How to recognise joint disease and muscle problems

General signs that may indicate joint problems

Dog owners should remember that all puppies tend to be clumsy. Puppies are similar to babies and will become less clumsy as they grow and develop. If your pup, however, seems to remain clumsy it may be related to joint abnormality.

Many pups will not show any overt sign of lameness, joint pain or discomfort.  It is therefore advisable to conduct regular checks by a veterinarian at strategic times over the period of development.  The first examination should be conducted between 8-10 weeks, and again at 12 weeks (these are the times that puppies get vaccinated so no specials appointment is needed), at 16 weeks and six months of age.

Overt abnormalities can be recognized by:

• Your dog has intermittent or persistent lameness
• Your dog is slow to get up
• Your dog shows reluctance to exercise
• Your dog may be reluctant to jump up and down, though this depends on the size of problem
• Your dog suffers from “morning stiffness”. This stiffness occurs the day after some exercise.

If you suspect your dog is suffering from muscle problems you can make an initial test on your dog yourself. Of course you should arrange a visit to the vet if you feel you there is a problem.

How to check your dog in order TO DETECT JOINT PAIN, CANINE ARTHRITIS or MUSCLE PROBLEMS.

• Manipulation of the joint results in stress on the joint limits, and will induce pain and your dog will respond accordingly. Normally a healthy joint will not be painful when stressed to its limit of range of motion. When there is a problem the dog will show pain. The cause of the pain could be complex and a more detailed investigation may be needed, but the joint manipulation is a way to check if there is a problem. Think of it as a screening test that, you, the owner can perform before considering seeing a vet.
• Extend and flex the legs to maximum limits with a range of motions and compare the limits of the motion during extension and flexion. You should compare the right and left legs. If the dog has a problem, for example in the left elbow joint, it is likely when manipulating that joint the dog will show resistance or resentment to the manipulation considerably more than the healthy leg
  • Muscle pain can also be elicited by joint manipulation, but additional palpation may be necessary to differentiate between muscle and joint pain. This may require more experience and you should visit your vet.

If your dog is suffering from muscle sprain it may be very painful but usually heals fairly quickly. If it is not severe, let the dog rest for few days and you should find that this is all that is necessary to resolve the sprain.

If the muscle sprain is bad then occasional muscle pain killers & anti-inflammatories may be needed.

In some cases muscle pain will not go away and will need special attention.

Arthritis will need treating and various medications are available including:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as metacam, rimadyl, previcox.
• Cartilage protective medications (chondroprotectives) such as seraquin, cosequin
• Special medicated diets such as hills prescription  j/d  diet
• Opioid and opiodis derivatives such as Tramadol

Joint pain and canine arthritis (Click for full presentation)

Breeders, Owners, Trainers and Veterinarians should all participate in this quest. Given the fact that most dog joint problems are developmental in nature and are of combination of causes, we probably can not prevent them from happening but only try and limit their prevalence and reduce the suffering associated with it.  If all of us act in synchrony, we may have a better chance.  Although there are some disagreements with the ways we could deal with this issue, there are some clear areas we can work on.

Breeders - Adhere to strict regulation and monitoring procedures regarding genetic selection. Breeders are also owners  and should not neglect diet and exercise as an integral part of maintaining dogs health.

Owners - Diet and exercise are the most important areas need to be dealt with. Understanding the dogs joints may help in early detections and prevention of problems.

Trainers - Building exercise programs that will be appropriate for the dog’s age  and stage in training is an important aspect  in joint health.

Vets - Small animal practitioners play little role in the genetic selection. We can however try and detect affected dogs as early as possible and prevent or at least reduce the long term suffering associated with canine arthritis.

WHEN TO CONSIDER XRAYS FOR DETECTION OF PROBLEMS

• If the lameness is severe & persistent.
• If the lameness or joint pain appeared due to an acute episode.
• If the lameness is not very severe but persists for more than several days.
• If the lameness is intermittent for a period of few weeks.
• Developmental joint problems are very different from traumatic problems.
• Developmental joint problems occur as the dog grows, and therefore can be reversed if detected early.
• Once developmental joint problem establishes and the dog cease to grow, canine arthritis will progress and this is an irreversible process.
• The younger the dog the more significant the timing for x-rays.
• Frequent monitoring of young dogs may be beneficial in preventing developmental joint problems.

COMMON JOING CONDITIONS Continue reading →

The term elbow dysplasia (ED) is a general term that is used to describe a developmental degenerative disease of the elbow joint (abnormal development of the elbow joint). The elbow joint is formed by three bones, the humerus, ulna and radius. It is believed that for normal joint development the three bones must develop at a synchrony so a normal joint shape maintained. Problems in growth synchrony is to blame for abnormal development, pain and arthritis of the elbow joint. Elbow dysplasia is commonly a bilateral disease, which means both elbows may be affected.

This disease has created considerable confusion and controversy not only on the part of dog owners, but with practicing veterinarians as well as researchers who are studying the problem. While our ability to diagnose ED has improved in recent years, there is still a great deal to be learned about its causes, prevention, and what constitutes appropriate treatment.

Most commonly, ED affects the large and giant breeds, although other breeds can be affected. With age arthritis begins and progresses for the life of the dog. Severe arthritis also causes soreness, which usually occurs in the older dog who may have had problems as a puppy or who never showed any previous signs at all. Arthritis develops due to the body’s response to inflammation and elbow incongruence (luck of fitness of joint components). The most notable changes that occur are the progressive thickening of the tissues around the joint and the production of bone around the joint surface.

CAUSES OF ED

The specific mechanisms which cause ED are not known. Genetics certainly plays a role, however, the specifics of how the disease is passed from one generation to the next, is very-complex and not completely understood. For example, puppies born from a breeding pair with ED, although more likely to have the disease, may be completely normal. Similarly, normal breeding pairs, although more likely to have normal puppies, may produce offspring with severe ED. This complexity with regard to genetics has frustrated efforts to eliminate the disease completely, and has led people to believe that environmental factors are responsible for disease expression, as well. Continue reading →

Canine hip dysplasia is a disease of dogs that causes looseness, abnormal development and arthritis of the hip joint. The hip joint is a ‘ball-and-socket’ type joint. The ‘ball’ is the uppermost part of the thigh bone, or femur, and is called the ‘head’ of the femur. The ‘head’ is connected to the rest of the bone by the ‘neck’. The ‘socket’ is part of the pelvic bone, and is called the ‘acetabulum’. Normally, the ball, or head of the femur, fits very tightly within its socket, or acetabulum. With hip dysplasia, this fit becomes loose and the joint partially dislocates, or subluxates. This subluxation can cause discomfort, abnormal development and arthritis, later in life. Hip dysplasia is usually a bilateral disease, which means both hips are often affected.

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is an extremely common disease today, despite over 25 years of organised effort to reduce its incidence. Most commonly, CHD affects the large and giant breeds, although any breed can be affected.

EVOLUTION OF CHD

Hip dysplasia is not a congenital disease in dogs. This means that puppies are not born with loose hips, unlike human infants who usually have the problem at birth. In puppies, the looseness, or laxity, develops at around 3-4 months of age. Laxity alone can cause soreness in some dogs, usually in puppies 6 – 10 months old. Since the head of the femur is not seated well in its socket, the surrounding tissues are asked to provide more support than they are capable of, especially during exercise. These tissues can stretch and tear causing discomfort. Between the ages of 6 months – 2 years old, arthritis could begin and progress for the life of the pet. Severe arthritis also causes soreness, which usually occurs in the older dog who may have had problems as a puppy or who never showed any previous signs at all. Arthritis is the body’s response to inflammation and hip laxity. The most notable changes that occur are the progressive thickening of the tissues around the joint and the production of bone around the head of the femur and acetabulum.

CAUSES OF CHD

The specific mechanisms which cause CHD are not known. Genetics certainly plays a role, however, the specifics of how the disease is passed from one generation to the next, is very-complex and not completely understood. For example, puppies born from a breeding pair with hip dysplasia, although more likely to have the disease, may be completely normal. Similarly, normal breeding pairs, although more likely to have normal puppies, may produce offspring with severe hip dysplasia. This complexity with regard to genetics has frustrated efforts to eliminate the disease completely, and has led people to believe that environmental factors are responsible for disease expression, as well.

Nutrition and growth rate are considered to be important environmental factors related to CHD. There is strong evidence, from a number of studies, that dogs who are overfed, and gain weight too rapidly, are predisposed to CHD. This seems to be most important for large or giant breeds in the first 6 months of life. There is good evidence showing that puppies who grow more slowly have less chance of acquiring CHD. Feeding premium puppy-foods, ‘free-choice’ to puppies, is not recommended, especially with large breed dogs, Additionally, providing vitamin or calcium supplements, is not recommended for puppies who are fed a balanced nutritionally complete dog food. Most reputable dog foods, even those for adult dogs, have all the vitamins and minerals puppies need.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHD Continue reading →

Anal glands are scent glands situated either side of the dogs or cats anus, which should empty every time the bowel is emptied to leave marker to sniff at. In some cases, these glands do not empty as they should. With time the secretion become thicker, more granular and less likely to empty. This will lead to blockage, impaction, inflammation and possibly infection, which will result in abscess that may burst. Anal gland disease is not common in cats but can be seen occasionally.

Symptoms vary but can include;

• The patient will lick the anus or lick the carpet and floors. The breath may smell fishy.
• Pricking sensation leaping up darting across the room, sitting down suddenly.
• Scooting – dragging the anus along the floor.
• Chewing anywhere towards the rear end – this can be on target or anywhere in the groin down the legs or even occasionally a front foot out of shear frustration.
• Nibbling at the paws and ear infection.

The more this occurs the more severe the condition becomes and more likely to reoccur. Once scared, infected and damaged the surgery may be more difficult and little more risky. Periodic emptying will not alter the progression of the problem. In most cases the glands are full again within a week or so. The glands may block at any time, a week or so after emptying or many months. To maintain them safely by routine emptying would require attention every 2-3 weeks!  Pro-biotics and diet higher in fibre may help and at times eliminate the problem. When a recurrent problem can be recognised, surgery mostly offer far better option and is sorted once and for all. Surgery nowadays is generally very routine and straightforward, provided it is carried before severe damaged had occurred.

Frequently after removal owners see a change in the dog’s general demeanour and only then realise how much distress was felt by the dog but unseen. The decision as to whether and when to operate must be based on close observation of the patient’s behaviour at home; the Veterinary surgeon can have an opinion but only based on the owners description and the frequency and severity of symptoms. Generally far more is happening at home, and vets see only the tip of the iceberg. It should always be remembered that although modern anaesthetics and high quality nursing and veterinary supervision have reduced anaesthetic risk to a minimum. No anaesthetics should be undertaken albeit small of complications. These possible risks may be much lower with early intervention but do exist.

Overview

Dog, cats and humans are affected. Patellar luxation (PL) is usually a congenital condition in which the kneecap, or patella, dislocates outside of its normal groove. Dislocation clinically referred to as luxation, can occur on either the medial, or inside surface, or the lateral, or outside surface, of the knee. There are varying degrees of patellar luxation that are graded depending on whether the patella is intermittently or constantly luxated. This abnormal displacement of the kneecap may results in pain, cartilage damage, and arthritis, but also may not cause any pain or distress depending on the grade of luxation. There are varying degrees of severity of this disease, and surgery may or may not be needed.

Patellar luxation is graded on a scale from I to IV, with IV being the most severe. The disease can progress from the less severe to more severe grades over time. The more severe forms are often accompanied by malformation of the femur and tibia, as well as varying amounts of arthritis. Dogs are frequently presented to a veterinarian for intermittent lameness, often because it is becoming more frequent or severe. In many cases however patellar luxation is diagnosed as an incidental finding during routine examination.

When the patella, or kneecap, pops out of its normal groove, the dog will struggle to bear weight , and owners may report a hitch in the gait. The dog will frequently extend the knee out from the body in order to get the patella to pop back in to the groove. This is usually a mechanical lameness and often no pain is present. As PL progresses, the structures that hold the patella in place become looser, and thus the problem becomes more frequent. with time the shearing forces acting on the cartilage result in damage, pain and later in arthritis.

Unfortunately, many of the severe Grade III or IV cases go unnoticed for months or years because the affected animals are usually small breeds that are often carried much of the time by their owners. Their inability to jump or straighten out their hind legs may go unnoticed because of their small size and sedentary lifestyle. The larger breeds tend not to cope so well with this condition and surgical intervention is more often required.Many of the milder grade I & II may cause no clinical problems.

Continue reading →