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Does my dog have arthritis?

With 20% or 1 in 5 dogs suffering from arthritis (Hegemann et al., 2002), your dog could be suffering without you being aware. Or maybe you consider it a natural sign of old age. Dogs don't tell us how they are feeling, as much as we wish they did, so you need to be alert to the signs of arthritis. Mostly, arthritis develops slowly over time and we might not notice the gradual and subtle changes in behaviour and movements.

Lameness and limping are the classic signs of arthritis but the below practical questions might help you with picking up on the signs. How would your dog feel about the following statements?

Answer Often Sometimes Never
Score 2 1 0
I feel stiff in the morning. It is hard to get up & move around.      
At times I can seem depressed, irritable or out of sorts.      
I chew or lick particular joints.      
I have difficulty going up or down stairs.      
I eat slowly as it is difficult to reach down to my food bowl.      
I don't rush to greet you when you arrive home.      
It is hard to reach some areas so I can look unkempt.      
On walks I am slow and lag behind.      
I find it difficult to jump into the car or on to the sofa.      
I now growl or act defensively, especially when touched.      

 

If your dog is otherwise healthy, the score allows a prediction of whether or not your dog is suffering from arthritis.

Total scores and likeliness of arthritis in an otherwise healthy dog:

Score Likeliness of Arthritis
6 or greater
extremely likely
3 - 6 highly likely
1 – 3 likely
0 – 1 it is unlikely your dog has arthritis

 

If the score confirms that your pet is likely, highly likely or extremely likely to have arthritis, consult your vet for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

REFERENCES

Hegemann N, Kohn B, Brunnberg L, Schmidt MF (2002) Biomarkers of joint tissue metabolism in canine osteoarthritic and arthritic joint disorders. Osteoarthritis Cart. 10, 714-721