A happy dog can jump, run and play throughout the day but there are some dogs that may face some kinds of joints problems. In order for a dog to grow into an active and strong dog, the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and cartilage must function properly. These joints problems have to be treated on time and if it is diagnosed earlier it can also be repaired quickly. Dogs generally face orthopedic problems during their growing years. It means the dogs are affected or marked with a disorder, deformity or injury or skeleton or its associated structures. If you notice any deformity earlier, you will be able to have it repaired quickly and easily. There are many common joint problems in dogs that are usually showed up in the older canines. But it is noticed that every dogs have chances of developing any of these joint problems later in their lives. The reason for the joint problem is because the joints lose it cushion when the dog ages and thus the bones sticks together which gives rise to the joint problems.
The common joint problems in dogs are:
Luxating patella – it is a condition that generally affects the small breed of dogs where the dog will jump and run in one minute and yelp in limp and pain in the next few minutes while it will be fine in the next minutes. This condition can be very severe in some cases and in normal cases; the dog is only given anti inflammatory medication. But in severe cases, surgery is required which is carried on after getting to know about the seriousness of the condition that is determined by an X-ray.
Panosteitis – it is a bone disease of the dog that is characterized by the remodeling and proliferation of the bone. This lameness can come and go accordingly to the seriousness of the condition. The lameness can also vary from one leg to another. This disease is more prevalent in large dogs but the cause of this disease is still unknown. This disease is very painful which can even last for a period of eighteen months and generally it lasts for about two to five months. The treatment for this bone disease is anti inflammatory drugs and adequate rest.
Osteochondritis dissecans also know as OCD is the disease of cartilage that affects the joints in the dog’s body. When two bones of the joints meet, there is a smooth area of the cartilage that covers the entire surface and it also acts as cushion between the two bones. But if there is any damage caused to this cartilage, it can disrupt the movement of the body and can also cause extreme pain to the dog. In OCD, the cartilage is damaged completely or can even grow abnormally which can cause it to separate or crack instead of being covered smoothly. It can even float free or break free in the joint and these pieces never die rather it grows continuously which are known as joint mice.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy also known as HOD – it is a disease that affects mostly the rapidly growing large dog breeds. This disease can cause severe pain and lameness that affects more than one limb at a time. The cause of this disease is still unknown and it strikes puppies between three to six months of age. Like the OCD, this disease is usually found in male dogs rather than female dogs. It is not a genetic or inherited disease that does not affect one breed more than the other breed. The symptoms are usually moderate to mild painful swelling of growth plates in leg bones, the long bones from knee to hock and long bones from elbow to wrist. The dog suffering from this disease may show lameness, reluctance to move, refuse to run or eat, act lethargic and have high fever. Both the legs of the dog is affected in this disease which gets resolved on its own. But if the bony involvement of the dog is severe, the dog may have permanent structural damage or it may even die.
Legg Calve Perthes disease or LCP – it is the disorder of the hip joint conformation in which the dogs are affected severely. The condition occurs in small breed of dogs and it is an inherited disease.
