Arthritis may be behind dog’s new slowing down

Knight Ridder

Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases in the United States, affecting as many as 70 million people.

And arthritis isn’t just a problem for people.

Up to 10 million dogs in the U.S. suffer from the condition. That’s 20 percent of the adult canine population.

It is the leading cause of chronic pain in dogs, and though not life threatening, it can greatly diminish a pet’s quality of life.

A progressive, degenerative disease, arthritis results in cartilage damage and joint inflammation and affects one in five dogs over the age of 1. This condition often goes undiagnosed because dog owners attribute the changes in their dog’s behavior to old age or are not aware of the symptoms of arthritis, which include decreased activity, stiffness, limping, difficulty in rising, or reduced mobility.

While arthritis is most common in older dogs, it can affect dogs of any size, breed or age.

Some breeds are at a higher risk for developing arthritis. These include German shepherd, rottweiler, Labrador retriever, golden retriever and sheltie.

Canine arthritis can be caused by genetic joint problems, obesity, lack of exercise, aging or injury trauma. The chronic pain of arthritis is one of the leading reasons pet owners make the difficult decision to euthanize their dogs.

Tackling arthritis and mobility problems requires a three-pronged approach: exercise, weight management and nutrition. Success on the whole can be measured only by the strength of the weakest element, so it’s important to keep all three in mind to increase the probability of your favorite four-legged friend playing fetch freely again.

In addition, there are medications that can be prescribed by your veterinarian to help ease the pain.

These nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are popular painkillers commonly used to treat degenerative joint disease and arthritis in dogs. NSAIDs for dogs are Food and Drug Administration-approved to treat pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

There’s excitement about a new product, Previcox.

Rather than being a “human product” shoehorned into a veterinary use, this arthritis drug was developed specifically for dogs. Research data about this new medication recently were presented at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine conference by Peter Hanson, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVS .

Eliminating pain in dogs can also help increase the human-animal bond.

“Previcox helps veterinarians ensure the best quality care and lifestyle for their patients so that they can better interact with their owners,” states Hanson.

Some veterinarians recommend nutraceutical supplements, instead of, or in conjunction with, NSAIDS. Nutraceuticals like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can help ease discomfort in dogs with arthritis.

Glucosamine is involved with the production of joint lubricants and helps maintain healthy cartilage and joint function. Chondroitin sulfate helps keep cartilage tissue from dehydrating and also cushions joints from impact stress.

Until recently, these supplements were generally given to a dog in conjunction with their food. However, veterinarians around the country are seeing dramatic results from an innovative new food, Prescription Diet Canine j/d, which contains appropriate levels of both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, in addition to several other ingredients that have been shown to maintain joint health in dogs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in high concentrations in fish oil.

It also contains l-carnitine, a vitaminlike substance that helps maintain optimum body weight.

If your dog is slowing down, ask your veterinarian about these exciting new products.