Treating Arthritis In Dogs

Most of the symptoms seen in dogs with arthritis result from pain. As a result, treatment for arthritis in dogs is geared toward reducing pain and maintaining muscle mass and joint mobility. This is best accomplished by using a combination of treatments rather than relying on only one medication or treatment option.

Exercise and Weight Management

Exercise is important for arthritic dogs but should be low impact to avoid further stress on damaged joints.
There are several forms of exercise that are appropriate for dogs with arthritis.

• Leash walking and mild controlled jogging are acceptable forms of exercise for dogs with arthritis.
• Swimming is another excellent exercise for dogs with arthritis and is a commonly used form of physical rehabilitation.
• Underwater treadmills can also be an effective form of physical therapy and can help meet the exercise requirements of an arthritic dog.

Weight management is critical in canine arthritis. Excess fat tissue secretes hormones that promote pain. If appropriate, a weight reduction program should be implemented and closely monitored for all pets with arthritis.

Pharmaceutical Medications

Various forms of medication can be used to reduce pain for arthritic dogs. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) are one of the most commonly used classes of drugs for arthritis pain. NSAIDs include medications such as Rimadyl®, Etogesic®, Deramaxx® and Metacam®, to name a few.Other non-NSAID pain medications include tramadol, buprenorphine, Fentanyl® and gabapentin. These medications can be combined with NSAIDs to provide more comprehensive pain relief for dogs with arthritis also. Doing so often allows us to use lower doses of both drugs, since the drugs work together to reduce pain. This significantly reduces the risk of adverse effects from either drugs.

All arthritis medications carry the risk of side effects and normally it is recommended to minimize their use by employing other types of treatment simultaneously.

Surgical Alternatives in the Treatment of Canine Arthritis

In cases where conventional and alternative methods of medical management are not effective, surgical intervention may be considered. The type of surgery needed will depend on the joint involved. Potential surgical options include

• total hip replacement,
• removal of the femoral head (the part of the thigh bone that fits into the hip socket), and
• arthrodesis (fusing damaged joints).

In some cases, reconstructive surgeries that correct congenital abnormalities and stabilize the joint may be recommended.

Arthritis is a painful condition for all affected dogs. Treatment options concentrate on relieving the pain. In most cases, using two or more of the treatment options simultaneously results in more complete pain control with less risk of side effects.