Canine hip dysplasia is a common issue that causes joint pain in dogs. Arthritis also ranks high. But these aren’t the only issues that can cause pain in joints. Dogs play hard. When they focus on an object during a fetch session, they will sometimes strain too hard and cause injuries that will mimic the same amount/type of pain associated with dysplasia and arthritis. One common injury that causes joint pain in dogs occurs in the stifle, the joint in the hind leg that humans might associate as the knee joint. It’s in this area that a knee ligament is frequently torn, which can happen during play or through age-related weakening. The cranial cruciate ligament, the most frequently torn, happens in dogs that are very active. Arthritis can set in when the injury isn’t allowed to heal. Some injuries will require surgery to fix. Tendons, which are the silvery connector between the muscle and the bone, can be stretched and torn. A stretched or sprained tendon causes joint pain in dogs, and will require rest to heal. A ruptured tendon causes extreme joint pain in dogs and requires surgery. Some breeds are at particular risk of developing Legg-Perthes disease, which causes joint pain in dogs. The disease affects Yorkshire terrier and west highland puppies with the most frequency. It occurs when a lack of blood is delivered to veins and capillaries in the ball and socket of the hip joint. This causes the bone to die and break. Another seemingly rare issue that causes joint pain in dogs is called slipping kneecap, a condition where the patella doesn’t line up correctly with the stifle joint bone groove. This is a genetic issue that affects the larger breeds the most, but it’s also seen in small breeds to a lesser degree. Smaller breeds are more likely to be affected by what is called medial luxation, which also affects the stifle joint. More often than not, joint pain in dogs is caused by arthritis. Around one-fifth of all dogs will experience arthritis in their lifetime, some beginning at birth and others in their advanced years. Hip dysplasia also ranks high on the list of issues that cause joint pain. Many companies, like ProLabs, have developed products based on scientific research that help address issues that cause joint pain in dogs.
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