Arthritis is the term for inflammation of the joints whilst osteoarthritis, also know as degenerative joint disease (DJD), refers to a form of chronic joint inflammation caused by deterioration of joint cartilage. DJD is the progressive and permanent long-term deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints in the body.

The cartilage within a joint acts as a buffer between the bones. Unlike bone, cartilage has no nerves so when it touches the cartilage of another bone there’s no pain. When the cartilage wears away however, the bones become exposed and when the two bone ends of a joint touch it causes pain and inflammation. The most commonly affected joints are the hips, knees, elbows, hocks, shoulders, carpi and spine.

Symptoms:

It’s important to note that the joints are generally not swollen and the pain is a dull aching type so the dogs don’t often cry out in pain.

Causes:

Primary DJD can occur as a result of wear and tear on an otherwise normal joint and occurs in dogs of all ages.

There are a wide variety of causes for secondary DJD including diabetes or prolonged steroid treatment. Any dog with a joint problem like dysplasia, luxating patella or OCD will be more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Dogs who have injured a joint e.g. a fracture or a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (basically any trauma to the joint) will also be more at risk. Obesity is another factor as it increases stress on joints.

Benefits of Massage: