Recognizing and Treating Osteoarthritis in Pets

Osteoarthritis is a common disease found in cats, dogs, and horses which may lead to movement restrictions in the joints. The joint disease puts a strain on the pet’s life, restricts their mobility and, their activities. The problem is as painful and restrictive as it is in human beings. Do you suspect that your 4-legged friend might suffer from any such cause?

Once the problem starts, it doesn’t get relieved on its own. And, the wear and tear are constantly driven forward. Unfortunately, osteoarthritis in pets cannot be healed. However, we can get the process slowed down with the help of the right treatment at the right time.

What changes in the joint occur with the disease?

With osteoarthritis in dogs or other pets like the horse, the elastic supporting tissue called cartilage in the joints becomes steadily rougher and thinner. As a result of this, the bones no longer move smoothly over one another while in motion/movement. Due to the reduced spring force in the cartilage, there is a great impact on the joints and can be damaged which results in inflammatory reactions. Due to this, the damaged joint capsule thickens and becomes stiff.

Due to this, the bone begins to expand its supporting surface. This may cause uncontrolled bone growth at the end of bones. The cause of the disease is the damage to the very smooth joint cartilage.  

Osteoarthritis in horses

In horses, Osteoarthritis may occur primarily on the neck, legs, or the temporomandibular joint. Due to this, the horses may have symptoms like lameness, difficulty in eating, walking irregularly, or no longer bending in their necks. The cause of osteoarthritis in horses is usually due to excessive sprain, joint infections, a deviating leg position, or it may be age-related. The veterinarian may use x-rays to diagnose osteoarthritis in horses.

Osteoarthritis causes lameness in horses and there may be varying degrees of excess fluid in the joints, restricted motion of the involved joints, abnormal thickening of membranes, and more.

 Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Horses

Generally, the treatment of osteoarthritis in horses is limited to reducing pain and stiffness. Some anti-inflammatory drugs may provide relief along with physical therapy.

Arthroscopy could be used to diagnose the severity of this condition and then treat the underlying causes. Physical therapy may prove to be useful and helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis in horses. Once the diagnosis is done, several treatment options are there. For mild osteoarthritis, there are many nutraceuticals available as systematic drugs or in-feed supplements.

There is no cure for this problem, but good support and treatment can slow down the progression of this process significantly.

• Weight-reduction: To keep the horse happy, you can do more than treating it with medication. With osteoarthritis, it is more important than ever that it doesn’t have too much weight. Every excess kilo may put a strain on the joints. So, weight reduction in case of overweight is applied to cure the disease.
• Physical therapy: Exercise is particularly important in horses with Osteoarthritis, but their joints must never be overstrained. Too much strain on the joints may be harmful. Consulting the animal physiotherapist is recommended to counteract the restriction of the range of motion. The therapist generally performs passive and active exercises. In addition to this, the therapy strengthens the muscles which further have a supportive effect on the joints.
• Nutritional supplements: There are many feed supplements available in the market. You may find diet food that supports the joints. Such food contains glucosamine, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrition that are supposed to reduce the inflammation in joints.
• Medications: If osteoarthritis is diagnosed in the pets, the veterinarian will give pain-reliever, and anti-inflammatory medications. The drug treatment allows your pet to move normally and without any pain.

Osteoarthritis in dogs

In the initial stage, the dog has a problem getting up from his bed or it may become paralyzed while walking. This is trouble-starting which means that the first steps after getting up are difficult for the dog. They move stiff and lame after a period of rest. In the advanced stages of osteoarthritis, the dog can suffer from an increase in pain and muscle weakness. There is no cure for the disease, but the right treatment and prevention before the symptoms started can be useful. The treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs involves regular exercising, medications, nutritional supplements, and more.

How to prevent osteoarthritis in dogs?

There are several ways to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis in dogs. Providing sufficient quantities of important minerals, amino acids, nutrition, along with a portion of good food is important. Dog foods available in the market contain enough of these key ingredients. Apart from this, you must handle the physical demands of your dog carefully as per their age. Plan an exercise program for your pet. Make sure that the weight of the dog is in an optimal range.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis in dogs

If osteoarthritis is diagnosed in the dogs, they must undergo a few tests at the veterinarian. The doctor will look at the dog’s movement and then suggest treatment accordingly.

• Weight-loss: If the dog is too heavy, weight reduction is recommended to prevent the joints.
• Medication: Pain-relievers and anti-inflammatory such as steroidal or non-steroidal drugs are advisable.
• Exercise program: It is important to stick to the regular movement pattern. Several short walks in a day instead of long-runs or long-walks are better. Get in touch with the animal physiotherapist who can help you come up with the right exercise plan for your dog. Controlled movements are the best for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.