We all want our pups to be as pain-free as possible, but how can you check if that rings true? We’ve got you covered. We’re running through the top thirteen early signs of arthritis in dogs – just scroll to learn more…
What is Early Arthritis in Dogs?
To know this, we need to understand what arthritis is. Arthritis is a common, progressive and incurable condition that affects a dog’s joints. The main symptoms include stiffness and a hesitation to movement, because it’s so painful. So, early arthritis is when a dog develops arthritis before the time it’s usually seen in dogs.
In a lot of cases, early arthritis in dogs can depend on which breed they are and how old they are. Senior dogs are more prone to developing arthritis, due to general aging ‘wear and tear’, but early arthritis dogs can develop the condition due to other factors that we’ll get into next...
How canine arthritis develops
Before we get to early signs of arthritis in dogs, we need to know about a dog’s joints. The joint is made up of two bones, cartilage (which is a smooth tissue that covers the bones and absorbs impact or stress). Then in between that, there’s a gap called the joint capsule. In here, there's a liquid called synovial fluid, which helps to lubricate the joint and nourish the cartilage. Then, there’s ligaments that connect the bones together and tendons that connect muscles to bones.
A dog tends to develop arthritis because of one of two key factors; normal stress, like aging and type of breed, or abnormal stress, like obesity.
When a dog’s joint composition is changed for the worst, the cartilage starts to break down, which can feel painful and lead to a cycle of inflammation. Then, when the two bones eventually start to interact, they’ll wear down, causing even more pain. The signs of arthritis in dogs tends to come after this initial damage.
Dogs most at risk for early arthritis
Early signs of arthritis in dogs can be seen in some breeds more than others, simply because of their genetic coding.
According to the Pet Industry Federation, the most common breeds that are susceptible to arthritis are; Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Bulldogs and Newfoundlands.
Overall, what you’ll notice is that larger and giant breeds, those with unique body shapes and those who are built for high-impact life are most likely to develop arthritis. The good news is, early signs of arthritis in dogs are possible to detect and treat.
Why early detection matters
Checking for early signs of arthritis in dogs is super important, because cartilage doesn’t grow back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Treatments can only maintain and re-build what is currently there. When dogs don’t have the same state of cartilage (the shock absorbers), the state of the joint and cartilage can get worse and worse. So, the sooner an arthritis diagnosis is possible, the better chance you have of preserving their current joint and maintaining what is currently there.
Key Signs Your Dog Has Arthritis
There are a few key signs that you can spot for early signs of arthritis in dogs, so let’s get into it...
Mobility and movement changes
STIFFNESS
This is often the first of the early signs of arthritis in dogs. It’ll usually look like your dog is having a hard time getting up after resting or when they first wake up in the morning. Check their first 10 steps. Ask yourself, how are they moving? Is this normal?
What's the science behind the stiffness? Well, when a dog isn’t using their body to move the synovial fluid in the joint starts to settle. It loses its lubricating properties. This will trigger the dog’s immune system to try and help, but it actually does the opposite effect and the inflammatory protein, cytokine, starts to build up concentration in the joint instead, causing inflammation. This then starts to develop into early signs of arthritis in dogs.
LIMPING OR LAMENESS
When a dog starts to feel pain enough, they’ll limp. This is usually an incredibly sad sign of arthritis in dogs for owners, because it’s a visible sign of their pain. It usually means that it’s got to the point where they can’t avoid how painful it is and they don’t want to put any pressure on that leg. Their other legs will compensate for this. They might even favor one leg.
It’s really important to know that dogs are genetically wired to hide their pain, so try to look for other signs with a limp, like a head bob. When their painful leg hits the ground, their head will usually lift up.
HESITATION
When a dog starts to avoid movement or high-impact activities specifically, they tend to wait and weigh up the risk and benefit of that activity or movement. They just don’t want to feel the pain, so they’ll avoid moving the way they normally would. This is one of the early signs of arthritis in dogs, because it’s super obvious when they’re not moving the same way.
For example, if a dog is getting up and moving from one place to another, they usually put two to three times their body weight onto their joints. So, naturally, they’re going to feel a real difference. If they’re avoiding movement when you’ve given them a command, like getting into the car, jumping on furniture or climbing stairs, it could mean that they’re anticipating the pain and choosing to avoid it. This sign of arthritis in dogs is really common.
SLOWING DOWN
If dogs seem less enthusiastic about going on a walk or can only manage a short walk, this is a good indicator that they may be experiencing pain due to arthritis. Usually, a healthy dog will have enough energy for a walk, an activity and still have plenty of energy leftover – especially if they’re puppies. So, this is another super common sign of arthritis in dogs.
DIFFICULTY WITH ANY MOVEMENT
Trouble getting up, lying down and shifting positions – these are all key examples of movements that should be easy, but if a dog is suffering with arthritis, it will look and feel painful for them. In the veterinary sphere, this is called ‘transitionary pain’, because they’re transitioning from movement to another with a lot discomfort.
Usually, a healthy dog doesn’t even think about these transitions, because they’re not experiencing any pain. Early arthritis in dogs looks and feels painful and it’s often more painful than you might think.
Behavioral Changes
IRRITABILITY OR GRUMPINESS
Dogs can’t speak human, so their behavior is a key indicator that something’s not right. If they seem snappier or more irritable than usual to your commands and in general life, it may be a sign that they’re experiencing pain due to arthritis. An early sign of arthritis in dogs can show up if they’re sensitive to your touch. They map snap and overreact. Their natural instincts may also lead them to start guarding their space.
LETHARGY
Early arthritis in dogs can feel exhausting. They’re spending a lot of their energy trying to protect the energy they have and they may be experiencing a light throbbing, which causes chronic stress. When they’re feeling more stressed, this can actually cause them to feel more fatigued. This can often mean that they’re trying to protect their energy and prevent pain, so they can seem more lethargic than usual.
WITHDRAWAL
Dogs are always looking for safety. So, when a dog is experiencing a lot of pain, because of a condition like arthritis, they will usually tend to become less interactive with you. Genetically, they do this to protect themselves and not be seen as weak in a social setting. One of the first key signs of early arthritis in dogs is if they don’t come and greet you at the door when you open it.
AGGRESSION
When a dog expresses more aggression to people and other dogs, it’s usually a defense mechanism. If they’re in pain, they’ll feel more vulnerable, so they create a ‘buffer zone’ for themselves. In this case, using aggression to create a physical barrier. This early sign of arthritis in dogs can show up if you go to touch them or if other dogs in the park go up and stiff them, and they may act out of character.
Physical Signs
LICKING OR CHEWING JOINTS
If a dog is excessively licking or chewing on their joints, this is often a way that they’ll try to self-soothe themselves, because the pain is so intense. Dogs usually lick themselves, but an early sign of arthritis in dogs really focuses on if they’re excessively licking. When a dog’s tongue brushes against the fur at the joint, it creates a sort of distraction for them to focus on instead of the pain they feel there. This also releases the ‘feel-good’ hormone, endorphins.
SWOLLEN JOINTS
When joints look larger, inflamed or feels warm to touch, this is a key sign of early arthritis in dogs. Joints should usually feel cool to touch, so swelling and heat are the body’s defense mechanisms. There are a few places that you might see a hotspot swelling and that’s at their wrists, ankles and elbows. It’s best to consult a vet if you see a swollen joint for a full diagnosis.
MUSCLE WASTING
This is one of the most common physical changes you’ll see if you’re looking for early signs of arthritis in dogs. Sometimes, if a muscle isn’t being used in the proper way, it starts to waste away. A common example is in a dog’s hind legs. They’re essentially shifting the weight of their legs where they’re experiencing pain to the legs that aren’t experiencing pain.
A way to test muscle wasting as an early sign of arthritis in dogs, includes wrapping your hands gently around their leg over the course of a few months and seeing how much your hands overlap. If they continue to overlap as time goes on, that muscle is decreasing in mass and it could be time to visit the vet for further guidance and check if it's down to early arthritis in dogs.
ALTERED POSTURE
When a dog’s joints start to hurt, it can affect how they sit, stand and seem more generally. Early arthritis dogs will experience a change in their posture to compensate for where they’re experiencing the pain. If their posture starts to turn to more of a hunchback, this is called Kyphosis. It’ll put a lot of strain on their back, eventually causing back issues. They may also be seen to sway more on their hindquarter. This is a key sign that their joints are weak.
To Sum Up
Trying to detect early signs of arthritis in dogs can be a real mission, but we’ve run through thirteen of the easiest ways to spot the signs. The sooner you spot the signs, the better their health will be. Finding a treatment for arthritis is super important for their quality of life. After all, which dog owner doesn’t want them to live as well as they can?