Arthritis (osteoarthritis) is a progressive degenerative disease that affects one or more joints leading to pain, stiffness, lameness and reduced mobility, all of which can lead to a poorer quality of life.
Wear and tear on the joints causes degeneration of the cartilage and varying degrees of pain. Cartilage is a shock absorber in the joint – when it is damaged the underlying bone is exposed leading to pain and inflammation. One or several joints may be affected – the most susceptible are the hips, knees, elbows and back. In certain breeds, the condition can be inherited.
In older dogs, longer standing arthritis destroys the cartilage of the joint and produces extra bone in the joint. If left untreated, this can cause irreversible damage and stop the dog from fully participating in everyday life.
Some of the signs are
- difficulty in getting up from lying down or sitting positions
- reluctance to walk or play
- lameness or stiffness. There may be “morning stiffness” which improves as the day goes on
- difficulty climbing stairs or jumping up
- change in character eg becoming aggressive or withdrawn
The signs can be difficult to spot at first as they appear gradually over time – many people put it down to the dog “slowing down” with age. Sometimes the signs might be worse first thing in the morning when the dog gets up from sleeping, or after vigorous exercise. Again, owners often do not associate this with arthritis.

DIAGNOSIS: Your vet will be able to diagnose the condition by examination and manipulation of the joints. He may x-ray the affected joints to confirm the degree of damage, and get more information to help in treatment choices.

CONTROL (Not cure)
- exercise – change to regular, gentle exercise. Walking exercise is better than a lot of jumping and running. Be consistent every day rather than going for marathon walks at the weekend then very little during the week.
- weight control – carrying excess weight puts extra pressure on damaged joints, and causes additional wear and tear, and pain. Stop feeding titbits, control the food intake and feed less fattening foods.
- anti inflammatory medications – these reduce pain and inflammation and are very effective, allowing the dog to exercise which helps the joints regain some of their mobility.
- occasionally surgery can be performed to make a joint less painful

Arthritis is a progressive disease and will require regular reassessment by your vet to ensure the best control. The condition can change from day to day, and over exercise or injury may cause flare-ups which will need the treatment to be changed short-term.

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