Animal Pain Awareness Month is September and dvm360® spoke with Brian C. Hurley, DVM, national medical director at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners, and Hannah Capon, MA Vet MB, MRCVS, founder of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) about chronic pain and pain management pain. Hurley and Capon discussed their experience working with chronic pain, particularly joint pain in dogs.
“Joint pain is common in dogs of all breeds and sizes from the age of 1 year, but more than 80% of dogs show problems by the age of 8. It is much more likely to develop in our older large dog breeds. Often, dog owners interpret their dog’s ‘slowing down’ as age-related, but it’s often the first sign of joint pain, Hurley said.
Pain management in general is essential to (enable) animals to have a better quality of life. “Chronic pain, better called maladaptive pain, offers few benefits to its bearer. This tires its victim over time, as constant/intermittent pain leaves the body hypervigilant,” Capon said.
“Pain management is crucial to the overall well-being and quality of life of our dogs. Imagine waking up every day unable to stand easily, having difficulty walking, having difficulty positioning yourself to eat or eliminate, and sometimes even just petting your dog can create discomfort” , added Hurley.
Potential Causes of Joint Pain
“Degenerative joint conditions are problems caused by repeated use over time. This is the wear and tear of ligaments and tendons, including the cruciate ligament, which is a common problem presented to veterinarians,” Hurly said. dvm360®.
“Developmental joint conditions are one of the causes of joint problems, especially in our young dogs. Genetics plays a role in these problems and leads to hip or elbow dysplasia. We also see problems due to strain or rupture of the cruciate ligaments,” he added.
Common signs
Chapon said dvm360® that signs of joint pain can sometimes be noticeable long after the patient first feels the pain. “The sad reality is that the majority of dogs with joint pain have had it for some time before diagnosis. Dogs are amazing at coping with chronic pain and will adjust their weight and movement to reduce their pain and continue to be our companions. Over time, this leads to various physical and behavioral changes away from the joint, such as reduced tolerance for other dogs and handling, postural changes such as a hunched back and lowered tail, and changes in gait such as stiff, short, jerky strides,” she said.
According to Hurley, some common signs of joint pain in dogs include:
- Lameness and stiffness
- Licking, biting, or chewing the affected area (like a human rubbing their sore joint)
- Slide while moving
- Irritability
- Decreased or loss of appetite
- Reduce socialization
- Depression
- Irritability
Long-term consequences
“The long-term consequences impact daily movements and locomotion. Everything hurts, so they are more likely to lie still. Dogs with arthritis lose the desire to be social because it hurts to move and be petted. It also impacts the muscles because they are constantly overcompensating for painful joints, creating additional pain where the pain may not have existed,” Hurley said.
Losing the protective cushion between joints can lead to pain, inflammation, decreased range of motion, and the development of bone spurs.1 “With most cases diagnosed in the latter stages, we have a reactive approach rather than a proactive approach, which is shocking when you consider that this problem has now been reclassified as a social care problem,” he said. Capon said.
Reference
Osteoarthritis in dogs – signs and treatment. American Kennel Club. Published May 3, 2022. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/osteoarthritis-signs-treatment/