Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD), affects the joints of dogs, which makes them stiff and painful to move. Every kind of dog can suffer from DJD and every type of joint can become impacted, even the spine. If you’re not sure if your dog has DJD, signs to look for in your canine include:
- Soreness first thing in the morning
- General slow physical movement
- Lack of vigor jumping onto the couch or bed
- Difficulty going up and down stairs
- Preference for shorter walks
In the cold weather, DJD can become exacerbated—joints get stiffer and are thus prone to less movement, and the temperature makes it harder to get up and move. However, being more physical is exactly the thing that can help alleviate the woes of DJD! To combat osteoarthritis in dogs during the winter, it’s extremely important to keep them physically active.
At HOSPITAL NAME, we recommend walking your arthritic dog at least twice a day—the movement will help your dog maintain good muscle tone, which is crucial to battling arthritis. The less active your canine is, the more prone they are to pain and stiffness.
If your dog’s symptoms do persist, please schedule an appointment with HOSPITAL NAME for a thorough examination. We can offer medications as well as non-medical treatments to reduce their pain. If this is the case, contact us at 999-999-9999 or simply schedule an appointment online.