What Causes Joint Pain in Dogs?

Joint pain is a very common affliction that most of the older dogs will suffer from at some point in their lives. Although dogs of a larger size are more prone to this problem, smaller breeds can be affected as well. In fact, studies have shown that joint pain occurs in about 20% of all dogs above the age of one. 

As joint pain is a usual occurrence in dogs, there are many different ways to treat it. Pet vitamins and supplements are widely known to relieve the dog’s suffering. Not to mention the fact that there are lots of therapists out there that especially focus on healing this affliction.

However, besides some wear and tear, joint pain is often a symptom of a much bigger problem happening behind the scenes. So, in order to properly care for your furry friend you first need to get down to the core of the issue and find out what is exactly causing it.

With that being said, today we are going to show you some of the causes that lead up to joint pains.

Arthritis 

This is one of the most common diseases dogs are subjected to in their older age. Due to the thinning of the cartilage, the bones end up rubbing against each other without having any proper lubrication. This eventually leads to the damaging of the cartilage and inflammation of the joints, making it hard for the dog to move.

A telltale sign that suggests arthritis, comes in the form of stiffness. If you notice that your pet is unusually stiff after a period of rest, there might be a problem. Moreover, if you see that the dog is excessively licking the area of his joints, you should go ahead and check it out. If he’s joints are swollen and slightly warm to the touch you should take your dog to a vet right away.

If the veterinarian confirms that your pooch is suffering from arthritis he may probably recommend a few pharmaceutical products. Although these products help a lot in relieving your dog’s pain, it’s not really enough. Sadly, making a full recovery from this condition is quite rare, so making the pain more tolerable is a priority.

Besides pharmaceuticals, provide some comfortable bedding. Also, keep in mind that a muscle massage helps since it improves blood flow towards the areas that are in pain. And don’t forget to use pet vitamins and supplements in order to slow down the symptoms.

Hip dysplasia 

Hip dysplasia is a condition that, if not treated right, can eventually lead up to arthritis. It’s more encountered in dogs that are larger in size, and as the name suggests, it affects the hips.

This occurs when, while your dog is growing, the head of the femur bone and the socket in the pelvis do not grow at equal rates causing one or both of the joints around the area of the hip a lot of stress, leading to wear and tear.

If your dog has hip dysplasia, he will likely use the hip less, by moving both of his legs at the same time, similar to bunny hopping. Just like with arthritis, there’s no complete recovery. The most you can do is to improve your dog’s quality of life.

Dysplasias can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the knee or elbow. Knee dysplasia is more common in smaller dog breeds, whereas elbow dysplasia mainly affects Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, or German Shepherds.

Injuries

And finally, ligament injuries are yet another one of the main causes that lead to long term joint pain. After all of that running and jumping your dog went through in the course of his life, the ligaments eventually start to tear up and even rupture.