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Is your dog at risk?

Many dogs will suffer from the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis as they get older. When most people think of osteoarthritis, they only think of older pets. While aging is commonly associated with osteoarthritis, there are other risk factors which contribute, making some dogs at a higher risk. Dogs that fall into the high risk categories below may develop osteoarthritis earlier in life and may develop painful symptoms at a very young age. If your dog falls into any of these risk categories, it is strongly recommended that you attend a Joint Health Consult to find out how to protect them today.

1) Breed / Genetic Predisposition

Some breeds are genetically pre-disposed to developing joint abnormalities, such as joint dysplasia which often leads to Osteoarthritis. The data in the table below reflects the common dog breeds that have a higher risk of developing Osteoarthritis.

High Risk Breeds Table Dogs With OA By Size

2) Size

Large breeds are much more susceptible to the development of Osteoarthritis. This could be because their high body weight causes trauma and disruption to the joint which triggers Osteoarthritis. As the graph indicates; 45% of dogs with Osteoarthritis are large breeds, 28% are medium breeds and 27% are small breeds. This demonstrates that Osteoarthritis is still common in medium and small breeds.

3) Excess weight

Diet and weight play a key role in the development of Osteoarthritis in dogs. Overfeeding dogs causes an increase in body weight which can overload the skeleton and contribute to the development of joint damage and Osteoarthritis.

4) Joint Trauma / Injury

Joint trauma or joint surgery is a major predisposing risk factor in the later development of Osteoarthritis.

5) Age

It is expected that the chances of developing Osteoarthritis will increase with age. However, it is important to note that Osteoarthritis is not exclusively a disease that affects older dogs. You should consider protecting your dog from Osteoarthritis from the age 3-5 years.

If your dog is at risk of developing osteoarthritis contact your veterinarian. They will develop a Proactive Joint Health Program or Treatment Joint Health Program that is specifically tailored to your dog. Alternatively, book a FREE Joint Health Consult at your participating vet clinic to find out more.