Dogs are always very active and spend most of the day in constant movement. There are times that they have pain or discomfort in their joints, but that does not mean that they suffer from arthritis or osteoarthritis . Sometimes it is something more minor that can be cured with treatment, if it is treated in time.
A condition that your dog develops if he exercises a lot or if the places where he lies down are very rigid is bursitis . Perhaps this is the first time you are hearing about this disease and you want to know more. Therefore, we are going to explain what it is, its symptoms and how it is treated.
Why does bursitis arise in dogs?
It is a condition that most often appears in large dogs such as Dalmatians and Great Danes. But it can also arise in any other breed of dog. Almost always, when the Bursa swells, it is because the animal has suffered a very strong pain in the affected area and causes that inflammation.
Bursitis also arises when your dog lies down very hard. That blow, although it is not so harmful at the moment when it is made, in repeated ways leads to the Bursa becoming inflamed. Dogs that train for certain sports also get it. It’s all because the entire weight of your body falls on your legs and your joints are affected.
How do I know if my dog has bursitis?
This is a very obvious condition and one that is easy to spot. Most of the time, caregivers realize the pathologies that the dog presents and the change in its behavior.
Physical symptoms
One of the signs that is most often seen when the dog has this condition is that it feels pain in the joint. To make sure of the reason, you can observe him by moving it or feel it yourself and see his reaction. When walking, it is also necessary to see if the dog limps due to the inconvenience it causes.
Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa around the joints. That swelling is the accumulation of certain liquids that squeeze them. Therefore, if the dog suffers from bursitis, the affected area will be swollen.
Behavior changes
When dogs start to get bursitis, their mood and behavior change completely. When suffering from pain in a part that has a lot of mobility when walking, the dog prefers to lie down. If it is a pet that is very active, you will know that something is wrong with it .
Also, if you start feeling the affected part, it can be a bit aggressive, since it causes pain. Therefore, you should avoid giving him a massage because what you will do is cause him more discomfort.
Is it necessary to go to the vet for my dog’s bursitis?
You already know what the symptoms of a puppy with bursitis are, but you still need to take your pet to the vet . The expert will be able to make more in-depth reviews of the severity of the condition. That way, he will be able to prescribe something that works to alleviate or recover the dog’s condition.
One of the tests that the veterinarian should do is an ultrasound to determine how bad the inflammation is. When the Bursa has normal size, it is not noticeable in these. But being swollen, it is visible at first glance.
How should the treatment of a dog with bursitis be?
The attention that a dog with bursitis requires always varies depending on the severity. If the bursitis is mild, it is treated with anti-inflammatories and bandages to tighten the inflammation a little and thus make it smaller.
When bursitis reaches the halfway point, it must be treated in a different way. To reduce the inflammation, the swollen part has to be disinfected and the fluid is drained with a needle . Afterwards, a pressure bandage should be made on the joint and this should eventually come off.
If the bursitis reaches the serious point, the dog has to be operated on surgically . In this process, the bag containing the liquid must be broken. In this way, the inflammation and pain can be eliminated.
The estimated time for this disease to heal will always vary depending on the severity of the bursitis . If the condition was mild or intermediate, it may take about two to three weeks to recover. On the other hand, when it reaches the serious point, it takes between 1 and 2 months to completely heal.
What can I do to prevent my dog from getting bursitis again?
If you don’t want your dog to go through this disease again, you need to know how to prevent bursitis . There are two ways to do this, the first is to provide your dog with cushioned places to rest. Make sure his bed and sleeping places are soft and that he doesn’t get bursitis from repeated trauma.
The second way has to do with dogs playing sports . You should warm up for about 10 minutes beforehand. In this way, the dog prepares its extremities for the exercises that it is going to perform.