Arthritis in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, & Cost

You’d hate to see your dog in pain or slowing down, but that’s what can happen if they develop arthritis. Arthritis is a debilitating, degenerative disease that affects your dog’s joints — it causes inflammation and pain due to a decrease in joint fluid and thinning of cartilage.¹

There’s no canine arthritis cure, but there are options for the management of arthritis in dogs that can provide pain relief.¹ Let’s dive into the different kinds of arthritis in dogs, symptoms, and what helps dogs with arthritis.

Causes and Types of Arthritis in Dogs

Arthritis in dogs can be as mild as a knee click or something that has developed alongside severe issues. Various factors can increase the risk of developing the disease, including:¹

• Injuries to cruciate ligaments
• Excessive weight
• Orthopedic conditions like elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia
• Age

There are several types of this disease: osteoarthritis, immune-mediated polyarthritis, and septic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, occurs when the cartilage around joints is worn down, causing painful wear and tear on the joints themselves. Generally, osteoarthritis is caused by a variety of things — like age, weight, and activity level.¹

Immune-mediated polyarthritis

Immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) in dogs is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in humans. It’s an autoimmune disease where excess immune complexes are deposited in joint fluid, and cells that fight infection end up destroying the surrounding healthy cartilage and bone.²

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis occurs when there’s an infection in a joint. The infection can cause inflammation and quickly break down the joint. This kind of arthritis can be rare and result from a penetrating injury or a complication from surgery. Sepsis is a medical emergency and should be treated quickly.³

Symptoms of Dog Arthritis

It’s important to understand that different types of arthritis in dogs may come with specific symptoms. Overall, some signs your dog may have arthritis include:^1,2,3

• Reluctance to exercise or play
• Limping
• Difficulty climbing stairs and getting up from sitting or lying
• Lameness, stiffness, or limited range of motion
• Fever or lack of appetite
• Behavior changes (more aggressive or irritable)
• Joint pain or swelling
• Muscle atrophy

Diagnosing Arthritis in Dogs

If you suspect your furry friend might be struggling with arthritis, a veterinarian can determine an official diagnosis after a physical examination. The vet will look for pain points, check your dog’s ability to move around, and determine if there are concerns about the joint itself.¹

X-rays and other imaging tests may be taken for a better look.¹ Blood tests may be ordered and a sample of joint fluid taken to diagnose IMPA and septic arthritis.^2,3 If it turns out your dog does have arthritis, your vet will work with you to develop a specialized care plan to help manage the disease and any related conditions.

Treatments for Arthritis in Dogs

So what can you give a dog for arthritis and how can you help them? There are several canine arthritis treatments that can provide relief from pain, slow damage progression, and help keep muscles strong — regardless of what type of arthritis your dog is diagnosed with.¹

Consult with your vet to see which of these management options is best — you may find that a combination helps. Being that arthritis has no cure, however you manage it will likely continue for the rest of your dog’s life.

Veterinary NSAIDs

Veterinary NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are dog painkillers that can help reduce stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints.¹ NSAIDS intended for humans shouldn’t be given to your dog, but there are animal NSAIDs that your vet can prescribe, including Carprofen (Rimadyl^Ⓡ).

Physical therapy and activity

From gentle massages to actual exercise, physical therapy is a great way to build or maintain muscle strength and relieve joint pain.¹ You can ask your vet for massage techniques or exercises to do with your dog. Arthritis makes movement difficult, but it’s essential dogs still get physical activity, whether it’s swimming or short walks. Alternatively, a vet might recommend specialized treatment — such as hydrotherapy, laser therapy, or acupuncture.

While therapy is a great tool for arthritis management, treatment costs can add up over the months or years. Just ask the pet parents of 7-year-old boxer, Hailey. Hailey needed recurring therapeutic treatment for her osteoarthritis, which cost about $25 each visit. With their MetLife Pet dog insurance, they were reimbursed for nearly the entire cost of those visits.⁴

Otto was in a similar situation, needing routine therapeutic treatments to help manage his osteoarthritis. His nearly $500 vet bill was reimbursed in full thanks to his MetLife Pet policy.⁵

Nutritious diet

Not only is obesity a risk factor for developing arthritis, but dogs with arthritis may gain weight due to a decrease in exercise, which could aggravate the condition.¹ To help with weight management, start your dog on a lean but nutritious diet.

Joint supplements and natural remedies

Studies have shown that supplements for joints can promote healthy cartilage and joint health.⁶ These supplements can contain varying amounts of joint health compounds like glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, and turmeric. Turmeric's principal ingredient, curcumin, is a powerful natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic, making it a potential natural alternative to NSAIDs.⁷

A pet insurance policy may help offset the expense of prescribed supplements. Take Mikey, an 11-year-old mixed-breed pup, for example. His pet parents were reimbursed over $340 for the cost of supplements — that were nearly $380 — to help manage his osteoarthritis, thanks to their MetLife Pet policy.⁸

Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be necessary, especially if another condition is to blame for the arthritis diagnosis — like hip dysplasia — or for septic arthritis.^1,3 If your dog’s joint is damaged, a vet may recommend a joint reconstruction or total hip replacement. Ultimately, a vet will only recommend surgery if they think it will improve your dog’s quality of life.

Hip dysplasia surgery can cost up to $7,000, and TPLO surgery to repair a cranial cruciate ligament injury can cost up to $5,300. Pet insurance can help you avoid being hit with a hefty vet bill. For example, an Irish setter named Pedro had to have hip dysplasia surgery to help ease his arthritis. The bill came to over $2,700, but with a MetLife Pet policy in place, Pedro’s owners were reimbursed about $2,400.⁹

Get Your Arthritic Dog the Care They Need

If your pup needs some help managing their arthritis, a dog insurance policy with MetLife Pet can help cover veterinary prescriptions, diagnostics, physical therapy, surgery, and more. You can also add our Preventive Care plan to your policy and get reimbursed up to 90% on routine care like regular vet checkups — which can help catch arthritis symptoms before they become worse.¹⁰

Learn more about how pet insurance works, so you can get your pup covered before arthritis becomes a pre-existing condition. Want to see your custom rates? Get a free quote today.