Types of Joint Diseases

Joint diseases and skeletal developmental disorders primarily occur in large dogs, but can also be a problem in small breeds. Their causes are not only hereditary but partly also due to errors in nutrition or incorrect loading.

In this article, we explain which joint diseases primarily occur in dogs and also address typical causes.

Types of Joint Diseases

Joint diseases occur in dogs in various forms. It is not always easy for dog owners to distinguish between them. Only trained veterinarians can provide clarity about the actual disease, as they have the necessary expertise and diagnostic capabilities.

Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

These two joint diseases exhibit partially similar symptoms. While arthritis involves joint inflammation, which usually occurs in flare-ups, osteoarthritis affects the joint cartilage, which slowly degrades.

Osteoarthritis is relatively common in dogs. It is a chronic joint disease that cannot be cured. Once it occurs, it progresses constantly over time, leading to the destruction of the joint cartilage. Ultimately, the entire joint is affected.

Possible causes of osteoarthritis in dogs include:

• congenital and acquired misalignments or improper loading of joints
• poorly healed injuries
• too rapid growth in large breeds
• obesity

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis is often detected too late because it begins insidiously, and clear signs only appear when the joint cartilage is already severely damaged.

Hip Dysplasia (HD) & Elbow Dysplasia (ED)

They are probably among the most common joint diseases in dogs: hip and elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia refers to the malformation of individual joint components. Thus, in the case of hip dysplasia, there is a malformation of the hip joint in the dog. In larger dog breeds, it often develops already in puppyhood.

In HD, there is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, so the femoral head no longer sits correctly in the dog's joint socket and therefore cannot move back and forth properly.

In the case of ED, the elbow joint is damaged. It often results from recurrent elbow joint diseases in dogs, i.e., an abnormal joint development during growth. This can also occur when the dog is still a puppy.

If the disease is not recognized or recognized late, the possibilities for therapy are severely limited. The prognosis worsens the more time has passed.

HD and ED are often hereditary and therefore occur particularly frequently in certain dog breeds such as the German Shepherd.

Spondylosis

Spondylosis is usually a wear-related change in the spine. Often, rigid bony bridges form on its underside due to bony growths of the vertebrae. This means that the spaces between the vertebrae ossify, which in turn leads to a stiffening of the spine. The lumbar and thoracic vertebrae are often affected.

Affected dogs can therefore be severely restricted in their mobility and experience pain. Further possible consequences include herniated discs, paralysis, incontinence, or impairment of nerve tracts.

Unfortunately, spondylosis is also incurable; it is a process that cannot be stopped. However, the symptoms and pain can be alleviated with the right treatment, allowing the dog to benefit from a good quality of life despite the disease.

Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)

Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) is a joint disease that occurs particularly frequently in large dog breeds. Due to this degenerative developmental disorder, the formation of the joint cartilage is impaired.

Specifically, this means that they become too thick and therefore can no longer be adequately supplied with important nutrients and joint fluid. The cartilage gradually dies off or even partially or completely detaches. Detached fragments, in turn, sometimes attach to the joint capsules, grow there, and eventually ossify. In this context, painful joint inflammations often occur.

Dogs with OCD often also suffer from secondary osteoarthritis. The exact triggers for osteochondrosis dissecans have not yet been clarified.

Causes due to Overload and Nutritional Errors

While some joint diseases in dogs are genetically based, others arise from specific circumstances. These are often related to overload or incorrect nutrition.

These factors can promote joint diseases in dogs:

• Activity of young dogs: If the joints of growing dogs are excessively stressed, this often results in joint inflammation or tears in the cartilage tissue.
• Energy-rich feeding: Especially large and fast-growing breeds often suffer from joint diseases. This may be due to being fed too energy-rich food during the growth phase. The consequence: The longitudinal growth of the bones is accelerated, while cartilage and ligaments do not yet have enough stability to support the weight of the young dogs.
• Deficiency or oversupply of phosphorus or calcium during bone growth: Often, soft bones are the result, which have insufficient stability. The problem usually occurs when fresh feeding is practiced, in which important minerals are not sufficiently present. When feeding with ready-made feeds, however, too much phosphorus and calcium are usually contained. This can cause the bones to become brittle and chip over time.
• Obesity: Care should always be taken to ensure that a dog does not receive an oversupply of nutrients. This can quickly lead to obesity, which in turn results in stress on the joints. While dogs are still growing, their nutritional needs change constantly. It is all the more important to adapt the composition again and again.

Nutrition

Nutrient imbalances always pose a risk for growth disorders in dogs, which is why it is very important to adapt nutrition to a dog's needs. The focus should primarily be on protein and energy intake.

An increased energy intake can lead to rapid growth in dogs, which in turn promotes growth disorders, especially in large dogs. For this reason, when choosing food, it is important to ensure that it always meets the needs of the animals in their different life stages. In addition, mineral and vitamin quantities should also be considered.

For adult dogs, factors such as the animals' activity, age, and weight play an important role in choosing suitable food. It is scientifically proven that ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are found, for example, in fish and linseed oil, but also in our joint supplement for dogs, can support joint health. They have an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect. The substances glucosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfate contained in green-lipped mussel can, in turn, contribute to joint protection.

If such substances are to be given to the dog in addition, it should be ensured that they are considered part of the total daily ration. Only in this way can it be ensured that there is no malnourishment with certain nutrients.

Recognizing Symptoms

Depending on the joint disease a dog suffers from, it can show completely different, specific symptoms. For this reason, it is important to observe the dog carefully, especially when it is moving.

Possible symptoms that indicate a joint disease in a dog include:

• Dog is quieter than usual
• Problems with getting up and lying down
• Stiffness after prolonged lying and difficulty getting back into motion quickly
• Lack of enthusiasm during walks, conspicuously slow walking
• Problems with climbing stairs
• Swaying of the hindquarters when walking
• Pain-sensitive and aggressive behavior when certain body parts are touched
• Seemingly unprovoked aggression towards people or other dogs
• Problems with lifting a leg
• Loss of appetite up to refusal to eat

If one or even several of these symptoms are observed in the dog, the cause should be clarified as quickly as possible. For this, it is necessary to have it examined at a veterinary clinic.

Treating Osteoarthritis

Even if osteoarthritis fundamentally cannot be cured, there are certain measures that can significantly ease the life of the affected dog. It is particularly important to first have it examined by a veterinarian. A veterinarian can rule out other possible causes for the dog's pain and, depending on the diagnosis, establish a treatment plan tailored to its needs.

If the affected dog is in pain, it must be properly provided with suitable pain medication. Under no circumstances should medication from your own medicine cabinet be administered. Pain medication must be given every day, not just when the dog seems to be particularly unwell. Only in this way can the inflammatory cycle in the joints be broken.

Other possible treatments to get osteoarthritis under control include:

• Cortisone treatment: In some cases, cortisone-containing medications are injected into an affected joint of a dog.
• Joint-supporting nutrients: The function of the joints can be positively influenced by these, as they usually also have anti-inflammatory effects and provide important building blocks for joint metabolism. If it is only a mild form of osteoarthritis, these nutrients can even be used without accompanying pain therapy.

Classic nutrients that support osteoarthritis therapy include glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are glycosaminoglycans. In addition, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA can be given. Typical, effective antioxidants are Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, and Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane.

The extract of the green-lipped mussel is also popular in this regard, which is used for supplementary feeds and special foods for dogs. The green-lipped mussel comes from New Zealand and contains glycosaminoglycans, omega-3 fatty acids, and amino acids, as well as important vitamins and minerals.

These nutrients are also found in our joint tonic. This makes it particularly suitable for dogs suffering from mobility restrictions due to osteoarthritis.

Preventing Joint Problems

Even if a lot can still be done to make life easier for the four-legged friend in the case of joint diseases in dogs, it should ideally not come to a joint disease at all. And indeed, there are some things you can do to prevent the diseases.

These are our tips and recommendations:

• Promote healthy growth: It is important that puppies receive food that is optimally adapted to their special needs.
• Avoid certain movements: Large dog breeds or giant breeds are particularly often affected by joint diseases. While a dog of these breeds is growing up, it should avoid movements that could strain its joints. These include climbing stairs or jumping into a car.
• Maintain normal weight: If a dog is overweight, this will most likely put even more strain on its joints.
• Encourage plenty of exercise: Adult dogs need a lot of exercise during the day to lead a healthy life. Care must be taken to ensure that the dog performs calm and even movements. Swimming and trotting next to a bicycle are well suited. These sports are better for dogs than wild jumping around.
• Regular veterinary examinations: A dog should be examined annually so that all diseases can be recognized in good time.
• Always adapt feeding: Feeding must always be adapted to the age and respective living conditions of a dog.
• Special feeding for increased osteoarthritis risk: A dog that has already suffered joint injuries or suffers from joint diseases should definitely receive joint-supporting nutrients with its food. A special or supplementary feed is particularly suitable for this. Large dogs or giant breeds often also benefit from this.

FAQ

If the dog suffers from a joint disease, it is normal for dog owners to have many questions. In this section, we address the most frequently asked questions.

What joint problems do dogs have?

In addition to osteoarthritis and arthritis, dogs can suffer from spondylosis, hip and elbow dysplasia, and osteochondrosis dissecans. Generally, joint problems are more common in large dogs than in small breeds. The reason for this is that their critical growth phase lasts longer and they also grow very quickly. Therefore, they are more often affected by skeletal problems if they are overweight or exercise too intensely.

What helps with joint problems in dogs?

If a dog already suffers from joint problems, massages and careful movement of the affected joints can help. Massages have a supportive and tension-relieving effect, which also reduces pain. Swimming and walking in water are particularly suitable for joint problems.

Conclusion

If dogs suffer from joint pain or diseases, their mobility is usually restricted. Then certain movements cause pain or simply cannot be performed anymore. A particularly common joint disease in dogs is arthrosis.

To prevent joint diseases from occurring in the first place, dogs should receive food adapted to their growth phase and thus all the important nutrients they need for the health of their joints. Large breeds often struggle with problems because they grow particularly fast. For these dog breeds, it is essential to ensure that they do not overstrain their joint system as puppies. However, joint-friendly movements such as swimming or relaxed walking are still important.

Recoactive's Joint Tonic provides dogs with important nutrients they need in the case of joint diseases, including glycosaminoglycans and green-lipped mussel extract. It is also very well tolerated in the long term and can be optimally absorbed due to its liquid form.