Arthritis and Nutrition for Dogs

Approximately 40% of dogs up to four years of age have evidence on X-rays of osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) in one or more joints. However, many dogs don’t show clinical signs of pain until they are older. With our pets living longer, it is ever more likely that dog owners will need to manage osteoarthritis for their dog at some point.

How does a dog’s weight affect its osteoarthritis pain?

Research has clearly demonstrated that body fat (adipose tissue) secretes inflammatory and pro-inflammatory hormones that contribute to chronic inflammation and painful joints. You have a critical role to play in helping your dog achieve a more appropriate weight and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and associated pain that diminishes quality of life.

How can I help my dog get to a healthy weight?

Step one is to learn how to score your dog on body condition. Work with your veterinarian and their team to better understand what your dog’s score is now and what goal you should aim for. In dogs with osteoarthritis, it is much better to target a lean body condition than a slightly heavy one. If your veterinarian uses a 1-to-5 scale for body condition scoring, the target should be 3/5. If your veterinarian uses a 1-to-9 scale, the target should be 4/9 or 5/9.

A lean body condition means there should be a well-defined waistline when you view the dog from above. You should see a tucked-up abdomen when you view the dog from the side. Finally, you should be able to easily feel (but not see) the ribs on the sides of the chest. Your veterinarian can help you look for these landmarks. There are many online resources that demonstrate how to assign a score.

Step two is to find out how many calories your dog needs to eat each day; your veterinarian can calculate this number. For dogs who are overweight or obese, the daily calorie goal is set for the dog’s “ideal” body weight and body condition rather than their current weight and condition. You can then consider what you are currently feeding your pet, and what changes are needed. Look on your pet’s food label or at the company website to find the calories per cup (or per can or pouch).

Veterinary therapeutic diets designed for weight loss have higher protein, reduced or restricted fat, and higher dietary fibre, while balancing all other micronutrients. These products are specifically made for weight loss, rather than weight management, and have been shown to work in clinical trials. 

Step three is to help your dog burn fat and preserve (or build) lean muscle. The most effective way to achieve this goal is with structured physical rehabilitation. Veterinary rehabilitation clinics offer numerous services to support dogs that need to lose weight and to manage pain associated with stiff joints. After an evaluation, the veterinary rehab team can provide exercises to do with your dog at home, in addition to underwater treadmill therapy.

Step four is to stay connected with your veterinary health care team for regular weigh-ins. They can offer suggestions for low-calorie treats and enrichment activities, such as food puzzles or low-impact training games.

Once my dog is leaner, how can I use nutrition to help manage my dog’s osteoarthritis?

Your veterinarian can help you evaluate the many nutritional products labeled for joint support. It is well known that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can help modify chronic joint inflammation. However, the level of EPA and DHA must be high enough to be effective.

Many over-the-counter dog foods have some fish oil added and many pet parents give their dog a fish oil supplement, but not all these products will have a sufficient concentration of EPA and DHA to make any difference.

Several veterinary therapeutic diets have been designed for weight management and they include most (or all) of a dog’s targeted dose of EPA and DHA, which is based on the dog’s body weight. These diets also meet nutritional guidelines for adult dogs (according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials) so they can be fed long-term. Your veterinarian can work with a nutritionist in the company or an independent veterinary nutritionist to calculate the target dose for your dog’s body weight and determine if the daily portion of food will supply enough EPA and DHA. If necessary, a supplemental amount of EPA and DHA can be fed as a liquid or as soft gel capsules at mealtimes.

Pet supplements evaluated by an independent review process are recommended, such as at ConsumerLab.com. Independent reviewers typically analyze for things like purity (i.e., is the product free of specific contaminants?) and strength (i.e., does the product contain the amount of ingredient claimed on the label?). Your veterinarian can help you determine which omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been independently evaluated and are suitable for your dog.

Glucosamine-containing products are widely available and have been popular for decades; however, controlled studies have failed to show a beneficial effect in dogs (or cats). Glucosamine and chondroitin are not effective in treating osteoarthritis. Pet parents should consider omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) and physical rehabilitation instead.

My dog has another disease in addition to osteoarthritis. What should I feed him?

Many dogs with osteoarthritis have other conditions; common examples include skin, heart, liver, or kidney disease. Chronic diseases in dogs can be supported with diets that have specific, therapeutic nutrient profiles. Your veterinarian will help set nutritional priorities. A referral to a veterinary nutritionist may also be valuable, to select a nutrient profile and recipe or product that best fits a specific dog’s needs.

In many cases of osteoarthritis, you can reduce your dog’s need for medications simply by using physical rehabilitation and improving body weight by feeding a veterinary therapeutic diet. Working closely with your veterinarian will take the guess work out of choosing from many options.