Does My Dog Have Osteoarthritis

Does my dog have osteoarthritis? It’s good to ask that question any time you have an older dog. Osteoarthritis is a common affliction among older dogs. There is no cure but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t help.

Osteoarthritis doesn’t develop suddenly. It is a chronic disease that affects the joints. It causes pain and decreased mobility. Dogs of any breed or size can develop the condition.

If your dog has developed osteoarthritis the first thing that you will notice is problems with mobility. The dog will not want to move because it hurts. It may limp and not want to walk or move because of the pain.

Lethargy, swollen joints and joint stiffness are also signs of osteoarthritis. The dog may not want to be touched or begin to hide from you. Barking unexpectedly and yelping with movement or when being petted, may be a sign that your dog has developed osteoporosis. Alternately, the dog may move slowly when awakening in the morning or after getting up from a nap.

It’s important to note that not all dogs will show all of these symptoms. Some dogs will show more of one particular symptom than others. The overall rule of thumb is that the more the disease has progressed the more symptoms that the dog will show.