Helping Your Best Friend: Common Joint Problems in Dogs and How to Treat Them

Your dog has been limping around the house. It’s been happening for a few days now and you’re starting to get concerned. You don’t know what the cause is or how you can help them.

A quick trip to the vet’s office will tell you that your furry friend is suffering from a joint disorder. It’s not uncommon in dogs and doesn’t discriminate based on age and breed. While there are surgical treatments available, sometimes the best care that you can give them starts at home.

To help you take care of your best friend, here is a guide on common causes of joint pain in dogs and what you can do to help treat them.

1. Symptoms of Joint Pain 

Part of getting your dog the help they need for their joints is identifying that they have a problem early on. Dogs who are having problems with their joints may

• Not be able to sit, stay, or even lay down
• Be slow and stiff when they get up
• Have trouble climbing the stairs 
• They will stop being as active 
• Be less enthusiastic about running and jumping 
• Show signs of swelling
• Hold one of their limbs off the ground or limp
• Lick the area that’s in pain
• Whine and whimper
• Have potty accidents around the home
• Be irritated or depressed

If you notice any one of these signs then you need to get your furry friend to a vet ASAP to figure out what the joint issue is. 

2. Common Joint Problems 

When it comes to joint problems, there are many different ones that it could be. While they may be more common in older dogs and certain breeds, for the most part, bad joints don’t discriminate. Here are a few of the most common ones that your pained pupper may be dealing with. 

Hip Dysplasia

It could be possible that the reason your dog is having joint problems is that their hip socket wasn’t able to properly form. Their bone will rub against the socket making them suffer from inflammation and tons of pain. This rubbing will cause even more damage down the line as it is one of the most common causes of arthritis in dogs. 

Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that is passed down from doggy generation to doggy generation. The most common breeds that suffer from it are German Shepherds, Newfoundlands, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers. A lack of exercise can speed along the problem. 

Osteoarthritis 

While some joint issues can affect younger dogs just as easily as older, Osteoarthritis is an exception to the rule. It is almost 100% secluded to older dogs. 

Like humans, the older they get the more wear and tear they put on their elbows, back, knees, shoulders, and hips. This has the potential to escalate and cause osteoarthritis once they’ve become an elder dog. 

Osteochondritis Dissecans 

The joint issue occurs when the cartilage found at the end of their bones starts to develop in a strange manner. This usually occurs in the shoulders and hips and can put them through so much pain that they won’t be able to move much. 

This situation has the tendency to work itself out as long as your dog isn’t too active. If your dog is very active though, they may end up working that piece of cartilage off.

If this happens the only option you’ll have is surgery. The cartilage will cause further problems if it’s allowed to continue floating there. 

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease 

Legg-Calve-Perthes mainly affects smaller toy breeds. Young ones, to be more specific. It happens when the dog starts to lose strength in its hip.

With this problem comes terrible inflammation of their bones and joints from the femur in the hind leg breaking down. Like hip dysplasia, Legg-calve-Perthes disease is believed to be genetic. 

Panosteitis 

As you probably know when a child goes through a massive growth spurt they may experience joint pains. Sometimes it’s so severe that they have to wear a brace on their legs. 

Dogs actually go through a similar experience. When puppies hit a giant growth spurt they may suffer from panosteitis. The dog may experience some lameness in their legs but it’s nothing to worry about too much.   

3. Surgical Treatment Options

If the situation is bad enough your dog may have to undergo a surgery. The most common surgeries are arthroscopic joint cleaning, tissue replacement, injections, and joint replacement. 

Like with humans, surgery on your furry friend will be the last resort. The vet will try out some non-surgical treatments first. 

4. Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Non-surgical treatments are enough to help out your furbaby more often than not. The best part is with these options is that you get to be a part of their treatment. You’ll get to assist them with their weight management, strengthening, food and supplements, and medications. 

Weight Management 

When a dog is overweight that puts more pressure on their joints than is necessary. If your dog is overweight, you can put them on a weight loss regimen to help them lose the extra pounds. This will put their inflamed joints at ease. 

Strengthening 

The more muscle mass your dog has the more joint protection they will have. It may be hard to get them to do it when they are in pain but there is no better way to do this than with regular exercise. 

If they hurt too much to chase a ball around the yard then you’re better off taking them to physical therapy. 

Food and Supplements

There are several supplements and dog foods that you can give your furbaby that promotes joint health. Their vet will give you a list but it’s up to you to implement it.

You can sneak their pills into their food. They’ll eat it without realizing it’s even there. Works like a charm every time. 

Medications

You’ll want to talk to your vet before bringing pain killers into the mix but certain NSAIDs can be brought into your dog’s treatment. Keep in mind that large amounts of these pills can bring more harm than good to the dog after a while. Always use with care and with vet supervision. 

5. Lending a Helping Hand to Your Pupper

Your dog won’t only need help when it comes to providing their treatment. You’ll need to make things around the house more comfortable for them. You don’t want it to be hard for them to get to room to room or groom themselves. 

Ramp

It hurts for a dog with a joint issue to jump on furniture or go up and down stairs. The problem is, you can’t ban them from rooms and in some cases, good luck keeping them off the furniture if you didn’t train them to do so as a puppy. 

You can make this process easier for the dog by installing ramps. This will allow them to walk rather than doing any harmful jumping. 

Runners and Cushions 

Hard flooring can do a number on an elderly dog’s joints. They will appreciate it if you got them a nice comfy runner to walk on. You should also make cushions and other comfy spots available to them around the house. 

Dog Gates

If you can’t afford to put a bunch of ramps in, you run back into the problem of your dog jumping up on stuff despite the pain. You can fix this issue with a doggy gate. You can place the dog in the gate so they don’t hurt themselves when you’re unable to keep an eye on them. 

Accessible Food and Water 

Keep their food and water bowls in a place where they can get to them comfortably. For example, if you live in a two-story house, you should keep their food on the bottom floor so they don’t have to climb steps. 

You should also consider picking up non-slip bowls or put them on a non-slip surface so it doesn’t move around while the dog tries to eat. 

Hot Water Bottles and Heat Pads

Hot water bottles and heating pads feel amazing when you’re hurting. The same rule applies to dogs.

Wrap a microwavable heating pad, or a hot water bottle in a towel and place it in their bed. The warmth will be like heaven on their aching joints. 

Groom Them 

Joint pain can cause your poor dog to lose some of their mobility. They won’t be able to reach everywhere on their body when they’re grooming. You can reach these spots though so pick up a doggy brush.

They’ll feel loved and pampered. It will also make them feel way more comfortable and happier overall. 

Common Causes of Joint Pain in Dogs and How to Treat Them 

It can be hard to watch your furry friend limp around your home in pain. While the vet can tell you what’s wrong with your dog and give you treatment options, it’s best that you go in prepared by researching common causes of joint pain in dogs. By researching and using some of the care options on this list, you can help your best friend get back on their own four legs again. 

Did you not expect some of the joint problems on this list? Check out our blog to read even more strange facts about dogs that you’ve never heard of.

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