If your dog is no longer agile and has become stiff…

…alarm bells should be ringing, no matter how old he is, because no dog will willingly restrict his natural urge for movement without good reason. Painful, inflammatory changes to the joints and tendons are often the reason. This is something that affects large, heavy breeds in particular, although smaller breeds can suffer damage to the skeleton. 

Causes for joint problems include excessive loads on a healthy joint (injury; damage; overweight; making the dog run beside a bicycle at an early age), but also normal loads on a joint that is already diseased (HD, OCD; incorrect position). In both cases a slight intensity in movement will reduce muscle strength and thus the support given to the affected joint, which adds to the problem.  The result is a degeneration in the joint cartilage and inflammatory processes in the joint capsule and synovial membrane (produces synovia, the joint fluid).

Inflammation is revealed by pain, heat, swelling and reddening of the surrounding tissue, and it is a key symptom of joint disease.

These symptoms actually initiate the healing process and encourage the dog to rest the affected joint. However, they also cause an increase in the production of protein-splitting enzymes that break down important constituents of cartilage (collagen, proteoglycans).  Cartilage decreases in density and elasticity, and the joint is less able to cope with loads, which results in a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation of the joint (osteoarthritis).

Sensible steps to reduce the risk of joint disease or minimise the effects of joint problems are:

• watch your dog's weight (overweight dogs are 4 times more likely to suffer joint problems than slim ones - (Kealy et al. 2000) 
  
• limit the energy absorption during growth - especially in large breeds - to prevent the dog from growing too fast. 
  
• regular exercise - dogs need to run!
• specific diet supplements with nutrients that benefit the cartilage, tendons and joints.