What are the symptoms of chondropathy in dogs?

What are the symptoms of a dog's cartilage disease?

1. Symptoms:

The initial stage of the disease is difficult to stand, the back body shakes and weak when standing, the two limbs frequently exchange weights, they move cautiously, and their steps are unstable. After resting, the affected limbs are stiff, and the shoulder muscles atrophy occur in the later stage. In the end, it became unbearable. Most of them are gradually developing, and there are sudden onset.

Dogs are prone to large and giant dogs growing rapidly in 4 to 8 months of age, such as St. Bernard, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Newfoundland and other breeds. Clinically, it is characterized by no history of trauma, lameness, and pain.

2. Cause:

The causes of chondropathy in dogs are not clear. It is generally believed that the direct cause is circulatory disorders or excessive traction and compression trauma. Endocrine disorders, malnutrition and genetic factors are also related to the occurrence of this disease.

3. Types of chondropathy in dogs:

1. Separate osteochondropathy, articular cartilage is abnormally thickened and cracked, and then separated from the subchondral bone to form a cartilage flap or free cartilage piece. It is mainly seen in the shoulder joint, elbow joint, knee joint and tarsal joint.

2. The ossification of the elbow process is not closed

The ossification of the center of the elbow process and the proximal end of the ulnar epiphyseal end does not close for a long time (the cartilage of the epiphyseal growth plate does not ossification), which makes the elbow joint unstable and prone to osteoarthropathy of the elbow joint; or the coronal process of the ulnar bone split into several pieces without being combined with the ulnar bone, which can easily induce osteoarthropathy.

3. Growth plate bone hysteresis

The secondary ossification center of long bones, such as the epiphyseal growth plate hysteresis at the distal ossification center of the ulnar ossification center, causing abnormal synchronicity with radial growth, resulting in angular deformity of the radial ulnar or subluxation of the elbow joint.

In order to prevent dogs from getting chondropathy, it is best to feed some calcium powder and calcium tablets from childhood.