I’m Mike Conzemius and I’m a board-certified veterinary surgeon. For 30+ years I’ve performed veterinary surgery and trained veterinary students, interns and residents. A common question that owners, veterinary students and young veterinarians ask is, how do I know if a dog has pain from arthritis?
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is derived from the Greek words “arthro“ which means joint and “itis” which means inflammation. Simply, arthritis is inflammation in a joint. Joints generally include cartilage, ligaments, tendons and a surrounding cover (joint capsule) that contains special fluid (synovial fluid) that lubricates the joint.
What causes arthritis?
When a problem occurs with a structure inside the joint, inflammation of the joint often occurs. Inflammation and its associated arthritis can occur from a ligament injury (e.g. torn cruciate ligament), abnormal wear of the cartilage (e.g. hip or elbow dysplasia) or even an immune reaction (e.g. Lyme disease or Rheumatoid arthritis).
How do I know if arthritis is causing pain?
Not all dogs will exhibit pain the same way. When you see a change in your pet, try to translate that to a behavior you might have. For example, if your dog starts limping could that be from pain somewhere in the leg? Translated, if you began limping every day, could it be because there was pain somewhere. Owners commonly report several things when there is arthritis pain, including:
- Limping on a leg
- Difficulty standing up
- Whining/vocalizing when trying to stand
- Reluctance to jump onto a couch or go up and down stairs
- Reluctance to go on a long walk
- Change in behavior like hiding or aggression
What should I do if I think my dog has arthritis pain?
First, consider taking your dog to a veterinarian for an exam. Try to take a video of when your dog is acting close to normal and a video when your dog is exhibiting that abnormal behavior, like limping. Document the frequency of the problem; does it occur once a week, once a day or is the problem consistent throughout the day.
What should I avoid if I think my dog has arthritis pain?
Avoid giving your dog over-the-counter medication. For example, some people will give their dog ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. These medications are made for people and can cause life threatening complications in dogs.
How will a veterinarian diagnose arthritis pain in my dog?
An exam will begin with the veterinarian gathering a detailed history of previous health problems and the problem you are concerned with on the day of the appointment (this is where that video of your dog could be very helpful). One goal of an exam by a veterinarian will be to identify the location of pain. If that pain is isolated to a joint, there is likely joint inflammation which is arthritis. Dogs don’t fake pain; however, dogs often do behave differently at a veterinary hospital and sometimes it is difficult to identify an exact location of the pain (veterinary medicine would be a lot easier if our patients just told us where and how much it hurt). If joint pain is found during an exam, your veterinarian may prescribe medication, recommend radiographs (x-rays). Some physical exam findings have a very specific cause, and the recommendation may be more specific. For example, if your dog is limping continuously and joint pain and instability is found in your dog’s knee a diagnosis of a torn cranial cruciate (similar to a torn ACL) might be made and treatment options for that problem might be discussed. Other diagnostic options that could be discussed include computed tomography (CT), sampling of the synovial fluid (arthrocentesis), blood work, tick titers, etc.
How is arthritis pain treated?
Depending on the cause and severity, arthritis pain can be treated either medically or surgically. Both treatment options should be discussed along with potential benefits, risks and costs. In my opinion, medical management of osteoarthritis (OA) requires a short- and long-term plan because the symptoms of arthritis can often be managed but arthritis cannot be cured. Careful communication with your veterinarian is important so a plan that works for both you and your pet is developed. Some of the factors that influence the plan include patient age and breed, cause of arthritis and the duration and severity of the symptoms. The treatment plan generally incorporates:
- Weight loss if needed
- Use of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- Librela injections (e.g. series of 3 injections)
- Use of an omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the form of a prescription diet (e.g. Purina J/M or Hills J/D)
- Controlled activity (e.g. leash walks, swimming, cavalettis)
- Pain medication (e.g. Amantadine) if needed.
There are other treatment options for arthritis like Adequan, platelet rich plasma, shockwave, laser therapy, etc. Even if your pet had surgery, often these are incorporated into the long-term treatment plan to limit symptoms of arthritis that might develop in the future.