Conservative/Natural Therapy for Canine Arthritis

The main aims of natural remedies for arthritis are to improve joint function and reduce pain. The two major problems associated with osteoarthritis are pain and loss of joint function.

The goals of treatment, in order of importance are:

1. Reduction of pain associated with the disease
2. Improve function of the affected joint(s)
3. Prevent or slow continued degradation of the affected joint(s)
4. Encourage repair of the diseased joint where possible

There are three options with the treatment of osteoarthritis; conservative therapy, medical treatment or surgical treatment.

Conservative Therapy
i. Exercise modification
ii. Nutritional therapy
iii. Client education
iv. Physical therapy

Two of the simplest natural remedies for arthritis are Exercise and physical therapy. Together, they can provide modest improvement in pain and joint function. It is important that exercise is controlled, as over-exertion can cause the joints to degenerate even further. Regular, limited physical activity will function to aid joint health and develop the muscles surrounding the joint. This in turn helps to spare the affected joint from excessive forces.

Weight reduction helps spare abnormal cartilage from excessive force by decreasing the forces placed on the joint during use.

Elevated Dog Food Bowls can be purchased and function to reduce the stresses put on your dog’s joints whilst feeding. Imagine having to bend right down to the floor every time you ate!! I also like these bowls as they tend to keep the eating area cleaner and your dog doesn’t spend half of meal time chasing the food bowl around the kitchen! The picture below shows an example of an elevated dog food bowl.

Dietary Supplements
The justification for the use of dietary supplements is that they support chondrocyte matrix synthesis and hyaluronan synthesis by synoviocytes, and they inhibit degradative enzymes in the joint – leading to an overall healthier joint.

‘Nutraceuticals’ such as glucosamine are not regulated by the US food and drug administration, therefore the composition claimed on such products cannot be verified. With ‘pharmaceuticals’ there is a stringent testing and approval process which must be adhered to in order for a product to even reach the shelf. Most products will take 10 or 12 years from discovery to clinical use. The fact that this stringent testing is lacking with nutraceuticals is not great, however there is a huge amount of anecdotal clinical evidence and more and more scientific research being done to support the benefits of the use of glucosamine and other natural remedies for arthritis.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may provide precursors for the synthesis of hyaline cartilage matrix in quantities which are greater than the body can naturally produce. Theoretically makes them effective natural remedies for arthritis.

The mode of action of nutraceuticals is that they promote cartilage synthesis at a rate which is greater than cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritic joints. Most experts believe that there is a higher demand for the building blocks of hyaline cartilage, in osteoarthritic joints, than the body can naturally produce. It is thought that by supplying more of these cartilage precursors, through dietary supplements, then the body can re-adjust the balance between building new cartilage and degrading old cartilage.

A potential benefit of the use of neutraceutical supplements is the reduced need for NSAIDs, which can have side effects such as intestinal bleeding and decreased kidney function.

Sometimes conservative therapies are insufficient to alleviate arthritic pain to within managable levels. In these cases natural remedies for arthritis should be used in conjunction with other medical or surgical treatments.

-Dr Caroline

Histological Features of Arthritis in Dogs

Early histological findings in canine osteoarthritis include fragmentation of the cartilage surface (fibrillation) and decreased uptake of metachromatic stains.


Histological signs later in the disease process include identification of vertical clefts in the cartilage, cloning and aggregation of chondrocytes, the formation of osteophytes, which is indicative of remodelling and repair, and regeneration of the tidemark. The tidemark is the transition zone between calcified and non-calcified articular cartilage. In osteoarthritis, the tidemark can be penetrated by tiny blood vessels and in some cases there will be the formation of more than one tidemark.

Early osteophytes made of cartilage, may be present as early as 3-7 days after initiation of osteoarthritis. Because the osteophytes have not calcified into bone yet, they are not able to be observed radiographically. Osteophyte formation may result from a number of factors, they are listed below:

• Joint instability
• Vascular-mediated effects at the marginal zone where the cartilage merges with the synovial membrane
• Synovial membrane inflammation
• Remodelling of the degenerative process associated with structural cartilage changes
• Overexpression of TGF-a (Transforming growth factor; TGF-a’s primary role is to control cellular differentiation and proliferation in most cells)

In severe, progressed cases of canine osteoarthritis, joint biopsy findings will include total loss of cartilage, joint sclerosis, and focal osteonecrosis.

-Dr Caroline

Biomechanical Features of Arthritis in Dogs

Biomechanical changes to a joint usually occur due to 2 main reasons:

1. normal loading of an abnormal joint surface
2. abnormal loading of a normal joint surface


If either of these scenarios continues over a prolonged period, changes to the type II and type IX collagen matrix will occur. These changes result in a mechanically inferior matrix that will continue to degenerate over time.

Canine osteoarthritis is biomechanically characterized by alteration of the tensile, compressive and shear properties and hydraulic permeability of the cartilage. These changes are accompanied by increased stiffness of the subchondral bone.

These mechanical alterations are a sign of the irreversible progression of arthritis. The final result is a thinning of the cartilage from matrix loss, physical compression, and fragmentation or ulceration.

-Dr Caroline

Radiographic Features (X-Ray Findings) of Arthritis in Dogs

Canine osteoarthritis is characterized radiographically by the four following signs:
• subchondral bone sclerosis
• subchondral cyst formation
• narrowing of the joint space, caused by irregular loss of articular cartilage
• periarticular formation of osteophytes


The loss of articular cartilage is greater in areas of increased load, sclerosis (hardening) of subchondral bone, osteophytosis and enthesiophytosis, and variable synovial inflammation.

Radiographic bone alterations require 30-50% change in bone density to be observed. This means that radiography is not as sensitive at picking up early degenerative changes to the joint as other diagnostic techniques, such as biochemistry and histology, might be.


- Dr Caroline

Diagnosis: Clinical Features of Arthritis in Dogs

Canine Osteoarthritis is characterised clinically by joint pain and reduced range of motion of the affected joint(s). There can also be joint effusion and variable degrees of local inflammation around affected areas.

The onset of the disease is usually quite gradual, with lameness or stiffness initially only being apparent after vigorous exercise or on cold mornings. In early cases of canine osteoarthritis, dogs may “warm out” of their limping with mild to moderate exercise, but as the disease progresses the degree and frequency of lameness will increase. In severe, chronic (long-term) cases, dogs may have a permanent limp and be quite intolerant to exercise. There may also be wasting of the muscles surrounding the affected joint(s).

When a vet does a clinical examination on your dog, he or she will be looking for signs of the following:

Pain – this is present in nearly all cases of osteoarthritis. A vet can manipulate joints that are suspected to be affected in order to elicit a painful response. The most obvious way of telling that your dog has a painful leg is when he or she is limping.

Stiffness – often your dog will be stiff after getting up in the morning. This can be particularly noticeable in cold or damp weather

Swelling – swelling of the joint can come and go in osteoarthritis, when it is present, the affected joint will often be warm to the touch from the increased blood flow there.

Crepitus – whilst moving the joint through its normal range of motion, a vet will be able to feel for crepitus. Crepitus is a grating feeling or crackling sound which is caused by one bone grinding on another or on roughened cartilage.

Deformity – in advanced cases of cartilage loss, there may be changes in the overall appearance the affected joint. This is due to the growth of bony processes as the body attempts to stabilise the unstable joint and to the loss of articular cartilage.

- Dr Caroline

Types of Synovial Joints

* Ball and Socket Joints

* Hinge Joints

* Pivot Joints

* Condyloid Joints

* Saddle Joints

* Gliding Joints

Articular Cartilage - Role in Canine Arthritis

The main functions of articular cartilage are to facilitate the movement of one bone against another and to act as a ‘shock abosorber’. It has a very low friction co-efficient and has properties that make it able to withstand enormous forces. It is a smooth, white with a bluish tinge, glistening tissue and is also commonly known as hyaline cartilage.


The glassy appearance of articular cartilage is due to two factors:

1. the high water content (70% in adults and up to 90% in newborns)

2. the fine structure of its collagen fibril network, which is made up of the following:

* Collagen – 50%
* Proteoglycans – 35%
* Glycoproteins – 10%
* Minerals – 3%
* Lipids – 1%
* Chondrocytes – 1-2%


Most (85-90%) of the collagen in articular cartilage is type II collagen and this provides the tensile stiffness. There are also small amounts of types VI, IX, XI, XII and XIV. Type IX collagen is linked to type II and is important in stabilising the three-dimensional organisation of the matrix.

Synovial Fluid Info - Canine Arthritis

Synovial fluid functions to lubricate synovial joints thus reducing friction and enhancing ease of movement. It is a viscous (thick) fluid, with a consistency similar to that of a raw egg white. In fact part of the name ‘synovial’ comes from the latin for egg – ‘ovum’.


Synovial fluid is an ultrafiltrate of plasma (ultra-filtration is the process of forcing a liquid against a semi-permeable membrane, causing the liquid and some smaller particles to pass through the membrane. Bigger particles are retained on the original side of the membrane – think of a balloon, filled with water and rice grains, with pin pricks in it. When you squeeze the balloon, the pin prick holes get bigger allowing more water and some grains of rice to pass through them) and therefore most ions and molecules equilibrate to starling forces. (An explanation of starling forces is beyond the scope of this blog, but for more information have a look at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starling_forces )

The exception to this rule is hyaluronan, which reaches high concentrations in synovial fluid (0.1 – 5.0 mg/ml). Hyaluronan is a polysaccharide which is synthesized by type B synoviocytes (in the synovial membrane). The synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme hyaluronan synthetase and occurs at the plasma membrane of synoviocytes. The hyaluronan is extruded to the extracellular space during elongation. Hyaluronan is a large, coiling molecule which overlaps and becomes tangled with other hyaluronan molecules. It is this entanglement that produces the high viscosity of synovial fluid.

The viscous nature of synovial fluid allows it to support transient shear stresses and absorb some of the energy generated by movement. High shear stresses and rapid movement decrease viscosity. This shear thinning behaviour under movement is known as “thixotropy”.

The Synovial Joint in Dogs - Structure

There are 3 components of a synovial joint:



• The Fibrous Capsule (Articular Capsule)
• Synovial Membrane
• Articular Cartilage


The fibrous capsule consists of 2 layers;

• a thick white fibrous outer layer which is known as the stratum fibrosum and
• an inner layer called the stratum synoviale (or synovial membrane or synovium), which is in contact with the synovial fluid.

The fibrous capsule is continuous with the periosteum of bone. It does not have any blood or lymph supply (avasuclar), but is highly innervated (which helps to explain why joint injuries can be so painful!)

The articular cartilage covers the epiphyses of the bone and provides resistance to load and shock The synovial membrane is the inner layer of the fibrous capsule.

The synovial membrane lines the synovial cavity where articular cartilage is not present. The synovial membrane is 1-4 synoviocytes (cells that make up the synovial membrane) thick and these synoviocytes can have both secretory (type B) and phagocytic (type A) functions. Type B synoviocytes synthesize and secrete Hyaluronan and Lubricin (a surface acting glycoprotein) into the synovial fluid.


- Dr Caroline

Predisposition to Canine Arthritis

One of the major preventable factors which may predispose your dog to developing canine arthritis is being overweight or obese. Obesity leads to far greater than normal forces being applied to joints during periods of moderate to intense exercise. Actions such as jumping out of the car boot for fat dogs can lead to severe joint trauma. Obesity is particularly problematic in larger breeds of dogs, as the weight their joints have to bear is already so high. For more information on obesity and its role in canine arthritis, have a look at the section on conservative treatment on the treatment page.


Genetics can also play a part in the development of canine osteoarthritis, but it is a polygenic trait, so modes of inheritance are not as straightforward as they are with many other diseases.

- Dr Caroline

Treatment of Canine Arthritis

One of the major preventable factors which may predispose your dog to developing canine arthritis is being overweight or obese.

Obesity leads to far greater than normal forces being applied to joints during periods of moderate to intense exercise. Actions such as jumping out of the car boot for fat dogs can lead to severe joint trauma. Obesity is particularly problematic in larger breeds of dogs, as the weight their joints have to bear is already so high.

I'll do another entry with more information on obesity and its role in canine arthritis... watch this space.

Genetics can also play a part in the development of canine osteoarthritis, but it is a polygenic trait (carried on more than one gene), so modes of inheritance are not as straightforward as they are with many other diseases.

-Dr Caroline

Diagnosis of Canine Arthritis

As with many disease processes, osteoarthritis in dogs can be classified as primary or secondary.

Primary osteoarthritis (OA) occurs independently in the body; that is, there are no predisposing events which cause the onset of the disease. Primary osteoarthritis is often referred to as “old-age arthritis” or “wear and tear arthritis”

Secondary osteoarthritis occurs as a result of another change within the body. Causes of secondary osteoarthritis include obesity, injury, infection of the joint, congenital abnormalities (present from birth) and joint surgery.

Diagnosis of canine arthritis is usually made on the basis of clinical examination findings, radiographic appearanceof the joint, other laboratory tests and individual case history, therefore it is virtually impossible to make a positive diagnosis of osteoarthritis without your dog being examined by a qualified veterinarian.


When a vet does a clinical examination on your dog, he or she will be looking for signs of the following:

Pain – this is present in nearly all cases of canine arthritis. A vet can manipulate joints that are suspected to be affected in order to elicit a painful response. The most obvious way of telling that your dog has a painful leg is when he or she is limping.

Stiffness – often a dog with canine arthritis will be stiff after getting up in the morning. This can be particularly noticeable in cold or damp weather

Swelling – swelling of the joint can come and go in osteoarthritis, when it is present, the affected joint will often be warm to the touch from the increased blood flow to the area.

Crepitus – whilst moving the joint through its normal range of motion, a vet will be able to feel for crepitus in animals afflicted with canine arthritis. Crepitus is a grating feeling or crackling sound which is caused by one bone grinding on another or on roughened cartilage.

Deformity – in advanced cases of cartilage loss, there may be changes in the overall appearance the affected joint. This is due to the growth of bony processes as the body attempts to stabilise the unstable joint and to the loss of articular cartilage.

-Dr Caroline

Articular Cartilage in Dogs (Hylaine Cartilage)

Articular cartilage (aka hyaline cartilage) is a durable, rubbery substance that covers and cushions the ends of bones in the body.

The main functions of articular cartilage are to facilitate the movement of one bone against another and to act as a ‘shock abosorber’. It has a very low friction co-efficient and has properties that make it able to withstand enormous forces. It is a smooth, white with a bluish tinge, glistening tissue and is also commonly known as hyaline cartilage.

Osteoarthritis causes the progressive degradation of this cartilage cushion on the ends of bones, leading to pain, stiffness and sometimes inflammation when the joint is moved, as the bones begin to grind on each other.

Synovial Joint in Dogs - Info

When trying to understand how any disease is affecting an animal, it is vital that one first understands what is “normal”. This section looks in reasonable depth at the normal structure and function of synovial joints in the dog.

The body contains 3 main types of joints. These are:
• synovial joints (diarthroses)
• cartilaginous joints (synchondroses and symphyses)
• fibrous joints (sutures, syndemoses or gomphoses)

Synovial joints are the most common and most moveable types of joints in the canine body. The main distinguishing feature of a synovial joint is a capsule which surrounds the joint and is filled with a straw coloured, viscous fluid called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid functions to lubricate the joint, making normal movements smooth and pain-free.

There are 3 components of a synovial joint:
• The Fibrous Capsule (Articular Capsule)
• Synovial Membrane
• Articular Cartilage
(It is the destruction of this articular cartilage that leads to the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis in dogs).

Common examples of synovial joints include the knee (stifle), the hip, the elbow and the shoulder. It is these synovial joints that are affected by osteoarthritis (DJD).

Canine Arthritis Overview: Pics and Info

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of canine arthritis, is also commonly known as “old dog arthritis” or “Degenerative Joint Disease” (DJD). Osteoarthritis in dogs is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disease of the synovial joints which results in damage to the articular cartilage and other changes to the joints. Osteoarthritis can occur at any time of life, but incidence tends to increase with age.

Dogs with osteoarthritis typically present with a limp, which is often more pronounced in cold or damp weather and will tend to deteriorate over time. The following signs also suggest that your pet may have arthritis and warrant a trip to the local vet:


• Reluctance to walk, run, climb stairs, jump, or play
• Walking strangely or limping
• The appearance of swelling around a joint
• Inablility to keep up with you on walks
• Difficulty getting up after sleeping or lying down
• Yelping when touched near the affected joint

-Dr Caroline