There are four stages of arthritic disease:
Young animals predisposed to osteoarthritis due to conformation or injury
Pets with current joint disease but little damage to joints and no symptoms
Pets with moderate damage and intermittent symptoms, often with decreased range of motion in the affected joints
Severe damage and signs, such as atrophied muscles, restricted range of motion, difficulty rising, jumping onto furniture, going up stairs or performing other activities.
Stage 1: If we know that arthritis is likely down the road, we would like to start preventing it early.
Stage 2: Arthroscopy is becoming more common in dogs.
Through “scoping” of joints, we are learning that many, many dogs have inflammation in the joint before they have lameness or other symptoms.
Stage 1 includes young animals predisposed to osteoarthritis due to conformation or injury.
Stage 2 includes pets with current joint disease but little damage to joints and no symptoms.
Stage 3 includes pets with moderate damage and intermittent symptoms, often with decreased range of motion in the affected joints.
Stage 4 is severe damage and signs, such as atrophied muscles, restricted range of motion, difficulty rising, jumping onto furniture, going up stairs or performing other activities.