By DR. WILLIAM K. FAUKS 

Q: Our family dog, a mixed golden retriever, is only 4 years old but is increasingly showing signs of arthritis. She limps badly and is quite stiff when she first gets up in the morning, or after a nap, but tends to loosen up some after a little exercise. Isn’t this rare for a dog this young? We’ve been giving her an aspirin twice daily but it doesn’t seem to have helped much. What else can we do to help her get through this? — Wayne T.

A: Around 80 percent to 90 percent of companion dogs will exhibit some degree or some form of arthritis as they reach their later years. But it’s not exclusive in the aging dog — young dogs such as Wayne’s retriever are also afflicted, but at a much lesser rate. Unusual, yes — but not considered rare. 

When a young dog presents with painful arthritis it is usually a sequel to a developmental or degenerative orthopedic disease or traumatic injury to a joint. A few of the conditions that predispose young dogs to arthritis are torn ligaments, congenital hip or elbow dysplasia, joint infections and immune-deficiency related diseases such as lupus.

Clinically there are around 100 different forms of arthritis, but most come under the heading of the two most common types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former develops when joint cartilage begins to break down due to factors such as those listed above, while the latter occurs when the body’s immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks multiple body joints, resulting in initial inflammation followed by cartilage erosion and severe pain. 

Regardless of its cause or classification, arthritis in dogs is considered incurable, and in many instances, even with the best care, can be progressive. But with today’s management techniques a good number of cases will show favorable response through symptom reduction.

The following are a few helpful suggestions for home management of an arthritic dog:

• Keep your dog trim. Excess weight puts additional stress on joints, basically wearing them out sooner than normal.

• Encourage moderate exercise. It is beneficial because it helps maintain muscle mass and has a positive influence on joint flexibility. Swimming is excellent here.

• Provide comfortable padded bedding for sleeping and resting to eliminate hard surfaces and chilling.

• Avoid aspirin. The aspirin dosage necessary for pain relief often destroys cartilage, and in many instances causes other undesirable side affects.

• Explore, with your veterinarian, the compounds that tend to modify the progression of arthritis by preventing further breakdown of joint cartilage and also enhancing the lubricating effect of joint fluid. Glucosomine and chondroitin is a prime example of such a compound.

• Only employ pain control and anti-inflammatory drugs that have been prescribed by your veterinarian. There are some really excellent products available for this purpose.

Be aware that all dogs with arthritis do not respond equally to the same medication, and dosage varies considerably. Consequently, some experimentation with various medications may be required. Be prepared for a lifetime commitment, and keep in mind that working closely with your veterinarian will help to insure successful management of your arthritic dog.


DR. WILLIAM K. FAUKS is a retired Oklahoma City veterinarian.