| By :
Steve Weber
Knowing the signs of arthritis in dogs can be helpful in determining if your dog is indeed suffering from arthritic pain and discomfort. Arthritis is a common diagnosis in dogs, especially as they age. While there is no cure for arthritis, it is a disease that can be managed. Arthritis literally means an acute or chronic inflammation of a joint. Knowing what to look for will greatly help your dog and increase their comfort level. There are certain things that can predispose the dog to arthritis. Larger breed dogs are more prone to arthritis. Overweight dogs are also more likely to get arthritis as they age. Traumatic injuries to joint tissues, even at younger ages, can develop into arthritis even after the initial injury heals. The signs of arthritis in dogs can vary greatly. Dogs can be notorious for "hiding their symptoms" or only showing minimal signs of discomfort when they are in fact suffering from severe arthritis. Some of the things to look for are general stiffness, limping or a decrease in activity. They may take longer to rise from a laying or sitting position or show a reluctance to climb steps or stairs. They may become irritable or have a lack of appetite. In some more severe cases, the dog may whimper or cry out when standing or being touched. The dog may become quiet or withdrawn and show an unwillingness to do activities that they had previously enjoyed. Some dogs exhibit personality changes. As it does in people, the symptoms of arthritis may come and go. One day the dog may be feeling better and showing no signs of discomfort and the following day show signs of discomfort. Because of reasons like this, some of the signs of arthritis could easily be missed or overlooked. The degree of discomfort can vary with weather changes. The dog may also show signs of diminished muscle tone if they are using other muscles and joints to compensate for the pain in other areas. If any of these signs of arthritis are noted in the dog, careful observation and a trip to the vet might be in order. While arthritis can't be cured, there are many measures and steps that can be taken to ensure that the dog is as comfortable as they can be. Once the diagnosis of arthritis has been made by the veterinarian, there are many options to manage the arthritic condition and give the dog the quality of life he deserves.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlesbacklink.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
