As the owner of a dog with arthritis, I know how difficult it can be for you and your dog. Even though arthritis can occur in dogs of any breed or at any age, certain factors can greatly increase the risk of your dog developing cancer.

According to Novartis Animal Health the top factors are:

Genetic predisposition. You may be surprised to learn that up to 70% of certain breeds including Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds will eventually be affected with canine arthritis.

Obesity: Overweight dogs tend to develop arthritis years three years earlier than lean dogs so it is important to make sure that you control your dog's weight.

Joint Abnormalities: Conditions such as hip dysplasia put extra stress on animals joins, increase a dogs risk of arthritis. In addition if your dog has surgery such as a knee replacement surgery, like my Wanda did, your dog will likely develop arthritis around that joint.

Stress and Trauma: Injuries to ligaments, tissue and bones, and constant physically demanding activities also increase the risk by putting pressure on joints. To alleviate this, you can invest in a dog ramp or steps.

Infection: Bacterial, viral and fungal infections, including Ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever can affect joints and contribute to arthritis.

If your dog is diagnosed with canine arthritis, you have several options of treatment. Canine arthritis treatments include exercise, diet, supplements, and/or pain control medication. For more information on canine arthritis, visit http://www.allaboutdogcare.com.