At just six months old, my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Ru, was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia – an abnormal development of the elbow joint that means her delicate bones don’t fit together as they should.
It is also incurable; over time, the misalignment causes inflammation and cartilage damage, and osteoarthritis follows as surely as night follows day.
It seemed unfair that a puppy could be afflicted with a disease of old age – it still does. But elbow dysplasia, and its anatomical neighbour, hip dysplasia, are the most common orthopaedic diseases in dogs, with most cases diagnosed before the age of two. Golden Retrievers and Labradors are disproportionately affected.
Anyone who's received similar news about their own dogs will echo my partner’s sentiments – “she can have my elbows!” Until veterinary medicine makes that a reality – and I wouldn't hesitate to donate my boyfriend’s working parts to my dog – I take every avenue available to slow the progress of Ru’s arthritis and keep her healthy and happy.
The regime I detail below has been three years in the making, with contributions from vets, physiotherapists, pain experts and trainers. I will still add the caveat that every dog is unique, they respond differently to treatment, and this is not intended as veterinary advice. But these are – in no particular order – the things that have helped Ru the most.
Spotting it early
Ru's condition was caught by my dad, a vet of more than 50 years – which I'll admit is not a resource available to most. Had he not spotted it, I don't think I would have. The earliest signs are almost imperceptible to the average owner; a slightly odd gait, some stiffness here and there, a quick lip lick when you manipulate the joint – dog speak for "I'd rather you not do that."
After three years of monitoring Ru, I now catch these tells in other dogs all the time. A few videos on canine gait analysis and pain communication are worth any owner's time.
The arthroscopy
An arthroscopy is a common but optional first intervention for dogs with joint conditions. Minimally invasive, although still done under general anaesthetic, it's a way to look inside the joint and identify the exact cause of the issue.
In Ru's case, they were also able to fish out the loose bone fragments that had formed there as a result of the abnormal joint movement. The vet told me it was like having a stone in your shoe, if the shoe was one size too small.
Recovery dictates six weeks of reduced activity, which is no joke when the patient enjoys launching herself off the sofa for fun.
NSAIDs
As much as I gravitate towards natural solutions – hydrotherapy, supplements, the works – my priority is that Ru lives free from pain, and sometimes that calls for stronger stuff.
Prescription NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) treat pain and inflammation, and for dogs with osteoarthritis, they can be transformative. I use Meloxicam – over £100 at my vet, £20 online (an article for another day), and pop it into her food whenever I notice stiffness.
Hydrotherapy
Weekly hydrotherapy – at Battersea Dogs Home, which is brilliant – has been the single best thing I’ve done for Ru's arthritis.
The benefits of hydrotherapy have been countless: the water helps arthritic dogs to move more comfortably while building joint and muscle strength; the team assess Ru weekly, catching the subtlest shifts in her condition before they become a problem; and each session opens with a massage to work out her tight muscles.
The water-averse should still give it a go – Staffies are notoriously poor swimmers and Ru is certainly no fan of the water, but she is a fan of all the peanut butter we use to bribe her into cooperating.
No balls (sort of)
Like most dogs, Ru's greatest joy in life is a tennis ball. So it was a blow to hear – from every vet, trainer and physio, without exception – that throwing a ball for an arthritic dog is one of the worst things you can do for their joints. Not because of the running, but because of the sharp twisting and turning they do as they chase something bouncing unpredictably.
Robbing Ru of the thrill of the chase wasn't an option, so when a trainer suggested an alternative, I leapt at it. I now carry a bag of tiny training treats and lob them one at a time, as far as I can. They land in the long grass for Ru to gleefully sniff out.
She still enjoys carrying tennis balls on her walks, which is a compromise I've come to accept.
My arthritis care kit
Librela
Librela is an injection that manages osteoarthritis pain by blocking nerve growth factors, and for some dogs, it's life-changing. Ru had a second shot recently – the improvement was remarkable, and far more pronounced than treating with NSAIDs.
Librela is a bit of a hot potato, however. The veterinary world is divided, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate was pushed into issuing a formal response after studies flagged rare cases of rapidly progressive osteoarthritis following treatment – meaning it made the disease significantly and irreversibly worse.
I won't plant my flag firmly on either side, but some wise words from my dad have helped me land on an approach for Ru. If she were suffering terribly, the relief Librela offers would outweigh the slim risk of things going wrong. It's an ace up my sleeve if this regime stops being enough.
The small things (that add up)
Arthritis management isn't just the big interventions – the daily habits matter too, and they add up over a lifetime.
- Weight management. Every extra kilo is an additional load on already compromised joints. It's my job to remember that every time she looks longingly at a piece of cheese.
- Pre-walk warm-ups. A moderate reduction in exercise is usually recommended for arthritic dogs – though don't overcorrect; too little movement stiffens joints further. We take a slow 1o-minute walk before Ru runs freely, to warm up the joints gradually rather than going from rest to full zoomies.
- An elevated bowl. Every time a dog lowers its head to eat from a bowl on the floor, it shifts its weight onto its forelimbs. If elbows are the sore point, that's undue stress twice a day, every day, for years. An elevated bowl neutralises their posture and distributes weight evenly.
- Salmon oil. The only supplement that Ru's orthopaedic surgeon recommended for its potent Omega-3 fatty acids – specifically EPA and DHA – which reduce inflammation and help slow cartilage deterioration. Most owners unknowingly underdose salmon oil – dogs with joint disease need around 75–100 mg of EPA and DHA (combined) per kilogram of body weight to have a meaningful therapeutic effect.
- Other supplements. Ru gets undenatured type II collagen and glucosamine to support healthy cartilage, and green-lipped mussel and Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) to help combat inflammation. I try to tempt her with blueberries for their antioxidant effects, but for every one she eats, she spits two out. I fear this will be a battle of a lifetime.
- Furniture compromises. Jumping on and off furniture – Ru's favoured sport – can impact joints significantly. She is also stubbornly adverse to using ramps or steps, so my sofa, bed and armchairs all sit low to the ground. Having a no-dogs-on-the-sofa rule was never on the cards.
Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed
