“Dem dry bones ……”

Dogs, by nature, are very active creatures and over the years the thin but vital cartilage layer on the joint surfaces suffers wear through normal use that is never quite fully repaired during rest periods. The damage accumulates with time and from late middle age onwards can cause soreness and stiffness. Commonly called arthritis, the official and more grand title is ‘Degenerative Joint Disease’ or DJD for short.

Unfortuantely, to date, there is no ‘cure’ for DJD but there are veterinary treatments that will do a lot to help.

Care should be taken to ensure your dog is fit and active as an overweight dog may suffer more from wear and tear on the joints.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are proteins that form the building blocks of cartilage and if fed as a food can become incorporated into the body’s own cartilage. There are hundreds of preparations on the market which vary in quality and strength so check with your vet which he or she would recommend.

Cartilage building injections – there is a drug that can stimulate new cartilage production; it can be used with glucosamine and chondroitin supplements and is most effective in the earlier stages of the condition.

Hydrotherapy (swimming) – keeping muscles fit can help to support joints but there has to be a compromise as too much running about can add to the wear and tear. Activities such as swimming can build up muscle tone without putting pressure on the joints. There are dedicated dog hydrotherapy pools in the area, you will need your vet to refer your pet to one. See Canine Hydrotherapy

Anti inflammatories – special veterinary preparations are available to relieve the discomfort and stiffness of DJD – note, do not be tempted to try human equivalents, some are very toxic to dogs.

Finally, persistent lameness should always be checked by a vet first as there are causes other than DJD that might need totally different treatments.

James Elliott BVetMed, CertVR, MRCVS Principal Vet