Paw parents treat their fur babies as their own and wish a world for them, they go to any extent to safeguard their fur babies. In such a situation the decision to euthanize a dog is tough for the paw parents. But if your dog is suffering from a condition like arthritis, which causes them nothing but pain, and distress and makes their life hell, you might think, “When to euthanize a dog with arthritis?”
Our blog will try to provide you with all the required information about when to consider to euthanize your dog. We will also help you know about arthritis and its treatment along with ways to manage it.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints of the dog making them suffer from mobility issues and causing extreme pain. In arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the joints in the dogs wears off and becomes inflamed. If not treated on time it can permanently damage the dog’s joints and lead to bone spurs.
Arthritis is not specifically limited to affecting the joints of the knees it can affect any joint of the body. But for canines, it mainly affects their knee joints, limbs and lower spine.
Arthritis in dogs does not get cures it only increases with time and affects the dog’s quality of life.
Here’s how arthritis affects the dog:
- It affects their stiffness and makes it difficult to move.
- It makes them lethargic as their movement is restricted.
- It leads to obesity which makes arthritis even worse.
- It causes them excessive pain and discomfort.
- It makes it difficult for them to even urinate.
- It leads to loss of muscle mass in them.
Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs
Here are symptoms of arthritis in dogs that you can observe can provide them with help:
- Arthritis makes it difficult for the dog to move, stand, walk and even rest. It affects their joints which directly affects their mobility.
- Dogs suffering from arthritis find it difficult to indulge in physical activities which restricts them from running, jumping and playing. For a dog with arthritis, it is common to have low energy and excitement.
- Obesity or weight gain is one of the major symptoms of arthritis. Normally it is observed that dogs having arthritis tend to be obese as their activity and mobility are refrained.
- You might observe a shift in your dog’s behaviour due to arthritis. As the dog suffering from arthritis undergoes extreme pain their mobility being stopped makes them irritated. Dogs are cheerful when they perform their zoomies and play, not being able to do that dogs become silent, anxious, irritated and angry.
- Arthritis affects dogs causing them extreme pain, and it can be observed too. Even a slight touch or movement can cause them pain and they may be seen whimpering.
The experts from Blue Cross quote "Sadly, even with treatment, osteoarthritis will progress over time and your dog's symptoms will get worse. If their mobility and quality of life deteriorates and they are suffering, euthanasia may be advised. If you feel your dog is in pain or not responding to treatment as well as they used to, always speak to your vet for further advice."
Treatment and Management of Arthritic Dogs
The treatment and management of arthritis depend on factors like the age of the dog, their weight, and the severity of the condition. Here are some ways to manage and treat arthritis in dogs:
- To treat and manage arthritis in dogs you need to keep their weight in check. Maintaining the dog’s weight helps the dog put less strain on its joints and boosts recovery.
- While exercising a dog with arthritis make sure you make him do moderate exercise which has a low impact on their joints. To make dogs exercise you can make them walk, swim and provide them with hydrotherapy.
- Apart from this several medications too might be required to treat arthritis in a dog. A vet may prescribe certain anti-inflammatory drugs for the reduction of joint pain and inflammation.
- Nutraceuticals are supplements that help to boost the joint health of dogs and provide them with the required support. Supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin or omega-3 fatty acids help by slowing down the cartilage degradation.
- Stem cell therapy is also used to treat arthritis in dogs. For that, the dog stem cells are used to regenerate the damaged tissues and cartilage. In this therapy, the stem cells from the dog’s bone marrow are harvested and injected into the dog’s joints.
- If not the above-mentioned ways then the one way or the last resort to treat arthritis in dogs is surgery. Through surgery either the dog’s joint functioning is restored or the joint is replaced providing your dog relief from arthritis. Some of the surgeries that are performed to treat arthritis in dogs are arthroscopy, joint fusion, joint denervation and joint replacement.
Quality of Life Assessment for Arthritic Dogs
The quality life assessment for arthritic dogs helps the paw parents decide the ways to manage, treat and make decisions regarding euthanasia. Here’s how you can assess the quality of life of the arthritic dog:
Clinical Metrology Instruments (CMIs)
In this method, there are questionnaires used by the paw parents and the vet. Through these questionnaires, the dog’s behaviour, activity and arthritis symptoms are rated.
Functional mobility tests
In this functional test, the dog’s ability to perform the physical tasks is taken into consideration. Through this test, the severity of arthritis in dogs can be known. The tests include 6 6-minute walk tests, force platform analyses and sit-to-stand tests respectively.
Biomarkers
The biomarkers are biological indicators used to measure the dog’s blood, urine and synovial fluid. These indicators help to reflect the extent of inflammation, pain and degradation of cartilage in a dog’s joint.
When To Consider Euthanasia for Arthritic Dogs?
To euthanize the dog is not an easy decision to make, but if the situation worsens then you might have to consider it. For euthanasia for arthritic dogs, you must take the guidance of a vet and upon analysing the situation completely decision should be made.[1]
Here are some factors and situations in which you can consider euthanasia for arthritic dogs:
- The dog is facing difficulty in walking, moving and doing basic mobility.
- The dog faces constant pain and discomfort and no relief even after medication and surgery.
- The dog’s condition is deteriorating with time and leading to health issues like organ failure, infection and cancer.
- Due to lack of mobility and pain dogs suffer from anxiety, depression, aggression and distress.
- Change in dog’s behaviour and habits. If your dog has lived a good life and if the pain and suffering do not seem to end then you should consider to euthanize your dog.
FAQs
When to euthanize a dog with arthritis?
When to put a dog to Euthanasia that has arthritis is an extremely personal and emotional decision that has no right or wrong answer. But if your dog is suffering way too much that his quality of life is getting affected, then you can consider euthanizing your dog. You can even consult the vet for advice and see if there is any scope to avoid this.
What is the best pain relief for dogs with arthritis?
Your dog’s exact illness, age, weight, and other factors will affect the right remedy for pain for them. Any medication or supplement you give your dog should be discussed with your veterinarian first because they may have negative effects or interact negatively with other medicines. The right dosage, frequency, and duration of treatment for your dog might also be given by your veterinarian.
What is the last stage of arthritis in dogs?
Last-stage arthritis refers to the final phase of canine arthritis. There is severe degradation of the joints and inflammation in this most severe and advanced form of joint disease. Last-stage arthritis in dogs causes crucial lameness, decreased appetite, muscle atrophy, and severe discomfort.
How long can a dog live with arthritis?
The amount of time a dog can survive with arthritis is not known for sure because it relies on a number of factors, including the disease’s severity, available treatments, the dog’s age, weight, and general health. On the other hand, certain resources claim that dogs with arthritis can live a long life if they receive the right attention and care.
What makes dog arthritis worse?
Dogs with arthritis may have more severe symptoms from a number of causes, including their age. Dog’s joints deteriorate and lose their elasticity and cushioning as they age. Obesity may worsen the signs and symptoms of arthritis and destroy bone and cartilage more deeply.
Conclusion
We hope that through our blog, “When to euthanize a dog with arthritis?” we have successfully provided you with all the required information. Arthritis is a condition that not only causes pain to your dog but also affects their quality of life badly. So if your dog is suffering from intense pain then it’s better to put your dog to rest.
References:
- Dog Euthanasia: How to Know it’s Time | petMD
