rather be than out looking for birds, it’s fact that the possibility of arthritis exists simply because of the high levels of activity associated with working gun dogs.  While many forms of canine arthritis are unpreventable, keeping your dogs in good physical condition can go along way in reducing excessive weight that an overweight dog would have to carry, which in turn adds more stress, strain and shock to the joints.  Also, orthopedic dog beds are a good way for an older dog to relax after a hunt.