The two most common types of shoulder arthritis are Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms The most common signs of shoulder arthritis are a  stiffness of the shoulder, limited range of motion of the shoulder joint, swelling around the joint area, and pain on moving the shoulder. There may also be a grinding feeling within the joint, or a feeling that something’s ‘catching’. These symptoms can vary in severity and tend to progress as the arthritis become worse. Interestingly though, the symptoms of shoulder arthritis do not always follow a logical progression; they can come and go from one month to another and often appear to be influenced by weather cycles.

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Neck arthritis is more commonly known as Cervical Spondylosis. It is a degenerative arthritis of the upper (cervical) part of the spine. The cause is generally age related wear and tear of the vertebrae and discs in the neck, although it can also be brought on by excessive and prolonged strain on the area, such as in jobs requiring much manual handling or certain sports. The discs in the neck become thinner as we age, and the vertebrae can develop rough areas of bone on the edges. These can cause irritation to the nearby nerves and ligaments.

We all undergo these changes to some extent, but Cervical Spondylosis is diagnosed when the degeneration is severe or having a greater impact than expected for an individual’s age.

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Arthritis isn’t a condition that only affects humans. It can also affect our pets too. It is believed that one in five dogs in the US suffers from arthritis, and arthritic pain is the most common sources of chronic pain.

Since your dog can’t tell you how he’s feeling, you will need to monitor him closely for the tell tale signs he may be suffering from arthritis. These signs include decreased activity levels- he may show less interest in going for a walk or playtime. You may notice him start to hesitate when he climbs or descends the stairs, and he may show reluctance to jump or run. You may notice that he has difficulty when he stands, and there may be more obvious signs of joint pain and stiffness. He may also favor a limb, at some times more than others.

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