DOG MUSCLE JOINT AND BONE PROBLEMS

Agility is natural for a dog, and endurance is one of their best qualities. Bone, muscle and joint problems are distressing for the dog. The front legs of the dog's body are attached by muscles, there is no collar bone. The hind legs have massive muscles to give optimum performance for acceleration and speed. Some bone, muscle and joint problems are caused by selective breeding of certain dog breeds.
 
Bone Weakness

Dogs can suffer from osteoporosis, just like humans. It is usually caused by a meat only diet which doesn't give your dog the calcium it needs throughout his life.  You can cause your dog problems if you give your puppy too many vitamins in his diet during the growth stage. He could suffer from constant discomfort like an older dog whose vitamin diet is miscalculated because the calcium to phosphorous ratio is wrong. This forces the parathyroid gland into over activity.

Treatment

Give your dog a balanced diet, your breeder or your vet can advise you. Calcium supplements may be necessary but too much is as harmful as too little, so always check with your vet before you give any vitamins to your dog.
 
  Front Leg Lameness

There may be little or no swelling to tell you that your dog has fractured his front leg. Complex breaks cause more damage to the surrounding tissue. Hip, shoulder and knees are most commonly damaged in road accidents. Torn ligaments and tendons are less painful but cause lameness. Osteochondosis (OCD) is where small pieces of cartilage break off from the shoulder humerus joint and float around in the joint fluid causing pain. The dogs head leans down on one side but otherwise he seems normal. Elbow dysplasia causes lameness because the bone dislocates leaving a loose piece of bone that may eventually cause arthritis. Bone infections are usually caused by penetrating injuries.

Treatment

Some fractured bones heal with splints or plaster casts and internal bones with pins, plates or screws. Dislocated bones can usually be pushed back. Torn ligaments and tendons may need surgical repair or like bruised and sprained muscles, just need a bandage and painkillers. OCD is diagnosed by an X ray and sometimes medication can be given when the pain is severe and there may not be any need for an operation to remove any floating prices cartilage. Elbow injuries may be treated with drugs or by surgery with screws. Bone infections need antibiotic treatment. 

If you are looking for dog muscle joint and bone problems, the following links may also be of interest to you: See also dog skin and coat problems, dog parasites, puppy discipline and puppy house training.

 

Hind leg lameness

Hind leg lameness could be caused by hip dysplasia and usually affects both legs. It is most common in large breeds and the pain is worse when the leg is used. Hip pain in small dogs occurs when the head of the femur loses it's blood supply (Perthe's disease or avascular necrosis). Small breeds are prone to luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps) while all breeds may suffer from ruptured cruciate ligaments, there is no pain but the weight is not carried on the hind legs.

Treatment

Your vet should be consulted to diagnose the exact nature of the problem. Hip dysplasia treatment can be medication or for severe cases, surgical correction is needed. Surgery is needed for Perthe's disease where the dead head of the femur is removed. Luxating patellas can be surgically corrected and like hip dysplasia, this is an inherited defect. Cruciate ligaments mostly rupture in older overweight dogs although younger dogs of certain breeds are prone to this. Weight reduction and surgical repair is needed.

Paralysis

Dogs can slip the discs of the spinal cord like humans and a slipped disc causes severe pain so the dog will be reluctant to move. If the disc slips further it can cause complete paralysis.

Treatment

For severe slippage the dog needs surgery to reduce the damage to the spine. Complete rest is needed for all cases.

Joint Pain

Osteoarthritis occurs in any joint and usually in older dogs. It can be caused by poor nutrition or congenital abnormalities or can be hereditary. Polyarthritis causes joint pain and is caused by infection, autoimmune conditions where the body destroys it's own tissues or drug allergies.

Treatment

Chronic arthritis can be controlled with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Your vet may take blood samples to determine the cause of polyarthritis because it can be permanently damaging to the dog.  There is no cure for arthritis and the vet will probably prescribe pain killers, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication to control the dog's pain.

   

 
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