Dog Joint Medicine

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) is a progressive condition in which the cartilage in the joint is slowly broken down, and bony changes occur. Any dog with a developmental or congenital joint problem, like dysplasia or patella luxation, is more prone to developing osteoarthritis. Dogs who have had injury to a joint such as a fracture involving the joint or a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee will be also more likely to develop DJD.

These are the types of arthritis that plague dogs. Osteoarthritis; Degenerative Joint Disease; Hip Dysplasia; Elbow Dysplasia; Knee (stifle joint); Osteochrondrosis; Hypertrophic Arthritis; Shoulder Degeneration; Wrist Arthritis; Kneecap Dislocation

Some forms of degenerative joint disease can be treated with surgery. For example, hip replacements in dogs with hip dysplasia are becoming more common. Other procedures can also be performed, but their success rests upon how many bony changes have occurred in and around the joint.

Caring for a dog with osteoarthritis requires combating it on many fronts. These include: Weight control and exercise; Physical therapy; Prescription anti-inflammatories or non-prescription medication for treatment of pain and inflammation; Other supplements to reduce inflammation, including fatty acid supplements containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Arthritis doesn't have to slow your dog down, take steps when they're younger to prevent the irreversible damaged caused by arthritis.