Jointly unstoppable: Keeping pets moving with physiotherapy. A blog on osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis: What is it?

Osteoarthritis (OA) or Degenerative Joint Disease, refers to the deterioration of normal structures within a joint. The main structure affected is the cartilage, which covers the ends of bones to allow smooth movement, however the joint fluid, lining, tendons and ligaments can all be affected.  This decline of joint function can cause chronic inflammation and pain. Pain will mean your pet will avoid using that joint and will offload the affected area. Surrounding muscles and tendons weaken, and the body compensates elsewhere, causing overload in other areas and more pain. In addition to local joint changes, chronic pain also causes changes in the brain, meaning the pain can become magnified. 

What causes it?

We used to call arthritis “wear and tear” but we’ve moved away from that terminology as it simplifies things a bit too much, because there are multiple factors that can contribute to the development of OA. A lazy pet that doesn’t move much at all can develop OA, and a very active pet may be minimally affected. The idea that you can “wear” your joints out can be a bit of a scary prospect, and can lead to people avoiding activity to try and prevent this. But, like everything in life, there is a cost/benefit ratio we need to weigh up, and there is a truck load of evidence that supports being active and exercising having benefits that greatly outweigh the risk. Ageing, trauma, genetics, obesity, injury and poor biomechanics can all contribute to OA. Other factors like type of breed, sex and if or when a dog is spayed/neutered can all play a role in the development of DJD.

In dogs, the most common cause of OA is underlying joint abnormalities or injury, such as  the rupture of the CCL ligament in the stifle (knee), or joint dysplasias. 

Providing physiotherapy for horses here in Hong Kong we see a lot of ex-racehorses, and unfortunately the physical demands of racing at a young age may predispose them to developing OA earlier than expected. 

So it’s not quite as simple as a disease for the old and previously active, but never fear, read on and we’ll give you some great tips on how to work on prevention and management.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Lameness or limping

• Pain reactions such as whining, yelping or growling when touching a joint

• Palpable bony growth or thickening of joints

• Clicking/grinding sensation in the joint

• Swelling and/or heat around a joint

• Stiffness during the first few steps after getting up

However, not all signs of joint pain are that obvious. More subtle signs could include: 

• Decreased motivation to exercise or reduced daily activity 

• Unwilling or struggling to jump on/off furniture

• Changes in behaviour: for dogs this could include becoming more withdrawn, for horses this could include irritability with tacking up or when mounting.

• Excessive licking of a joint

• Consistently lying on one side

• Horses may exhibit issues during training such as difficulty bending one way or feeling particularly stiff on one rein.

What can I do?

There is nothing we can do to completely prevent or cure arthritis, but there are a few things we can do to help manage it. The best thing you can do for your pet without a doubt is keeping them active and at a healthy weight (check our January blog for some more info regarding weight management). It is now generally advised to avoid throwing balls/frisbee’s for dogs, as it tends to encourage abrupt acceleration and deceleration and sudden changes of direction, all of which increases risk of injury. Come and check in with us if your four legged friend has any kind of injury, or even if they have had an illness that has led them to lose condition and muscle (vet referral is required). Rehabbing injuries correctly and getting your animal moving well and feeling strong may help reduce the risk of OA developing in the future or reduce the severity of symptoms of an already arthritic joint.

If you do notice any of the above signs in your dog, check in with your vet regarding treatment options, including physiotherapy. Adding a joint supplement to their diet may also help with symptoms and joint health, at JDP we recommend 'The J+M Joints + Mobility Support' supplement from The Vet Equation - Linked here.

If you have slippery floors at home, consider putting down rugs or yoga mats to minimise slipping. Above all, keep your arthritic dog warm and gently moving- cold, stiff joints are about as fun as they sound! Finally, as much as it can be lovely to have a cuddle on the couch or in bed, jumping up and down can be hard on old bones! If you can’t do without their snuggles, consider steps or a ramp to help them up and down. 

What can your vet do?

 OA is diagnosed through X-rays done by your vet. More extreme circumstances may require surgery, but most pets can be managed effectively with pain medication, activity modification and physiotherapy. 

 Finding the right pain relief for your pet is an individual thing, and may require trialing different types of pain relieving medications with your vet before finding what works best for your pet. In horses, a steroid injection is sometimes used to help with pain relief in a joint. In dogs, Librela is a commonly used and effective injectable to help specifically with OA related pain. Remember, all medications can have potential side effects or won’t work well in combination with other medications, so this needs to be carefully discussed with your veterinarian. Only a vet can prescribe medication.

What can physio do? 

We know that when it comes to arthritic joints, building strength in the surrounding musculature and keeping the joints moving are some of the best things you can do outside of medical intervention. That’s where as qualified physiotherapists, we come in! 

An animal will instinctively load a sore joint less, but this will inevitably lead to weakness and deconditioning of the muscles and so the vicious cycle of pain ensues. 

Our goals are to:

1) Reduce pain - this may be in the form of electrotherapy such as electromagnetic mats and laser, or manual therapy such as joint mobilisations, massage and stretches.

2) Build muscle strength - utilising therapeutic land based exercises as well as our underwater treadmill (see our feb blog post on the benefits of hydrotherapy/UWTM)

3) Restore or maintain joint mobility - passive joint mobilisations, active mobility exercises and soft tissue mobilisations can all help preserve joint range of motion.

4) Improve quality of life - all of the above will contribute to this point. But there are also plenty of tips and tricks we can offer you to help support your pups better.

Osteoarthritis is a common but often

manageable condition. There will be flare ups periodically and it’s important as an owner that you learn how to spot them, manage them, or better yet, prevent them! Contact us at JDP for help with giving your arthritic pet the best life we can offer them, and ensure they’re living life comfortably. 

Anderson, K.L. et al. (2020) ‘Risk factors for canine osteoarthritis and its predisposing Arthropathies: A systematic review’, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00220.