Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Osteoarthritis, a disease that does not spare dogs

The prevalence of osteoarthritis in dogs is high.

Chien-Chance.JPGIndeed, 20% of dogs older than one year suffer from osteoarthritis at various stages of severity.

Unlike human osteoarthritis, canine osteoarthritis is essentially secondary to congenital or acquired musculoskeletal disorders. A congenital dislocation of the elbow or kneecap can thus affect very young dogs and lead to secondary osteoarthritis.

Extensive lesions of the cartilage, which are secondary to the instability of the joint, may also appear a few weeks after tearing a ligament.

Intra-articular fractures are also frequently complicated by secondary degradation of the articular cartilage.

As in humans, obesity is also a risk factor for canine osteoarthritis.

Ampoule.pngLimiting the consumption of energy foods and maintaining optimum weight during growth reduces the incidence and severity of hip osteoarthritis. In addition, weight loss in obese obese dogs decreases their lameness.

Management of Canine Osteoarthritis

In order to decrease the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, dogs are commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Unfortunately, the use of these drugs is sometimes associated with adverse side effects - mainly lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.

The intra-articular injection of steroids is reserved for very severe stages of osteoarthritis or for cases that are refractory to other treatments.

Many active ingredients are also found in dog food to improve their algofunctional status and prevent cartilage degradation.

Based on work by Fanny Comblain
"Études in vitro et clinique d’actifs nutritionnels pour la prise en charge de l’arthrose chez le chien."