Other Joint Disorders in Dogs

This deterioration of the top of the femur (femoral head) seen in young miniature and small breeds of dogs is characterized by a lack of blood supply and destruction of blood vessels of the bone. It is also known by the technical term, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. The cause is unknown, although the condition may be hereditary in Manchester Terriers. The sudden loss of blood supply to the femur leads to collapse of the top of the bone. The condition often affects both hip joints.

Signs include hindlimb lameness, wasting away of the thigh muscles, and pain during movement of the hip joint. Longterm cases have evidence of degenerative joint disease. X-rays can help identify characteristic changes of this condition and may be used to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment involves surgical removal of the affected femoral head and neck and physical therapy to stimulate limb usage. If these procedures are followed, most animals with this condition recover.

This hereditary disorder is caused by abnormal development of the kneecap (patella). Displacement of the kneecap is often associated with multiple deformities of the hindlimb, involving the hip joint, femur, and tibia. The condition can also lead to cartilage and ligament injuries in the knee. Affected animals are lame or walk with a skipping gait. Dogs of any age may be affected.

Signs vary widely based on the severity of the displacement. In mild cases, the kneecap can be manually displaced but easily returned to normal position. These cases show infrequent and mild signs. As displacement becomes more severe, the dislocated kneecap is more often out of place, the limb is consistently lame, and bone deformities may be seen. X-rays can help your veterinarian see how severely the kneecap is displaced and what effects this has had on the limb.

There are several surgical options for treatment. The type of surgery performed is based on the severity of the displacement and can include minor procedures and bone surgeries. Mild or moderately affected dogs generally recover fully.

Osteochondrosis is a disturbance in cartilage and bone formation of medium and large dogs that grow quickly. In this condition, the immature joint cartilage cracks and separates from the underlying bone. Fluid enters the space, and cysts may form under the cartilage. Fragments of cartilage may separate from the end of a bone and float loose in the joint cavity. This results in inflammation of the affected joint, and it can lead to arthritis and continued cartilage breakdown, severely affecting joint motion. The cause is unknown, but possible factors include high-growth diets, as well as rapid growth, trauma, and heredity.

Signs of osteochondrosis include lameness, fluid buildup within the joint, and joint stiffness. Affected areas include the head of the humerus (shoulder joint), the inside of the elbow joint, the stifle (knee) joints, and the ridges of the hock (ankle) joints. Your veterinarian may use x-rays to determine the extent of the damage. Surgery using an endoscope (arthrography) can also be performed to identify cartilage or joint lesions. A computed tomography (CT) scan can also identify bone changes.

Treatment involves surgical removal of cartilage flaps or the free-floating fragments of cartilage ("joint mice"). Dogs with degenerative joint disease may benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and joint fluid modifiers. Your veterinarian is best able to advise you on the appropriate use of any relevant medication. The outlook for recovery is excellent for the shoulders, good for the stifle joint, and fair for the elbow and hock (tarsal) joints. If the affected dog also has signs of degenerative joint disease, other joint conditions, or instability of the hock joint, the chances of recovery are reduced.

Elbow dysplasia is an abnormal development of the elbow joint in young, large, rapidly growing dogs. It involves abnormal bone growth, cartilage development, or joint stresses. It is considered to be one of the most common causes of osteoarthritis of the canine elbow.

Lameness can develop slowly between 4 and 8 months of age; however, some cases may not be diagnosed until the dogs are more than 1 year old. The joint may appear stiff or unable to move freely. Advanced cases develop osteoarthritis, fluid buildup within the joint, and a grating or crackling sound. Physical examination and the presence of the characteristic signs suggest the diagnosis, and x-rays can confirm it. Both elbows should be examined because the condition can develop in both at the same time.

Surgery should be performed before the degenerative changes of osteoarthritis occur. The outlook for recovery after surgery is good if degenerative joint disease has not developed in the joint. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (as prescribed by your veterinarian) can reduce pain and inflammation. Joint fluid modifiers may also be helpful.

Infectious, or septic, arthritis is usually caused by bacteria that spread through the blood or enter the body as a result of trauma (with penetrating wounds) or surgery. Other causes of septic arthritis include rickettsia (Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis) and spirochetes (Lyme disease). See also heading on page Introduction to Infections

Signs of septic arthritis include lameness, swelling, pain of affected joint(s), fever, listlessness, loss of appetite, and stiffness. Laboratory tests on fluid removed from the joint may be useful in confirming the diagnosis.

Treatment consists of antibiotics administered orally or intravenously, flushing of the joint cavity, and surgical removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue in severe cases.

Arthritis caused by the body’s own immune system can cause inflammation of joints. It generally affects several joints. Immune-mediated arthritis can destroy the joint cartilage and bone beneath the cartilage or cause inflammation around the joint (periarticular inflammation). Rheumatoid arthritis and Greyhound polyarthritis are examples of arthritis that destroys joint cartilage and bone beneath the cartilage. Systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common form of immune-mediated arthritis.

Signs include lameness, pain, and swelling in multiple joints, fever, a generalized illness, and loss of appetite. These signs commonly come and go. In addition to signs, the diagnosis is aided by x-rays, biopsy of joint tissue, blood tests, and examination of joint fluid (commonly called a joint tap).

Treatment involves anti-inflammatory medications and chemotherapeutic agents. The outlook for recovery is uncertain. Relapses are relatively common and the cause of the reactions is often unknown.

This type of arthritis is most commonly caused by a tumor known as a synovial cell sarcoma. Signs include lameness and joint swelling. X-rays show soft-tissue swelling and a reaction around the bone. A biopsy reveals evidence of a soft-tissue tumor. By the time of diagnosis, spread of the cancer to the lungs has already occurred in about 25% of animals. Treatment involves amputation of the limb.

There are many types of joint trauma that can contribute to the development of joint disorders. Some of the more common types of trauma that can affect the joints are discussed below.

Dislocation of the Hip

Hip dislocation is usually the result of injury or trauma that displaces the head of the femur from the socket of the hip joint. Signs of hip dislocation include lameness, pain during movement of the hip joint, and a shortened limb. X-rays are useful in confirming the dislocation and revealing the presence of fractures. Nonsurgical treatment involves forcefully moving the joint back into place (closed manipulation) and using slings to keep the hip in its normal position. Surgical treatment involves stabilization using sutures or pins. Surgical resection of the bones involved or total hip replacement may be performed if more conservative treatment has not succeeded. The outlook for recovery is usually excellent.

Normal and dislocated hip, dog

Also see professional content regarding other joint disorders.