When Should You Euthanize a Dog With Arthritis?
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Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the joints and can cause serious pain in an animal. This can be intense, affecting mobility and generally deteriorate the quality of life of dogs. The fact that it is degenerative tells us that it can only get worse, meaning there will be no cure or ability to reverse the situation. There are things we can do to manage their symptoms such as pain and limited mobility. This means we can ensure a good quality of life, even with arthritis. Only when we face end stage arthritis in dogs will we need to consider euthanasia.
AnimalWised asks when should you euthanize a dog with arthritis? We discover what we need to consider and when it is time to let our beloved dog go.
How do you know if a dog has arthritis?
As we have said, osteoarthritis in dogs is a degenerative disease that causes damage to the joints of dogs. These alterations cause:
- Pain
- Limping
- Stiffness
- Problems getting up
- General mobility problems
- Loss of muscle mass
It is a progressive degeneration which will begin to manifest itself with mild discomfort and will worsen over time. Since pain is one of the main symptoms of arthritis in dogs, it can develop into a very intense situation for the dog which significantly lowers their quality of life.
Although osteoarthritis is not a curable disease, it is treatable and symptoms can be managed. Some may think that it is an inevitable consequence of age and can be left untreated, but this is wrong. Appropriate treatment allows the dog to achieve a good quality of life, reducing discomfort and slowing the progression of joint damage.
Better understand canine osteoarthritis with our article asking is your dog limping?
Should I euthanize my dog with osteoarthritis?
Deciding when to euthanize a dog with arthritis is a deeply personal decision guided by the veterinarian’s advice. You will need to make ethical considerations, as well as consider local laws. In most countries, there is no nationwide statute specifically regulating pet euthanasia. For example, in the USA, different states may have their own laws. General principles align with providing humane care and preventing unnecessary suffering.
Osteoarthritis is a very painful condition which results in from an inflammation of the joints. It is most common in older dogs since it is usually a result of wear and tear over a prolonged period of time. Certain dogs with genetic predispositions or who have carried our very strenuous activity in their lives are more likely to develop arthritis.
While arthritis is not considered curable, there are treatment options available which can manage the symptoms and improve the dog's quality of life. These include:
- Analgesics: pain medications which can be used to reduce discomfort and pain, especially when the dog is being active.
- Weight control: being overweight or obese can put more strain on the dog's joints, so managing their weight can help reduce symptoms.
- Diet: certain foods such as those which are rich in omega-3 or omega-6 for dogs can help keep the joints healthy. Reducing unhealthy fats and improving quality protein are two main objectives, while providing vitamins and minerals to support joint health are also essential.
- Surgery: can help some dogs, but not all.
- Physiotherapy: physical therapy for dogs with arthritis can help improve their joint health, reduce weight, provide exercise and improve mood.
When these therapies have been provided, it should be possible to improve a dog's quality of life to the point that euthanasia is not required. Many dogs can even live complete lives and die of natural causes with these treatments. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In the next section, we discover when to euthanize a dog with arthritis.
When to euthanize a dog with arthritis
When all treatment avenues have been explored, but the dog's quality of life is very low, we need to consider euthanasia as a humane approach to their health needs. There are personal, practical and even legal considerations we need to make before we take this step. In the U.S., euthanasia for conditions such as arthritis is considered appropriate under the following conditions:
- Unmanageable pain: if the pain associated with arthritis becomes severe and cannot be controlled through medication or therapy, it may seriously compromise the dog’s quality of life.
- Loss of mobility: if arthritis leads to complete immobility, preventing the dog from standing, walking or eliminating waste without severe distress, euthanasia may be an ethical choice.
- Declining quality of life: signs such as chronic pain, withdrawal, loss of appetite or persistent suffering indicate that the condition has progressed beyond treatment’s ability to provide relief.
These criteria align with guidance provided by veterinary organizations, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). They emphasize humane decision-making based on the individual animal’s welfare.
In many U.S. states, it is technically legal to euthanize an otherwise healthy dog. This can occur for various reasons and there are often restrictions, such as finding a veterinarian who will accept the task. However, we stress that osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis in dogs are not a death sentence for the animal. They can still live full and happy lives if we provide them with the right care.
Since arthritis is a problem which most commonly affects elderly dogs, you can watch our video below on caring for senior dogs to have a little more background information on what to expect as your dog ages:
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to When Should You Euthanize a Dog With Arthritis?, we recommend you visit our Degenerative diseases category.
