Author: Primrose Moss
Primrose Moss shares an insight into the treatment of arthritis in the last of this two-part series.
How can arthritis be treated?
Considering that arthritis is a chronic condition caused by a range of conditions and affecting a wide variety of dogs, it's no wonder there are also a range of possible treatments. The main thing to remember is that the best approach to arthritis is multimodal. While some medications can be of enormous benefit, the best treatment depends on the individual dog and typically includes a combination of home care, medicine and other treatments.
There are three core aspects of arthritis management:
- Weight control
- Controlled exercise
- Reducing inflammation and pain
Weight management
The direct link between giving dogs more treats or giving in to begging behaviour and subsequent pain and disease isn't always clear to owners. Still, if you take one thing from this article, it should be this: keeping your dog a healthy weight throughout its life is vital to its health, happiness, and lifespan. This only becomes more critical if they have arthritis.
Studies have shown that Labradors fed a restricted diet lived nearly 2.5 years longer than dogs allowed excessive food and that weight loss substantially improves overweight dogs’ quality of life. Even mild weight loss (6-9% of body weight) can significantly reduce lameness. In practice, vets often hear weight gain in older patients chalked up to reduced exercise, but it's widely accepted that diet primarily determines weight. While your dog may not thank you for smaller portions, they will thank you for the new lease of life it can give them.
Up to 65% of UK dogs are overweight or obese, but 81% of dog owners perceive their dog as an ideal weight. Judging your dog's weight can be difficult, so if in doubt, ask your vet or vet nurse for help assessing their weight and creating a weight loss plan if needed.
Controlled exercise
Gentle exercise is good for arthritic patients – it helps maintain muscle mass, contributes to their quality of life, helps reduce stiffness, and alleviates symptoms. However, it's vital that it's controlled. Ideally, exuberant off-lead exercise and play should be minimal as this is the worst type of movement for arthritic joints – however, this does have to be balanced with dogs' enjoyment of life! For regular exercise, avoid long, occasional walks (like that two-hour hike at the weekend) in favour of regular, shorter walks that don't leave your dog stiff the next day. See what works best for your dog; arthritic dogs can respond well to more frequent short walks.
Addressing inflammation and pain
As a first-line option, it’s worth trying joint supplements containing omega 3 (or green-lipped mussel, a good source of omega 3); other ingredients may offer some benefit, but most evidence supports omega 3. Some dogs respond very well to nutraceutical supplements, while others display slight improvement.
There is more evidence for the use of medication to manage arthritis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like meloxicam are the most common option. These drugs are similar to ibuprofen (NB, which is toxic to dogs) and have an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to providing pain relief. They can be safely used long-term, with regular blood tests to check the kidneys and liver are healthy. Many owners use them intermittently when flare-ups occur, but they're most effective when used regularly. Paracetamol is a similar drug, although it doesn't
“The main thing to remember is that the best approach to arthritis is multimodal.”
“The most important thing is to keep an open mind, look out for possible signs of arthritis and work with your vet to trial different lifestyle modifications and treatments until you find what works for your dog.”
have any anti-inflammatory effects. It can, however, be used alongside an NSAID for additional pain relief and is usually very well tolerated with minimal side effects. It would help if you always discussed giving paracetamol with your vet before using it for your dog, as it's vital to dose it correctly (NB, it's highly toxic to cats).
If your dog doesn’t do well with NSAIDs (they can occasionally cause upset stomachs), or you’d prefer to try a different option, there are other medications available. These include a relatively new monthly injectable monoclonal antibody drug (Librela), which has relatively few side effects and typically provides very good pain relief, as well as other pain relief options like gabapentin (a human medication).
These options can also be combined with other medicines. Your vet can discuss the details of these medications and provide recommendations based on your specific situation.
Home care
Taking a few simple steps at home can also make your dog much more comfortable. First, reduce the need for your dog to jump. Consider getting a ramp or steps for significant jumps (e.g., getting in or out of the car or on and off sofas). Avoid leaving slippery floors bare; consider secured rugs or other non-slip options.
Provide a relatively firm, supportive bed with some padding (overly cushy ones may not provide enough support for them to get in and out easily); make sure the bed has a low edge for easy access. Finally, look after their nails. Reduced walking can allow them to overgrow and affect their gait. Take them for regular nail trims, or look into other options like nail files.
Other treatments
Depending on your dog, other options, including hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and acupuncture, are worth considering. Hydrotherapy can be of particular benefit for weight loss and muscle maintenance while helping them to move their joints through a full range of motion.
Summary
Arthritis can seem like an overwhelming condition to manage, and it's often tricky to talk through all the possible treatment options in one vet appointment. The most important thing is to keep an open mind, look out for possible signs of arthritis and work with your vet to trial different lifestyle modifications and treatments until you find what works for your dog, remembering that they may need further interventions as they age. For more information about canine arthritis, I often recommend my clients look at the free online resources available from Canine Arthritis Management.
Reproduced with permission from one of our favourite partners Edition Dog, Issue 65 2024, Author: Primrose Moss - find out how you can read more amazing canine content at Edition Dog
