Arthritis is one of the most painful conditions that affect dogs. The joint condition is among the top five most painful conditions for any dog alongside bone cancer and intervertebral disc disease.
While it can affect younger dogs, it’s more common in middle-aged and older dogs. Due to arthritis, your dog might feel constant pain in the joints, making it difficult for them to move.
While any dog can be affected by arthritis or joint pain, certain breeds are more vulnerable than others. That is because of their physical build and genetic predisposition.
All dog parents must look out for any signs of immobility or joint pain. Before bringing a dog home, find out if the parents or pups in the previous litters have had joint issues.
If you have already brought a dog home and are concerned about its joint health, speak to your vet for all things joint-related. It includes activities that you should avoid with your dog, special supplements for your dog, and exercises that will help maintain mobility.
What helps is knowing which dog breeds are especially predisposed to arthritis and joint problems. If you know your dog is likely to have it, it will be easier for you to care for it.
Here are the breeds most likely to develop joint issues and tips to care for them:
Ten Most Likely Breeds to Develop Arthritis
It’s insufferable and heartbreaking to see a dog in pain, and not being able to participate in activities it once enjoyed. When looking for signs of arthritis in your dog, it is important to know which breeds are more prone to canine arthritis later in life.
As mentioned earlier, it will help pet parents to be on the lookout for the first sign and take necessary precautions as required.
Below are the top 10 breeds that are more likely to develop this painful ailment in their life:
- Labrador Retrievers: Labs are prone to developing joint issues and arthritis simply because they tend to gain weight rather quickly. Obesity amplifies joint stress and worsens hip and elbow dysplasia in labradors.
- German Shepherds: It’s a well-known fact that German Shepherd or GSDs are pre-disposed to arthritis and hip dysplasia. That is because of the selective breeding to produce GSDs with sloping hindquarters. An active lifestyle will help reduce the severity of the joint issues, when or if they develop.
- Old English Sheep Dogs: Old English Sheep Dogs are a large breed of dogs that are plagued by hip dysplasia, leading to arthritis. The large size and weight of these dogs put a huge amount of weight on the joints.
- Great Danes: The Great Dane is another large and heavy dog that’s prone to joint issues and arthritis. To mitigate any chances of severe arthritis and joint pain, it is crucial to exercise your Great Dane to maintain a healthy weight.
- Dachshunds: Dachshunds are a member of the chondrodystrophic group of dogs. That is why they are prone to congenital joint and cartilage disorders, despite being the smallest dog on this list.
- Rottweilers: In the current age and day, Rottweilers are bred to have dense muscles that may be a tad bit much for their frame. This can lead to joint stress and degeneration.
- Saint Bernards: You can see a pattern here as Saint Bernard is another giant dog breed that’s prone to joint issues. If you own or plan to own a Saint Bernard, it would be best to set a proper workout routine and preventive care for this breed.
- Newfoundlands: These are the gentle giants that are huge and continue to grow bigger because of breeders looking for larger dogs. Owing to their massive size, Newfoundlands are prone to developing arthritis from a very young age (3-4 years of age). These dogs need joint supplements throughout their lifetime.
- Golden Retrievers: Golden Retrievers are a very popular breed, and their popularity has led to breeders employing unethical practices to breed multiple litters. This has resulted in weaker genes, leading to genetic conditions, like hip dysplasia and cancer.
- Mastiffs: Mastiffs, which can grow up to 230lbs, are also too big for their good. The breed is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which might eventually lead to arthritis. Mastiffs require life-long special care to keep their joints healthy and mobile.
How to Take Care of Your Dog if It’s on the List
No one wants their dog to be in less than ideal health but it is an inevitable part of aging. What a pet parent can do is gain enough knowledge on the topic to prevent the onset or treat the existing condition as best as they can.
Talk to your vet and find out if your pet needs a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), like Previcox, chewable tablets for dogs. Previcox is easily available at a pet pharmacy and is used to treat joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation resulting from arthritis or osteoarthritis.
The tablet has Firocoxib as its active ingredient, which inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), responsible for inflammation and joint pain in dogs.
Additionally, many vets recommend supplementing the diet with glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin from the age of as young as a year old. Apart from that, simply ensure that your dog maintains a healthy weight and stays active.
Now you know which dogs are more prone to arthritis, how to look for a pup, and what to do to care for an already suffering dog. All you need to do is maintain an active lifestyle for your dog.
