Will an xray show arthritis in dogs? Here’s What to Do Next

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Paying Attention to Changes in Your Dog’s Body

Co-authored by:

  • Linda Hendry “Ive been trying to figure out why my 11-year-old dog has suddenly developed a limp only when walking with no other signs of discomfort. This articles description of canine arthritis has prompted me to have her examined for other possibilities.”…” more

    • Altered Thickness of the Joint Space

    The joint space is the region of soft tissue opacity between subchondral bone surfaces of opposing weight-bearing surfaces of a joint. This space consists of two layers of articular cartilage separated by a microfilm of synovial fluid. In early joint disease, synovial effusion may cause widening of the joint space. As joint disease progresses, attrition of articular cartilage results in decreased width of the joint space ( ). These changes in joint space width are rarely diagnosed radiographically as a result of small animal patients not being radiographed while bearing weight and also because of inconsistency between the orientation of the primary x-ray beam and joint space.

    What Causes Arthritis?While there are different types of arthritis in pets, the most common is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is a painful, progressive disease that can affect one or more joints, such as the hips, knees, elbows, shoulders and areas of the spine. Usually, it starts when some kind of stress damages the protective layer of cartilage covering the bone within the joint. This can result from trauma or joint instability, or from an underlying orthopedic condition, such as

  • Infectious arthritis caused by bacteria (such as those transmitted through tick bites), viruses, fungi or other organisms.
  • Immune-mediated arthritis (cells of the body’s immune system damage joint cartilage).
  • Cancer, typically involving the bone or cartilage.
  • Conditions that cause muscle weakness or lethargy (such as thyroid disease in dogs).
  • Injuries to muscles, tendons or ligaments.

    • Arthritis in Dogs – x-ray changes