Arthritis
What is arthritis in dogs?
Stem Cell Vet have successfully treated hundreds of beloved dogs with dog arthritis using our safe, state of the art stem cell arthritis treatments. We treat dogs all over the UK and can quickly help put the spring back in the step of your dog.
Arthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a very common disease affecting 1 in 5 adult dogs. It is more common in older medium-to-large breed dogs but dogs of any age, size and breed can be affected by this painful degenerative disease.
How does arthritis work in a dog?
Arthritis in a dog is caused when the cartilage within the joints becomes worn away and the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints becomes thin and inflamed which creates friction and pain when your dog moves. The joints may also become swollen which adds to the discomfort.
Some more detail…
All of the joints in the body depend on a layer of cartilage which acts as a shock-absorber inside the joint and also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. This is assisted by the lubrication provided by synovial fluid in the joints.
In arthritis, the smooth cartilage covering of the bones inside the joints deteriorates and wears thin, sometimes allowing the bones themselves to rub together. The synovial fluid becomes thin and watery, losing some of its lubricating properties. These changes together create friction and pain inside the joint.
All these issues are caused by the cumulative effects of abnormal stresses placed on the joints. Arthritis can occur with abnormal alignment of bones that make up the joint, with trauma, aging and continual wear/tear on the joint structures.
Arthritis can affect one or more joints and any joint can be affected, but the most common joints that are affected in dogs are the hips, knees, shoulders and elbows.
What causes arthritis in dogs?
The cause can be hereditary or breed related (as in hip and elbow dysplasia) or related to injury or wear and tear.
Dogs that are overweight will often get arthritis at an earlier age and more severely, as the joints are carrying a greater load than that they are designed for. In addition, fat has what is called a pro-inflammatory effect, increasing inflammation inside the joints.
Arthritis at its worst and especially if left untreated, can cause chronic pain, difficulty moving and a decline in your dog’s quality of life. As the disease develops slowly, it is often assumed that it’s just old age and that nothing can be done. Fortunately, this is not true and there are a variety of treatments available.
Have you noticed any of the following?
- Reduced activity
- Reluctance to walk or play
- Stiffness in the legs (especially after rest)
- Difficulty getting up
- Limping/lameness
- Difficulty climbing stairs/steps or jumping into the car
- Lagging on walks
- Licking or chewing at joints
- Yelping in pain when touched
- Personality changes e.g. not being his or her self, or aggression
- Reduced appetite
If your dog is showing any of the above signs or symptoms, then it’s time for a check-up. Winter is the time of year when our dogs may suffer the most from arthritis, but the pain can last all year long. As osteoarthritis progresses the pain becomes much worse, so the sooner the problem is recognised the sooner your dog can be helped.
Our goal is to give every dog we treat the absolute best possible care because your dog’s happiness means the world to us.
We provide the gold standard of care and offer the very best cutting-edge treatments that are available including:
- Full initial consultation and physical exam with assessment and recommendations
- Blood tests to ensure suitability for regenerative medicine therapy
- Full radiograph service
- Injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into joint(s)
- Preparation, counting and culture of stem cells
- Injection of stem cells into joint(s)
- Joint fluid replacement treatments
- Storage of stem cells for future use in our dedicated lab
- Comprehensive follow-up plan at 30, 60, 90, 180 and 360 days
