Canine Spinal Arthritis: Diagnosis and Treatment

When dogs age, they begin to suffer from some of the same maladies that humans do as they grow older. Arthritis, and specifically spinal arthritis, is one of those maladies. In fact, because of a dog’s horizontal backbone, the stress on the vertebral bones makes dogs even more prone to spinal arthritis than their owners.

What is Spinal Arthritis?

As dogs grow older, the bones of the vertebral column deteriorate. The associated bone spurs and inflammation of the nerves and surrounding tissues is spinal arthritis, or spinal osteoarthritis. It is a progressive, degenerative disease that is painful and debilitating and can even shorten your dog’s life.

Dogs are reluctant to show pain, either because of the instinct to hide weakness in order to retain their status in the pack or because of a desire to make their owners happy. Because of this reluctance, as well as the fact that arthritis typically comes on gradually and unobtrusively, recognizing the disease is often difficult. It’s important for owners to keep close tabs on their older dogs to make sure they’re not suffering the pain of spinal arthritis in silence.

Symptoms to Look For

The onset of spinal osteoarthritis is slow and insidious. You’ll likely see no sudden changes in behavior, which is why you must monitor your dog as he ages. Signs to look for include:

• Shift in posture
• Slowness of movement
• Reluctance to climb stairs or jump on furniture
• Reluctance to play, especially vigorous games such as Frisbee
• Stiffness when getting up
• Lack of appetite
• Grumpiness
• Limping or weakness in limbs
• Whining or sensitivity to touch
• Paralysis

If you begin noticing some of these changes, it’s time for a visit to your veterinarian. Through some simple tests and most likely X-rays of the spine, she can give you a definitive diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Canine Spinal Arthritis Treatment

Treatment for spinal arthritis typically consists of three types of approaches: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control pain and inflammation; treatments such as chondroitin and glucosamine to slow the progression of the disease; and lifestyle changes such as weight control, regular low-impact exercise, and chiropractic and massage therapy to further ease the discomfort of arthritis.

It’s also important to modify your dog’s environment to maximize his comfort. Things such as a soft bed and floor coverings can alleviate the soreness that comes from cold, hard floors. And if possible, modify the dog’s living quarters such that he can avoid stairs as much as possible.

Definitely enlist the help of your veterinarian. She’s your best ally in helping to make your dog’s remaining as pain free and comfortable as possible.