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Recently we saw a dog, Phydeaux (not his real name), into the clinic for an exam. Phydeaux is a big friendly Lab that I have treated from the time he was a pup. He is 8 years old now, but I haven't seen him for a few years. That's because Phydeaux's "mom" lost her job, and since Phydeaux seemed to be doing fine she decided not to have his yearly check-ups. But now she was concerned that something might be wrong.
I could instantly see what the problem was. Phydeaux used to bound up to the truck, jump right up on me, wag his tail and anxiously wait for me to pet him. Today, Phydeaux was moving slow and he couldn't get around well at all.
We ran some tests and they confirmed my suspicions - Phydeaux had arthritis and he was in a lot of pain.
Phydeaux's owner was surprised by the diagnosis. "Isn't that a progressive disease?" she asked. "He seemed fine until just recently."
Yes, arthritis is a progressive disease. And no, it didn't just "happen" last week. But apparently there were no noticeable symptoms along the way that Phydeaux's owner was able to pick up on until the pain got really bad.
That's not unusual. Dogs are very good at hiding their pain and illness. It's an instinctual behavior that goes back to when dogs lived in the wild. Dogs who were sick or injured were at risk for attack by predators, so they became quite good at masking their pain. Most dogs don't show us when they are in pain, which makes it even harder to tell that they are sick.
From the progressed state of his disease, I knew that Phydeaux had been in pain for quite some time, but his owner never knew. He probably slowed down a lot over the last couple of years, but it was a gradual change and she didn't recognize it. She probably just thought that Phydeaux was getting older.
Arthritis is a common disease in dogs - a lot more common than you might think. Recent studies show that it affects 1 in every 5 dogs. But for some dogs (like Phydeaux) the risk is even higher. Certain large breed dogs like Labs have a 70 to 80 percent chance of developing arthritis - which means 4 out of every 5 dogs in these breeds will get it. That's a very high risk.
Because of pain and mobility issues, dogs with arthritis are no longer able to enjoy doing the things they love. They may play less, move slower or even seem "unhappy". The more you know about the risks and symptoms of arthritis, the more likely you will be to recognize the problem in your dog. In addition to breed, things like age, weight, activity level and injury put your dog at higher risk for developing this painful condition. Even your dog's food could be a factor since red meat is a staple in dogs' diets, but it is high in uric acid - which contributes to these types of problems.
I started Phydeaux on a diet especially for joint pain, Hill's Prescription Diet j/d (The "j/d" stands for "joint diet"). It will help reduce the swelling in his joints, ease his pain and will quickly help improve Phydeaux's joint function and mobility.
Many veterinarians recommend this diet for dogs that are at risk for this disease and for dogs that are already symptomatic. I'm one of them. So if your dog is at risk for developing arthritis, or if he appears to be slowing down, call us. Hill's j/d can help your dog live an active, pain-free life - and isn't that what we really want for our dogs?
How can you tell if arthritis may be a problem?
Everyday fun and activity can reveal important clues about your dog's joints.
A sunny day is perfect for a long walk or a game of fetch with your best friend. It's also a good opportunity to watch for the first signs of joint problems common in large and small dogs. Understanding these problems is key to maintaining your dog's wellness and happiness.
All dogs, large and small, can experience mobility issues at different stages of life. Many pet owners don't detect the early warning signs of stiff joints or assume these signs are an unavoidable sign of healthy aging.
If your dog is showing early signs of a problem or predisposed to joint health and flexibility issues, precisely balanced nutrition, like the Hill's j/d can make a life-changing difference.
Your dog might be experiencing the early signs of joint health issues if you are noticing the following behaviors:
If you see any of these signs, call us for an evaluation.
We hope that you will find this information helpful in your quest for better pet care. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail us.
Dr. David Hammett and Linda Hammett
All Creatures Mobile Veterinary Services
