It is common knowledge among dog owners and breeders that genetics plays an important role in the development of dog arthritis. Hence, if you are on the lookout for a purebred dog, there are certain guidelines you need to follow in order to save you and your future pet a lifetime of trouble with dog arthritis.

The tips that I will share will help you get dogs that are not susceptible to orthopedic problems and give you a feel for how to check for other breed problems. However, there are other factors to consider as well – like the dog’s general health and personality, as well as your lifestyle requirements. Also note that I am talking about pure bred dogs. Mixed breed dogs can get all or none of the problems of each breed! Here are my tips:

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Yes! Joint pain and arthritis of the dog knee can start from problems with the knee cap or patella, in a condition that is known as medial patellar luxation. Often seen in smaller dogs, medial patellar luxation requires early detection and prompt attention to prevent:

• immobility of the joint,
• severe pain,
• further damage to the cruciate ligament (dog acl)
• dog arthritis, and
• reduced quality of life.

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Joint pain is a common problem affecting older dogs, as well as younger dogs that are inactive, too active or overweight. This condition often starts as a small tear in the dogs cruciate ligament (dog acl), which may go undetected and lead to more serious conditions like full rupture of the cruciate, dog arthritis and cartilage (meniscus) injury. Early detection through regular checkups and prompt intervention by a veterinarian are essential in stopping the progression of this condition.

Cruciate Ligament Ruptures and Dog Arthritis

You have a lot more control of how fast and well your dog recovers from knee surgery than you may think. While a select few dogs that undergo knee surgery for dog arthritis recover quickly, most will need some physical therapy and exercise assistance from you.

Before you begin any type of dog arthritis physical therapy or exercise routines, here are the top things you need to know.

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In part 1 of this series we focused on increasing your dog’s range of mobility in order to help him recover faster from dog arthritis knee surgery. In this article we will discuss  other was you can help your dog return to normal after the trauma of knee surgery.

Encourage Weight Bearing and Platform Feeding

Gently lift and hold your dog’s good leg up so he has to put his weight on the leg where the dog arthritis knee surgery occurred. Do this for just a few seconds in the beginning, and increase the period, over time, as he shows signs of being able to support himself without pain.

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