Combine and Conquer: Managing Canine Arthritis Pain At Home

Any of us lucky enough to have grandparents or a beloved senior dog already know that osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in humans and canines alike. As we age, both dogs and people experience osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips. Also known as degenerative joint disease, OA is a progressive deterioration of the cartilage that surrounds and cushions the joints. Common signs of arthritis in dogs include decreased level of activity, reluctance to jump, difficulty getting up from the floor, and stiffness or limping while walking. Symptoms of arthritis are often worse in the early mornings, after lying down for a prolonged period of time, and after strenuous exercise. 

Osteoarthritis is most common in older dogs but can occur earlier in dogs who have a hereditary joint condition, such as hip or elbow dysplasia, or who have had injuries leading to joint instability such as fractures or ligament tears, especially in the knee.   Another primary cause of arthritis in dogs is obesity. Additional body weight puts increased stress on the joints, which leads to deterioration of the cartilage and ultimately osteoarthritis.

Fortunately, there are many ways to address canine osteoarthritis pain, including several things you can do at home to help your dog maintain an active and healthy lifestyle even with OA.  Whatever your dog’s age, be sure to use a multimodal approach, as outlined below, for pain management. This combined approach will be far more effective than any single treatment alone.  

Stretching

Massage and stretching sessions at home should include gentle range of motion and careful stretching for the stiff joints and muscles surrounding them.  There are several excellent books and videos online demonstrating the benefits of stretching. One of my favorites is The Healthy Way To Stretch Your Dog: A Physical Therapy Approach by Sasha Foster.

Exercise

Walking is generally great for keeping your dog’s weight down and for mental stimulation. However, a specific home exercise program is best to help strengthen weakened muscles surrounding arthritic joints and stabilize, slow down, or even reverse the process of further joint deterioration. A Certified Canine Fitness Trainer or Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist can help you design an appropriate exercise plan for your dog. If that’s not practical, you might try a tele-health canine rehab appointment, online canine fitness class, or one of the many online videos now readily available from companies that make pet exercise equipment, such as FitPaws or TotoFit. There are also many good DIY canine fitness books available (one of my favorites is Canine Cross Training: Building Balance, Strength and Endurance in Your Dog, also by Sasha Foster). With a computer or book, a yoga mat, and some tasty dog treats you can often get going on an appropriate canine exercise program right at home. 

Weight Management

As with humans, weight management is critical for any successful osteoarthritis treatment. Weight loss not only improves muscle mass and joint stabilization but also decreases inflammatory chemicals actually produced by excess fat cells.     Multiple studies have confirmed that weight loss in obese dogs with OA has resulted in improved mobility and decreased lameness.  Dietary changes such as feeding less (or no) kibble and switching over to more fresh cooked dog foods, raw foods, or canned foods, all of which have fewer carbohydrates, will help promote a lean body weight.  Adding foods rich in omega fatty acids, such as egg yolk and fish oil, has also been proven to reduce joint inflammation.

Medications and Supplements

Pain management will often combine low doses of different pharmaceuticals that attack pain from different pathways such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories; nerve pain-blocking medications such as Gabapentin or Amantadine; and nutritional supplements such as green-lipped mussel extract, fish oils, turmeric, or boswellia as prescribed by your veterinarian. Additionally, I always recommend Adequan for every dog with OA as soon as the diagnosis is made for a very safe early intervention. Adequan belongs to a class of drugs called Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritis Drugs (DMOAD), which breaks the cycle of inflammation, and helps repair and preserve damaged cartilage on joint surfaces. Of course, any medications or supplements should always be cleared with your own vet first. 

Physical Therapy

Many physical therapies to reduce your dog’s OA pain can easily be performed at home. These include a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, such as an Assisi Loop, which provides a safe and non-invasive way to reduce pain and inflammation; applying heat or a hot bath for sore muscles; or applying ice for inflamed, swollen, and painful joints. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy can also be done at home with a simple, effective device that uses low voltage electrical current to provide pain relief.  Home therapy laser devices are now available as well; however, you must be sure that the device has enough power to deliver a reasonable dose of light energy (at least 500 milliwatts) as well as the correct wavelength of light (800-900 nm range) to treat tissues beneath the skin.

Environment and Lifestyle

Simple adjustments to your dog’s environment and lifestyle can help with OA pain as well. Covering a wood or tile floor with non-slip materials or yoga mats will help your dog get up more easily. Similarly, using a ramp will avoid high impact jumping out of a tall vehicle. Rather than playing repetitive fetch games on land, which can worsen many joint problems, have your dog retrieve a toy in water or replace fetch with an interesting walk. It’s not advisable to stop exercising completely, as immobility can stiffen joints, leading to even more pain. Instead, concentrate on low impact activities such as short, regular walks and short home exercise sessions twice weekly to build strength, balance, and endurance.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for OA, and the disease process is progressive and complex. But by using multimodal treatments early in your dog’s diagnosis, you can definitely improve his or her quality of life in the long-term. With the right combination of medications, physical therapy, exercise, weight loss, and alternative therapy options, you can help break the cycle of inflammation, decrease pain, increase strength, and restore function for your dog - and help the two of you enjoy many more active years together.