Causes of arthritis in dogs
Arthritis in dogs is a very common disease. Your dog has more than 50% chances of acquiring arthritis by the time it crosses 7 years of age. Gaining sound knowledge about dog arthritis is the first step towards prevention and treatment for arthritis. Listed below are the common causes of arthritis in dogs.
Age
Senior dogs are the most vulnerable to this disease. Aging is a natural process which cannot be stopped. However, there are certain things that a dog owner can do to prevent the inception of arthritis in their pets. Accurate exercise and maintaining your dog’s weight is the best possible way to prevent arthritis in dogs. Though in most cases it is the senior dogs that are affected by the disease, younger dogs can also acquire this disease.
Hip dysplasia and other diseases
Certain diseases such as hip dysplasia can also lead to arthritis in dogs. Believed to be genetic, this disease is characterized by lameness and pain around the joint. If your dog suffers from this condition, it is time for you to take him to the veterinary.
Inappropriate nutrition
This is one of the major causes of arthritis in dogs. If you are unable to provide your dog with proper food, chances of developing arthritis later in life are high. Diet lacking in protein is the main culprit. So it is advisable that you provide the right kind of diet, rich in protein to your dog to prevent arthritis.
Poor breeding practices
Arthritis can be a genetic problem. It is advisable that one should choose a proper dog for breeding purposes. Dogs with prior history of arthritis are not good as their offsprings have chances to inherit the disease.
Injuries
Dogs that have injured their bones, joints or ligaments are very likely to suffer from arthritis. If the dog has jagged ligament joints, there are high chances that your develops arthritis. So one should not ignore, when such problems crop up. Instead, they should take steps to prevent it. Take the suffering dog to a vet for diagnosis followed by proper treatment.
Obesity
Some dogs can be overweight. If your dog is obese, it can develop arthritis early in life. So try and keep your dog healthy and active. Take it out for regular walks and allow it to play around the house. Dogs need exercise as much as we humans.
These are the fundamental causes that can lead to arthritis in dogs. However if taken proper precaution from the very beginning, arthritis in dogs can be prevented to a large extent.