The dog joint is made up of at least two bone ends which are “congruent”, they are correctly placed in relation to each other so that the joint moves and works perfectly. The movements of the legs are done around the joints.

The ends of the bones in a joint are covered by cartilage (a layer of soft, supple tissue that covers the bone and helps protect it from impact and friction). Around most joints there is a pocket containing a lubricating fluid, the synovia, which is therefore called the synovial capsule.

In osteoarthritis, the fluid in the synovial capsule becomes inflamed and results in the destruction of part of the cartilage. The disappearance of cartilage creates inflammation around the bone it protected. There is osteoarthritis.

The causes of inflammation are often due to an “incongruence” of the joint: because the ligaments that keep the bones properly positioned are too loose, the bones do not move in a normal way relative to each other in the body. ‘joint. Friction and therefore osteoarthritis appear. This is what happens, for example, in dog dysplasia.

Osteoarthritis can also appear through wear and tear as the dog ages.

Osteoarthritis in dogs is manifested by pain and lameness which is more marked (in the morning for example) before exercise and may disappear or improve when the dog walks. We are talking about cold lameness. It evolves by crises, the dog alternates between periods without lameness and periods of lameness. The more time passes, the more time spent without lameness decreases. And the pain is more and more marked. Sometimes we notice that the claws of lame limbs are longer because the dog relieves his limb by using it less. It is degenerative, that is to say that it does not improve because the more time takes place, the more the cartilage disappears.

In addition to that of the old dog, the causes of osteoarthritis in dogs are quite simple:

• Hip dysplasia, elbow or shoulder of the dog. These dysplasias particularly affect the Labrador and other large breed or giant breed dogs such as the Bernese Mountain Dog. This growth anomaly is hereditary. Breeders of the breeds concerned are working to prevent their expansion by excluding affected dogs from breeding.
• Patella dislocation. The ligaments holding the patella in its place during movements of the knee joint and / or the shape of the patella and the bone on which it slides (the femur) are not adapted and create an incongruence at the level of the ‘joint. Patella dislocation is very common in small breed dogs.
• Poorly healed fracture. A poorly healed fracture will change the orientation of the bones and, even more so if it has occurred in the joint, create inflammation in the joint.
• Inflammation. All other causes of joint inflammation can create osteoarthritis in dogs.

Osteoarthritis in dogs is a chronic, degenerative disease. The treatment of osteoarthritis therefore consists of slowing the progression of the disease as well as spacing out and reducing the attacks.

The treatment of pain in arthritis attacks involves theuse of anti-inflammatory drugs (usually non-steroidal). To ensure that your dog, often elderly, can receive this treatment without risk to his health your veterinarian will be able to regularly check the condition of the kidneys and liver, with biochemical analyzes of theg. Dogs who can no longer receive anti-inflammatory drugs will be prescribed morphine derivatives to combat the pain. The treatment of attack of the pain can be done by means of an injection of anti-inflammatory drug then the relia is done by a daily treatment by mouth. There are injections of very long-lasting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (check with your veterinarian). Anti-inflammatory drugs cause significant side effects this is why we avoid giving them continuously and reserve them to relieve pain and calm inflammation during attacks of osteoarthritis.

Between seizures or to try to stop a beginning seizure, you can give your dog dietary supplements as a cure or continuously.

These supplements contain chondroprotectors (protectors of cartilage) such as glucosamines and chondroitin. Associated with these chondroprotectors we sometimes find other molecules making it possible to make the dog lose weight (excess weight being an aggravating factor of osteoarthritis in dogs), plant extracts having an anti-pain power (such as harpagophytum ), anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidant (like turmeric).

Preventing the onset of seizures and reducing pain can also involve alternative or natural and non-drug techniques. These techniques complement medications.

• Osteopathy
• Physiotherapy with laser, electro-stimulation, massages …
• Swimming (in the sea or in a pool, with or without a treadmill)

Ask a physiotherapy center or an osteopath for more information.