When osteoarthritis causes problems for your four-legged friends
Berlin. Dogs are much more than just pets – they are loyal companions, best friends and vigilant protectors who support their owners in every situation. That's why it's important to pay equal attention to their health and well-being. However, despite all the care, health challenges cannot always be avoided. Around 40 percent of all dogs¹ ² ³ develop osteoarthritis during their lifetime, some even at a young age.³
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive joint disease. It mostly occurs in adult dogs, regardless of breed, and cannot be cured. Pain associated with osteoarthritis has a major impact on the quality of life of both the dog and the owner. But the good news is: if osteoarthritis is detected early, the dog can be helped quickly and the quality of life can be significantly improved.
Since osteoarthritis in dogs unfortunately often goes unnoticed, Zoetis, the world's leading animal health company, would like to raise more awareness of the disease and explains below how to recognize osteoarthritis-related pain early and what can be done to improve the well-being of affected four-legged friends improve.
Dog tired?
Four signs of osteoarthritis pain in dogs
Dog owners know their dogs best. However, our faithful companions are excellent at hiding pain. It is therefore all the more important to recognize the signs of osteoarthritis-related pain early and to interpret them correctly. The first signs can be:
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| 1. Inertia | 2. Stiff movements |
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Osteoarthritis can lead to behavioral changes, such as reduced energy or altered sleep patterns. If a dog is less active, plays less often, or withdraws more often, this could be a silent signal of arthritis-related pain. |
The way a dog moves can provide important clues about his well-being. Stiffness when standing up, jumping or climbing stairs can be signs of osteoarthritis-related pain. A change in gait, such as limping, lameness or falling behind when walking, can also indicate pain caused by osteoarthritis. |
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| 3. Lick paws | 4. Aggressiveness |
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Frequent licking of joints or avoiding touching certain areas may indicate that the dog is trying to self-relieve. This behavior often indicates pain in the affected joints. |
Sometimes pain caused by osteoarthritis also manifests itself in a changed personality. Affected dogs may become more defensive or aggressive towards other dogs or even people due to their physical discomfort. |
If you are unsure whether the dog is suffering from pain caused by osteoarthritis, you can use the Zoetis checklist to make an initial assessment and then go to the veterinary practice if osteoarthritis is suspected. For the Zoetis osteoarthritis checklist: www.zoetispets.com.
Mobile despite osteoarthritis!
Four tips to relieve arthritis-related pain in dogs
Fortunately, the diagnosis of osteoarthritis does not necessarily mean the end of a dog's mobility and enjoyment of life. By considering the following tips, the quality of life of four-legged friends suffering from osteoarthritis can be significantly improved:
| 1. Pain management | 2. Weight control |
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If osteoarthritis has been diagnosed, the basis of therapy is always continuous pain treatment that is individually tailored to the dog. There are now very innovative and well-tolerated treatment options to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis. Detailed advice from a trusted veterinary practice is therefore essential to ensure the best possible treatment for your dog. |
In addition to individual pain treatment, a multimodal therapy approach is primarily important for osteoarthritis. For dogs affected by osteoarthritis, it is essential to pay attention to a healthy diet and avoid becoming overweight, as the extra weight puts additional strain on their joints. Therefore, unhealthy treats should be avoided and weight-reducing food should be given instead. |
| 3. Joint-friendly exercise | 4. Physiotherapy |
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Gentle exercise of the affected dogs that is individually adapted to the disease is crucial, for example through regular walks on firm ground. Exercising the dogs with intelligence and search games as well as toys that are gentle on the joints can also be very helpful. A sniffing mat or a treat ball are particularly suitable for this. |
Special exercises and massages by a trained physical therapist can improve dogs' mobility and reduce pain. There are special physiotherapists for dogs here who, for example, train the four-legged friends' mobility using underwater treadmills. They can also show dog owners simple exercises that can be carried out effectively and to support therapy at home. |
In any case, cooperation with the veterinarian is the key to long-term and effective pain control. Only with the necessary knowledge and the right treatment can dogs and their owners improve their shared quality of life. Experience reports of successful osteoarthritis treatments and further information on the subject of osteoarthritis in dogs are available on the Zoetis website and the Zoetis YouTube channel.
Sources
¹ Wright A., et al., JSAP 2022 1-10; ² IHS Markit and Stonehaven Consulting: Canine and Feline Pain Market Animal Health Market Analysis, 2021; ³ Enomoto M., et al. Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 3;14(1)