As a dedicated breeder, you’re always looking out for the health and well-being of your dogs in all their life stages. Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects many dogs, and as a breeder, understanding how to manage it and recognize the early signs is an essential part of caring for your aging or retired dogs.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative, inflammatory bone and joint condition that can cause stiffness, discomfort, and reduced mobility, and is the number one cause of chronic pain in dogs. Unlike humans and cats, who typically develop arthritis associated with aging, many dog breeds experience arthritis earlier, due to developmental or conformational causes. OA can develop in younger dogs due to factors like injury, obesity, or underlying joint abnormalities such as hip or elbow dysplasia. By staying informed about this condition, you can support the long-term health of your dogs while making thoughtful breeding choices.
Osteoarthritis in dogs develops when the protective cartilage in joints breaks down, leading to pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility. Structural abnormalities like hip and elbow dysplasia—where joints are improperly formed—create instability that accelerates cartilage wear.
Research shows that older age, higher adult body weight, and gonadectomy—particularly when performed at a younger age—significantly increase OA risk across many breeds. While factors like body condition scores and sex may play smaller roles in some cases, they further highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and carefully considering if or when to neuter purebred dogs.
Additional contributors include repetitive strain from high-impact activities such as flyball and agility, and genetic predisposition. These risk factors often interact, creating a cycle of joint stress and damage. Understanding these factors helps you protect your dogs and educate puppy buyers about preventative care.
Breeders can provide puppy buyers with actionable steps to support their dog's joint health, especially for breeds at higher risk of joint issues:
Maintain an Ideal Weight: Monitor weight closely to avoid unnecessary joint stress.
Feed a Size-Appropriate Diet: Use large-breed puppy formulas for controlled growth in larger breeds.
Introduce Joint Supplements: Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and omega-3 fatty acids support joint health.
Encourage Low-Impact Exercise: Controlled activities, like swimming or leash walks, build strength without stressing joints.
Provide Orthopedic Bedding: Comfortable bedding reduces joint strain during rest.
Prevent Slippery Surfaces: Use non-slip mats to avoid falls and joint injuries.
Monitor Growth: Avoid overfeeding, especially in large-breed puppies, to prevent rapid growth.
Consult with a Veterinarian on Neutering: Studies show that the timing of gonadectomy may influence joint health, depending on breed and sex, with earlier procedures linked to increased osteoarthritis risk. Consulting with an informed veterinarian and reviewing the research on risk for your breed together helps determine your best next steps for your dog.
Schedule Regular Veterinary Check-ups: Early detection of joint issues allows for timely intervention.
Sharing these tips empowers puppy buyers to proactively protect their dogs’ joint health.
Early identification of osteoarthritis (OA) is crucial for maintaining the health and comfort of dogs. Subtle signs like limping, reluctance to jump or climb, stiffness after rest, reluctance to mount, or behavioral changes like irritability may indicate joint discomfort. Stoic breeds may hide signs, so observing their daily movements is vital. If signs are subtle, veterinary sports medicine specialists with specialized equipment like force plates may be able to help diagnose the problem. For most cases of suspected OA, your regular veterinarian can help you diagnose the problem and develop a treatment plan.
OA management often includes weight control, low-impact exercise, long-lasting injectable medications or intraarticular (within joint) injections, and at-home oral joint supplements. Happily, there are increasing numbers of options for osteoarthritis management that your veterinarian can prescribe beyond non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, which have been the historical mainstay of pain control in dogs. Veterinary-prescribed therapies like laser treatments, shockwave therapy (ESWT), or acupuncture can further support mobility.
Some injectables for osteoarthritis are familiar, such as polysulfated glucosaminoglycan (PSGAG, e.g. Adequan®), or steroids, but there are also some biologic drugs have been developed that block inflammation and pain (e.g. Librela®). A new area of interest is in harvesting the dog’s own tissues to develop products and inject them into joints, such as stem cells or platelet-rich plasma (PRPs), to naturally decrease inflammation and help heal damaged joints.
Oral supplements prescribed may include glucosamine/chondroitin, egg shell membrane extract, New Zealand mussel, undenatured collagen, CBD, or omega-3 fatty acids, either on their own, or included in a prescription-grade diet. With proactive care, and multimodal management, dogs with OA can lead active, happy lives.
While no direct genetic test for osteoarthritis exists, breeders can use evaluations like OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), FCI Hip Dysplasia or IEWG guidelines, or PennHIP to screen for conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia that contribute to OA. OFA and FCI grades provide a standardized grading system for joint structure, while PennHIP measures hip laxity, a predictor of dysplasia. All offer critical insights for selecting breeding candidates. Observing older dogs in a pedigree also helps identify lineages with strong joint health. Combining these tools with thoughtful breeding practices reduces the risk of producing dogs prone to OA and supports the long-term health of your breeding program.
This question doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer, but careful consideration is essential. If a breeding dog shows signs of OA or joint abnormalities, reevaluate its suitability for breeding. Structural soundness is vital to reduce the risk of passing on risk factors that predispose offspring to OA. If the dog is otherwise an exceptional candidate, work with a veterinary specialist to weigh the pros and cons. Responsible breeding prioritizes the health of future generations through balanced decisions.
As a breeder, you play a vital role in reducing the incidence of osteoarthritis through thoughtful breeding choices and proactive health management. Here are a few tips to guide your efforts:
Screen for joint health: Use OFA, FCI Guidelines, IEWG guidelines, or PennHIP to evaluate the structural soundness of your breeding dogs.
Promote healthy lifestyles: Educate your puppy buyers about the importance of weight management, appropriate non-slip footing, and appropriate exercise to prevent joint strain.
Stay informed: Keep up with research on canine genetics and advances in osteoarthritis management to provide the best care for your dogs.
By taking these steps, you can set your breeding program apart and contribute to healthier, happier dogs for years to come. With early recognition, proactive care, and a commitment to thoughtful breeding practices, you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of your dogs and their future offspring. Every decision you make as a breeder helps pave the way for a healthier future for your breed.
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