Dog Hip, Knee Joint Problems

Our dogs are usually an active lot and often jump around and play all through the day. Though all the jumping and running around is perfectly normal for healthy dogs, it does take a toll on the dog’s legs. The hip and knee joints of the dogs are as delicate as ours and injuries or stress on the joints can often translate into a lot of pain and suffering for the dog.

Dogs are as susceptible to hip and knee joint related injury and disease as their human master, specifically anterior cruciate ligament tears and osteoarthritis. Since dogs have two sets of legs and an equal stress is placed on all four joints, there are more chances of the dog getting injured in the joints.

There are two main categories of dog joint problems. The first is a developmental problem, like elbow or hip dysplasia, and the other is a degenerative problem like dog arthritis.

Both developmental and degenerative disorders are common in dogs. However, arthritis and problems in the cruciate ligaments due to overuse are the two main dog joint problems faced.

A lot of times, people tend to notice that their dogs are less active than before. This is the primary symptom of a problem in the joints of the dog. The dog may not climb stairs with much alacrity or may not even want to climb on the couch. You may even see the dog struggling to stand up and sit down. It will also lose interest in all play activities that it enjoyed earlier. All of these are common symptoms of problems with the dog’s joints.

If these dog joint health problems are not addressed immediately, they could convert into overt lameness. They are often seen holding their limb up or walking funnily, without putting stress on one of the limbs. However, the pain may not be immediately evident. A dog may have suffered for a long time before the pain actually manifests itself in this manner.

There are certain dog breeds that are more prone to developing problems in the joints. For instance, an increase in the size and the weight of a dog is always a factor in joint problems. The heavier the dog, the more likely it is to have joint problems. Bigger dogs are more prone to suffering from both developmental and degenerative diseases. Rottweilers, for instance, are known to have more knee and ankle problems than any other breeds while Newfoundlands are most prone to ACL tears and injuries.