YOUR WALKING BUDDY

Put a Leash on Arthritis

By Bianca Shaw

At some point you begin to admit to yourself that your body is making you pay for the use and abuse that you have subjected it to over the course of your lifetime. Many of us start to face these aches and pains around the time we reach 40. Sore joints and aching muscles don’t necessarily keep us from doing all we want to do, but the discomfort accompanies us and warns us to take it easier.

Believe it or not, your dog experiences the same feelings. For dogs, arthritis usually starts between the ages of four and eight years (their equivalent of being 40). Just because they warm up quickly doesn’t mean they don’t feel it. Dogs will do their darndest to keep up with us until they just can’t hide it any longer.

So Why Do Dogs Get Arthritis?
Think about all of the dumb stuff they did as puppies and young adults. Of course, they are built with relatively stronger and more resilient muscles than we have, but their joints are still made up of bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament. When injured, these structures create scar tissue. Scar tissue has less stretch and elasticity and is even more prone to re-injury.

Over time, the scar tissue builds up enough to limit normal function and flexibility. At this point, most dogs start to reduce the amount of forceful, fast-motion activities they used to perform, such as jumping or racing up hills and stairs. Then the muscles start to weaken because the dog is less active. Without the muscles to support the joints, the bones and cartilage experience more wear and tear, resulting in the pain and swelling that we call arthritis. OUCH!

So Can We Prevent It?
No, but we can slow the progression and limit the pain by keeping our dogs active and flexible with consistent, controlled activities like walking and swimming. Endurance activities are better than free play if you are looking to maintain strength and balance. If your dog is already showing signs of weakness and pain, it is possible to help the dog regain comfort and improve activity level to participate more readily in daily functions. Shorter, more frequent walks are better than no walks at all for older dogs. As with people, maintaining a reasonable weight and exercising regularly is key.

Beyond the basic walk or hike, more dog owners are considering ways to treat and control arthritis. Incorporating an exercise and stretching regimen into the dog’s health care is gaining popularity. With physical rehabilitation, it is possible to target and rebuild the weakest areas of the body, while monitoring for overuse and strain injures in other parts of the body. Many treatment methods are the same as used in human physical therapy, and we find hydrotherapy to be one of the most effective for treating arthritis.

If your dog is unable to keep up on walks, water-based activity reduces the pressure on the joints while increasing the resistance against muscle. This allows your pet to regain confidence and condition even if there are other medical issues. In addition, addressing injuries early on and providing a good walking surface inside and out will help keep your dog sure-footed.

Veterinarians also recommend nutraceuticals such as glucosamine, anti-oxidants, and vitamins to help minimize the effects of inflammation on the body. Doses can vary according to the overall health and size of your dog, so ask your vet for advice prior to starting any supplements. Dogs also have their own medications for inflammation (similar to, but safer than, aspirin or ibuprofen) which may help reduce the swelling and pain as well as ongoing damage to the joints. There are many newer medications available, so if the old treatment isn’t working as well, ask about other options.

Bianca Shaw, DVM, owns Back on Track Veterinary Rehabilitation Center, in Portland, OR. Her caseload includes dogs (and cats) with many types of injuries and arthritis, as well as post-operative orthopedic and neurologic conditions. She can be reached at 503-546-8995.