Young dogs
Young dogs can develop arthritis due to the way that their bones and other structures fit together (conformation). In these dogs, joints are abnormal from birth and prone to damage, leading to early arthritis.
For example:
- Many brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs suffer from abnormalities of the knees (patellar luxation) and hips (hip dysplasia)
- Hip dysplasia is common in German Shepherd dogs and other large and giant breeds, which can also suffer from similarly poor structure in the elbow (elbow dysplasia).
Can dogs get arthritis at a young age?
Dogs of any age can develop arthritis due to injury. Injuries that could lead to arthritis include: damage to ligaments which stabilise a joint, damage to the joint capsule, or damage to the bones of the joint. Anything that takes a joint out of perfect alignment leads to abnormal movement of the joint and wearing of the joint structures.
Additionally, being overweight can also put an abnormal stress on the joints.
Arthritis in older dogs
In older dogs, osteoarthritis can be caused by age related wear and tear of joints or worsening of osteoarthritis that developed earlier in life.