Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Category
Bone & Joint
Breeds documented
17
Published sources
5

Overview

Smooth cartilage and joint fluid normally cushion movement between bones. With osteoarthritis, cartilage deteriorates and changes develop in the surrounding bone, causing pain, inflammation and stiffness. The condition is long-lasting and tends to worsen over time. It can develop after other joint problems or injuries, and excess body weight adds strain. Although it cannot be cured, veterinary management can help maintain comfort and mobility.

Signs to watch for

  • Stiffness or a change in the way your dog walks.
  • Limping or favoring a leg.
  • Difficulty getting up after lying down.
  • Reluctance to walk, run or play.
  • Trouble with stairs or jumping onto furniture.
  • Irritability or other changes in behavior.

It can develop at any age, including in younger dogs with other joint problems.

When to get help Book a vet visit when you notice limping, stiffness or reduced activity.

Diagnosis and tests

The vet watches your dog move and checks the joints for pain or abnormal changes. X-rays can show bone changes and help identify an underlying joint problem. If more detail is needed, CT, MRI or a small camera placed inside the joint may be used to assess tissues that X-rays cannot show clearly.

Breeds with documented risk

17 breeds

By breed size
  • 6 Medium
  • 7 Large
  • 4 Giant

Most popular breeds on this list

All 17 breeds, A to Z

Inheritance

  • Not yet known

    None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.

Sources

  1. vet.cornell.edu
  2. Bernese Mountain Dog: webcanine.com
  3. Border Collie: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Chow Chow: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Slovensky Kopov: skk.se