As pet owners, we want our furry friends to be happy & healthy all the time. However, just like humans, dogs may experience joint pain, stiffness or discomfort.
Joint pain is a common condition that can affect dogs of all ages, the causes of join pain can be due to a variety of different factors that can be difficult to identify which one is the one that affecting your pup. In this blog post we will discuss signs of joint pain in dogs, types of joint pain, and some treatments options.
Sings of Joint Pain in Dogs
One of the most common signs of joint pain in dogs is visible like limping or favoring one leg. Other signs may include stiffness, reluctance to move, and others. Joint pain affect more than just the movement on your dog, owners may also notice behavioral changes like irritability, change of personality and decrease activity.
Dog joint problems get worse over time, while it is not always visible is always important to maintain a check in with your vet about your pups knees specially if they are getting old. Which is important to stay aware of the all the possible symptoms your pup may experience:
- Lethargy
- Limping and Stiffness
- Loss of Appetite
- Irritability
- Depression
- Frequent slipping while moving
- Licking, chewing or biting excessively in affected areas
If you see any of these symptoms make sure to contact your local vet.
Types of Joint Pain in Dogs
Some dog breeds are predisposed to some variety of joint issues that will caused them pain. Usually these type of joint issue are common in larger dogs but it can be found in any kind of dog. In order to understand better the types of joint pain in dogs we have decided to divided into two types: degenerative and developmental joint pain.
- Developmental Joint Issues: Developmental joint issues are present in your pup from birth, and are generally caused due to improper development in their youth. Usually linked to hip dysplasia.
- Degenerative Joint Issues: Are caused due to the repeated use over time of your pups knee. Think of it of the wear and tear of the cartilages.
Treatment for Joint Pain in Dogs
The appropriate treatment for your dog joint pain will depend on several factors like severity and root of cause. While, more complex cases like Hip or elbow dysplasia will need surgery to fix, others, like degenerative joint conditions can be treated with proper nutrition. For example, Hip and Joint Supplements that allow your pups knees to be lubricated and help with stiffness. In addition to nutrition and supplements to boost vitality, its important to to do rehabilitation and exercise as these has been found to ease joint pain.
The goal of joint pain treatments is to get your dog back to doing things that don't hurt. This is very important because strong muscles around your dog's joint help to lessen the stress and strain they are under. An active dog is a dog that is well cared for.
