Osteoarthritis
What is Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the wearing down of a joint over time. In a healthy joint, smooth cartilage covers the ends of the bones so they glide against each other. In osteoarthritis that cartilage breaks down, the bones rub, and the joint becomes painful and stiff.
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It builds up slowly and gets worse over time. It can affect any joint, but the hips, knees, elbows and back are the most common. Most dogs get it in more than one joint as they age.
What Causes Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis usually develops on top of something else. A joint that already has a problem wears faster and ends up arthritic.
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Common causes include:
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Ageing and general wear on the joints
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A joint that didn't form properly, like hip or elbow dysplasia
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An old injury, like a cruciate tear or a fracture near a joint
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Being overweight, which loads the joints more
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Breed and body size, with larger dogs more prone to it
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Because it often follows another condition, many dogs we see for arthritis have a history of one of the problems above.
Signs to watch for:
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Stiffness getting up, worse after rest or in cold weather
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Slowing down on walks or tiring sooner
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Reluctance to jump, climb stairs or get in the car
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A limp that comes and goes
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Muscle loss over the affected leg or back end
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Licking at a joint
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Grumpiness when a sore area is touched
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Arthritis comes on slowly, so it's easy to put the signs down to old age. A dog that's "just slowing down" is often a dog in pain.
Why It Matters
Osteoarthritis doesn't go away, and it gets worse if it's left alone. The joint keeps wearing, the dog uses the leg less, and the muscle that supports the joint weakens. That makes the joint less stable and the pain worse, so the problem feeds itself.
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The good news is that it can be managed well. The aim is to slow the wear, keep the muscle strong, keep the joint moving and keep your dog comfortable. Managing weight is a big part of this. Your vet may also recommend pain relief or joint support, and rehab works alongside that.
How we Help
Rehab is a core part of managing arthritis. We work to keep the joints moving, build the muscle that supports them, and reduce pain so your dog stays active and comfortable for longer.
The treatments we usually use for osteoarthritis are:
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Hydrotherapy — Exercise in water builds strength while the water takes the weight off the sore joints, so your dog can move without the full load of standing on land.
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Laser therapy — Used to ease pain and inflammation in the joint and support healing.
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Targeted exercises — Movements matched to your dog's needs, to build muscle, keep the joints moving and maintain balance.
Arthritis is ongoing, so we set up a plan you can keep going with, and we adjust it as your dog's needs change. We work alongside your vet's advice.
If you think your dog might have arthritis, talk to your vet first for a diagnosis. Once you have that, we're happy to help with the day-to-day management.
