Dogs are more susceptible to degenerative arthritis as they age - slow movements are not due to "stability" but pain

1. Common symptoms of degenerative arthritis

High incidence is associated with age

A retrospective analysis of dog X-rays from 2019 to 2020 by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan showed that up to 58% of dogs had arthritis lesions, but only about 20% showed obvious clinical symptoms, which means that many cases are easily overlooked. In terms of age distribution, signs of arthritis may be detected in dogs from 1 to 20 years old;

However, the incidence increases significantly after about 8 years of age, and is most common around 11 years of age.

Degeneration and wear and tear: mechanisms of joint aging

The joints use cartilage and synovial fluid to reduce friction, but with long-term use, the cartilage gradually wears out, which can be considered a part of physiological aging. In addition to the limb joints, the spinal joints may also wear out due to frequent activities such as climbing stairs and mountains. Statistics show that some dogs have lesions in both the spine and limb joints.

Difficulty in repair: Irreversible characteristics

Hyaline cartilage has no blood vessels and relies on joint fluid to transport nutrients. Its repair ability is limited. If damaged, it can only be replaced by fibrocartilage, but its elasticity and wear resistance are not as good as normal cartilage, and it is easy to be injured repeatedly. When the damage affects the bone or stimulates the nerves, ligaments and joint capsule to become inflamed, pain occurs.

2. Risk factors and triggering causes

Genetics and Breed Predispositions

Certain breeds have a higher risk of developing the disease due to their congenital bone or cartilage structure characteristics. For example, the cartilage of dachshunds and corgis is more fragile. Small dogs such as Chihuahuas and Maltese are relatively less at risk. Other high-risk breeds include French bulldogs, Labradors, golden retrievers, etc. Understanding the characteristics of the breed will help owners take early prevention and monitoring measures.

Inappropriate Use and Activity Patterns

Overuse: If working dogs frequently carry heavy loads or engage in high-intensity activities, or are overweight, the burden on their joints will increase, accelerating wear.

Excessive immobility: When the amount of activity is insufficient, the joint bending frequency is low, the joint fluid secretion is insufficient, the lubrication is poor, and sudden movements can easily cause wear.

Abnormal posture and bone structure: Congenital hip dysplasia, poor healing after trauma, excessive pressure on other limbs after amputation, or incomplete bone development due to lack of exercise during the growth period may all change gait and increase the burden on local joints.

Overall physical health: Obesity, tumors, nutritional deficiencies, immune or endocrine diseases, etc. may affect the health of cartilage and joints.

3. How to detect joint problems early

Degenerative arthritis progresses slowly, and dogs often gradually adapt to the discomfort. Owners may mistake slow movements for "old age". Therefore, it is recommended to include regular observation of dogs from about 7 years old, and pay attention to the following signs:

Gait changes

• Record your walking posture regularly (during your daily walks) and compare it with your walking posture at different times to see if it is different from the past.
• Pay attention to the wear of your nails: uneven wear or scratches on the top edge of your nails may occur due to the foot dragging on the ground when walking.

Reduced willingness to act

• The walking speed has slowed down significantly, the rest time has increased, and the child is unwilling to get in and out of the car, climb stairs, or jump onto the sofa or bed.
• Sitting down, standing up or squatting are slow and take a long time to adjust; less frequent toileting may also be related to joint discomfort.

Pain symptoms

• Whining or soft resistance to touch or certain postures. It is important to note that some dogs may not show obvious pain, so it is recommended to include joint assessment in every health check.

Medical auxiliary diagnosis

• X-ray examination: Check whether there are any lesions such as wear and tear on the bone edges, bone spurs or hyperplasia.
• Limb examination: assess joint flexion and extension angles, swelling, and measure muscle symmetry between left and right limbs.
• Motion analysis equipment: objectively quantify walking speed, foot lift height, force distribution, etc. through images or force plates.
• Joint fluid examination: A small amount of joint fluid is extracted and the cellular components are analyzed to determine whether it is a degenerative change or there is another cause such as infection, immune abnormality, etc.

IV. Treatment and Management Strategies

Degenerative arthritis is mostly caused by physiological aging, but if it is accompanied by other diseases (trauma, tumors, metabolic or immune problems), they need to be treated together.

For purely degenerative changes, the focus is on relieving pain, delaying progression and improving quality of life.

1. Complementary care (mainly non-invasive and lifestyle adjustments)

• Weight control: Being overweight will increase the burden on joints. Cooperate with your veterinarian to develop a diet plan, monitor weight regularly, and steadily lose weight to the ideal range.
• Moderate exercise: Maintain moderate activity under the guidance of a veterinarian, and avoid intense, overloaded exercise (such as frequent climbing and jumping). If you feel uncomfortable, you can divide your daily walk into segments, about 10-15 minutes each time, to maintain joint activity and avoid excessive wear.
• Joint health products: Common ingredients such as chondroitin, glucosamine, green-lipped mussels, antioxidants, fish oil, etc. can be used according to needs and veterinary advice. However, if there are obvious clinical symptoms, the medication should be adjusted or added according to the doctor's advice.
• Optimize the home environment: Reduce the frequency of going up and down stairs, and consider using ramps or safety fences to assist. Avoid slippery floors, lay non-slip mats or non-slip carpets; regularly trim the hair on the soles of the feet to reduce the risk of slipping. Provide soft, supportive bedding and maintain a comfortable temperature to reduce joint stiffness.

2. Medical intervention (when symptoms are obvious or quality of life is affected)

• Medication: including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. They must be prescribed by a veterinarian after assessing overall health and closely monitoring potential side effects.
• Physical rehabilitation: Various options such as hydrotherapy, swimming, massage, low-energy laser, shock wave therapy or acupuncture can reduce pain, promote joint mobility and maintain muscle strength. Cooperate with a physical therapist or a professional animal rehabilitation center to plan a plan.
• Advanced treatments: PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy: High concentrations of platelets are separated after blood is drawn and then injected into the joints to promote tissue repair using growth factors. Surgical treatment: For joint instability, severe degeneration or other structural problems, joint correction or replacement surgery may be required to reduce long-term pain and further damage.
• Treatment of combined causes: If arthritis is accompanied by infection, immune disease or tumor, diagnosis and treatment of the primary cause are required simultaneously to achieve comprehensive improvement.

5. Prevention and long-term care

Regular health check-ups

It is recommended that joint assessment be included in every health checkup for dogs starting at age 7, so that early intervention can be made if abnormalities are detected. Other common geriatric problems (such as neurodegeneration, endocrine disorders, etc.) should also be checked at the same time, as these may also indirectly affect joint health.

Ongoing weight management

Older dogs may have a reduced amount of exercise, so their diet needs to be adjusted accordingly. Suitable forms of exercise include swimming, low-impact treadmill walking, etc., to maintain muscle and cardiopulmonary function while controlling weight.

Overall nutritional supplement

You don’t have to focus only on joint health products, you should pay attention to overall health. You can provide multivitamins, antioxidants, fish oil, appropriate amounts of protein and essential nutrients according to your veterinarian’s advice to maintain immune function and tissue repair ability.

Environmental safety

Make sure the floor at home is non-slip, the hair on the soles of the feet is properly trimmed, and the bedding is comfortable and easy to get in and out of to reduce the chance of falls and injuries. In addition, you can arrange routes at home that are suitable for the elderly dog ​​to move around and avoid frequent obstacles.

Behavioral observation and recording

Owners can record their dogs' movements regularly through video recording. Saving videos not only helps with medical judgment, but also keeps good memories. If any abnormal changes are found, they can discuss them with the veterinarian quickly.

6. Attitude and companionship: Spend quality time with old friends

Although degenerative arthritis is difficult to avoid, early prevention, proper management and medical intervention can slow down progression and improve quality of life.

Veterinarians often say: "Once arthritis occurs, it requires long-term management."

In the "old friend" stage, the mutual understanding between the owner and the dog deepens, and the owner can better perceive subtle changes and provide timely assistance. Allowing the old dog to move freely in a comfortable and safe environment is not only beneficial to its body and mind, but also improves the owner's quality of life. The most important thing is to enjoy the time with your dog, cherish each other's company, and bring more care and happy memories to its old age.

Summary points:

• Degenerative arthritis is a common problem in older dogs. It progresses slowly and is easily overlooked. It is recommended to include joint health in regular checkups starting at the age of 7.
• Understand breed and genetic risks, pay attention to activity patterns and weight management, and optimize your home environment to reduce joint stress.
• Early detection includes gait observation, video comparison, and medical examination (X-ray, motion analysis, joint fluid testing, etc.).
• Complementary care (moderate exercise, weight loss, health supplements, environmental improvement) and necessary medical intervention (medication, rehabilitation, advanced therapy, surgery, etc.) are given equal importance.
• Maintaining a healthy body shape and nutrition over the long term, regular assessments and continued companionship will allow old dogs to spend their later years comfortably, while also enhancing the interaction and affection between owners and their dogs.