The most important question that worries dog owners, especially if they are giving birth for the first time, is whether they should contact a veterinarian or whether they can handle this delicate matter on their own.
According to experts, it is necessary to call a doctor only if the upcoming procedure causes unnecessary anxiety and the owners do not have the slightest idea how to behave correctly.
If you have at least minimal experience in giving birth or caring for a dog in position, or the owners are well acquainted with all the necessary information and are confident in their abilities, you can safely deliver the baby yourself . You should only contact your veterinarian if any complications arise.
The birth of puppies is a process that can be divided into 3 stages . First, the birth canal opens, after which contractions occur, and then the puppies are born.
determine the upcoming birth by changes in the behavior of your pet: she begins to behave excitedly, scratches her paws on the floor, rushes from side to side, her breathing quickens. In some cases, the dog looks for a secluded place, protected from bright light. Other dogs can become especially affectionate, constantly crawling under your arms as if demanding attention. Some dogs experience an increased appetite, while others, on the contrary, experience a deterioration. During this period, the owner must surround his pet with care and attention.
The onset of labor can be determined by the occurrence of contractions. The uterus begins to contract, pushing the puppies out. When the interval between contractions is 2 to 3 minutes, it means that the dog will give birth soon.
The average duration for a dog to bear puppies is about 60 days. Calculating the due date, knowing when the mating took place, is quite easy. You need to prepare for the upcoming birth half a month before it. If the birth will take place under the supervision of a veterinarian, you will need to agree with him in advance so that he arrives at the beginning of labor.
A week before the birth, it is necessary to prepare the place where the dog will give birth - the best option would be a box slightly larger in size than the dog. It is recommended to lay a soft cloth on the bottom, and cut off one of the sides of the box so that the dog can leave it, but the puppies cannot get out.
It is better to use old unnecessary rags as bedding, which can later be thrown away. In addition to the box in which the birth will take place, it is also necessary to prepare a place where the expectant mother will live with the children for the first time. This should be a warm place, preferably heated, so that the puppies do not become hypothermic. But excess heat is also harmful for them. During the first 2 weeks, the optimal temperature for puppies will be +27°C. Then you can gradually reduce it to +20°C.
Before giving birth, you should thoroughly wash your hands and cut your nails, and wash your dog’s belly and genitals. If the dog has long hair, it is advisable to trim the hair in the loop area so that it does not interfere during childbirth.
When contractions begin , the dog will lie on its right side, resting its paws and back against the walls of the box. First, the amniotic fluid recedes, and after a couple of hours the first puppy is born. After the water breaks, the contractions intensify and become longer, and the dog’s diaphragm and abdomen begin to contract strongly.
When a puppy is born, it makes a squeaking sound, which will indicate that it has started breathing on its own. The dog itself must gnaw the umbilical cord, which serves as a connecting thread between the puppy and the placenta. If she does not do this, you will have to arm yourself with scissors, express blood from the umbilical cord to the puppy, hold it at a distance of 2-3 cm from the puppy and cut the umbilical cord. If there is blood, you need to tie the umbilical cord with a thread dipped in alcohol.
After all the puppies have come out into the world, you need to change the bedding under the dog to fresh and dry one and place all the puppies next to the mother’s belly , next to her nipples.
Childbirth in a dog is not always successful. contact a veterinarian in the following cases:
After giving birth, the dog’s body is weakened, so you need to care for it very carefully . The first few days after giving birth, she may behave calmly, but she may also show aggression, especially if you often touch her babies with your hands. If she is angry, you should not touch the puppies at first. After some time, the dog will calm down and begin to trust you.
What to feed your dog after giving birth? In the first hours after birth and between the birth of puppies, you can give your pet tea with added sugar and milk - it will help restore the water balance in the dog’s body. You need to drink frequently, but little by little. After childbirth, the intestines slightly disrupt their functioning; to normalize it, you can add an activated carbon tablet to the dog’s food.
The first days after birth, fermented milk products should predominate in the animal’s diet Food should be given in small portions and only in liquid or semi-liquid form. You can gradually introduce chicken broth and boiled meat. It is not recommended to give raw meat at first - it can cause an excess of milk, as a result of which the dog’s mammary glands will begin to become inflamed.
After giving birth, the bitch should be walked for no more than 20 minutes, as she will worry about her babies. After returning home, you need to wash and wipe her nipples dry so that no dirt from the street remains on them.
If there are so many puppies born that there are not enough nipples for all of them, they are usually divided into 2 groups, placing each one alternately. It is better to put those who are waiting their turn in a separate insulated box.
The first few days the dog gets very tired and sleeps a lot , so you need to monitor its body position - a tired animal can accidentally crush the puppy. Restless behavior of puppies indicates that they are hungry. Perhaps the bitch does not have enough milk and needs to be fed more, adding food that promotes milk production.
This video explains the nuances of canine childbirth . You will learn how to properly prepare for childbirth, what you should be afraid of, and how to provide your pet and her babies with proper care.
The birth of puppies is a joyful event for animal owners. However, childbirth in dogs raises many questions. Is it necessary to help your pet? Does the behavior of animals indicate that puppies will soon be born? What preparation is required for childbirth? How to help your four-legged friend and what to feed him after the birth of puppies? All dog owners should know the answers to these questions.
There is an opinion that an animal can give birth on its own and does not require assistance. Actually this is not true. The dog needs the care of its owner in the first days after the puppies are born. Help is definitely required for inexperienced four-legged pets whose upcoming birth will be their first. This is explained by the fact that young individuals may have strange behavior. They don't treat puppies very carefully.
Childbirth in dogs must take place under the supervision of their owners. This is especially true for animals of small and large breeds. For example, among the decorative breeds one can distinguish such a breed as the toy terrier. They are small, elegant and agile animals. Pregnancy and childbirth are often very difficult for them. This is why such dogs should not be left alone.
It is advisable that the owner look after his pet not only in the first minutes of delivery, but also after it for 1-2 weeks. During this period, the adult animal and its cubs need care. In addition, after giving birth, ornamental breeds may experience complications. The sooner the owner notices a bad condition and contacts a veterinarian, the higher the likelihood that the pet will not die.
Typical complications in decorative representatives after childbirth are eclampsia, metritis, mastitis, uterine prolapse, and bleeding. Sometimes diarrhea occurs. However, in most cases it is not a complication and goes away on its own within a couple of days.
As a rule, pregnancy in dogs of large and small breeds lasts for 59-63 days. Knowing the day of mating, you can easily calculate the expected date of onset of labor. You need to prepare for childbirth in advance. Puppies may be born earlier than expected. If you wish, 2-3 weeks before the joyful event, you can agree with the veterinarian about giving birth at home. A doctor is needed if a dog is whelping for the first time, and the owner himself does not know how to help his pet.
Preparing for childbirth is a serious process. How many items should the owner have on hand when labor begins? Before delivery begins, it is necessary to prepare the following “obstetric kit”:
The owner should also cut his nails short and disinfect his hands. It is recommended to change into clothes that you won’t mind throwing away. The day before the birth, you need to prepare the dog (wash the belly, genitals, trim the hair).
Before giving birth, owners must purchase the necessary medications in advance:
If the birth is attended by a veterinarian, he can use drugs such as oxytocin and traumatin. Let's look at these medications in more detail.
Oxytocin is a hormonal drug. It can be used during childbirth, if it is difficult and lasts a long time, or after it. Oxytocin is necessary for weak labor. The product, once in the dog’s body, increases tone and enhances contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus.
Oxytocin is administered intramuscularly. Only a veterinarian can administer the injection. Oxytocin should not be used without a doctor’s recommendation, because you need to know exactly how much of the drug to put into the syringe. Using the medicine without a doctor's permission can lead to uterine rupture. Because of this, the animal will die. Most often, the injection is given after the birth of the first puppy and before the birth of the last. Oxytocin should be used only after an ultrasound, because if the puppy is lying incorrectly, then the injection is prohibited.
Quite often, veterinarians during childbirth use not only oxytocin, but also traumatin. This medicine is quite new. Traumatin is used for various injuries and damage.
The drug has found application in childbirth. Firstly, traumatin relieves pain. Secondly, it accelerates the process of tissue regeneration. The animal recovers faster after giving birth. Thirdly, traumatin has an anti-inflammatory effect. The drug prevents the development of the septic process.
Travmatin is sold in bottles of 10 and 100 ml containing a colorless, transparent solution. Traumatin is intended for injection. The dosage is determined by the veterinarian based on the size of the animal. Traumatin can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously. If the animal is a large or medium breed, then a single dose of the drug can be 2-4 ml. For pets of small breeds (for example, toy terriers) and puppies, traumatin can be administered in a volume of 0.5 to 2 ml.
To facilitate childbirth, veterinarians administer the drug at the beginning of the birth process. If, despite the trauma, the dog feels pain and behaves accordingly, then the injection is repeated after about 2 hours. As a rule, traumatin does not lead to side effects. The drug has virtually no contraindications. The only case when Traumatin cannot be used is individual intolerance to its components.
Shortly before the start of delivery, the behavior of animals of different breeds changes noticeably. Signs of labor cannot go unnoticed. The first thing the owner sees is his pet wandering aimlessly around the house. A dog can climb into its “nest” and start digging there. Small pets hide in secluded, hard-to-reach places. Very often they fall asleep in the middle of the room, breathing heavily from time to time. Some follow their owner's heels, looking pitifully into their eyes.
There are physiological signs that indicate the approaching date of birth of puppies. For example, animals before giving birth take on an unusual appearance - the stomach “sinks” down a little. An important indicator is body temperature. How much is it normal? Before giving birth, the dog’s temperature remains at 38-39 degrees. About a day or a few hours before birth, it decreases. Body temperature at this moment can be 37-37.5 degrees.
Before giving birth, dogs begin to have thick discharge. This is how the mucus plug comes off. The discharge may be grayish or whitish.
The animal begins to feel chills, rapid breathing - the process has started. This stage is called preparatory, lasting from 2 to 24 hours. If the puppies have not been born after a day, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic. Delayed labor is a dangerous condition. In such cases, you cannot inject oxytocin on your own. A caesarean section may be required.
Childbirth in dogs begins with contractions (the main harbingers of impending birth). They represent contractions of the muscles of the uterus. In the future, they are joined by the following harbingers of labor: pushing (contractions of the abdominal muscles). Their frequency is gradually increasing. These signs indicate that the puppies have begun moving through the birth canal.
Puppies can be born with their heads (front legs and muzzle appear) or hind limbs. If the cub does not come out for a long time, then the owner should carefully pull it only during attempts (if there are none, then it is impossible to pull). In this case, a large surface of the amniotic sac should be covered.
After the puppy has completely left the birth canal, you need to help him take his first breath - remove the amniotic sac. The dog may begin to do this on its own. In this case, there is no need to disturb her.
The next step is cutting the umbilical cord. Dogs who give birth not for the first time snack on it themselves. Most often, help is needed for round-headed individuals (bulldogs, Pekingese), representatives of dwarf breeds (toy terrier), and individuals with bad teeth. Inexperienced animals need to be monitored especially closely. In most cases, such dogs carelessly handle their cubs when the amniotic membrane and umbilical cord are torn.
To separate the umbilical cord yourself, you must follow these steps:
After this, the umbilical cord breaks. It can also be cut with scissors. However, this often leads to bleeding. If blood is noticed, then you need to tie the umbilical cord with a silk thread soaked in alcohol (vodka).
After the birth of a puppy, an afterbirth (placenta) must be released. Sometimes it appears when the next cub comes out. The owner must count the number of afterbirths. There should be no less than the number of puppies. If the placenta or part of it remains in the birth canal, this will cause a complication such as inflammation of the uterus. This condition is life-threatening for an adult dog. If you suspect that the placenta has not come out, you should definitely contact a veterinarian who will conduct an examination. Oxytocin is often used in such cases.
The animal is weakened after delivery. Childbirth takes a lot of energy. The body of a four-legged friend needs rest and peace. Postpartum care plays a huge role.
You should not go on long walks with your pet. In the first weeks, the dog's maternal instinct is very pronounced. She will be very worried if she leaves her babies. 2-3 weeks after birth, the pet calms down. From now on you can walk with her longer.
After birth, pets may experience small amounts of bloody-mucous discharge for 2 weeks. This is completely normal. Warning should be caused by dark discharge with a greenish tint and an unpleasant odor, copious bloody discharge, and elevated body temperature. In such situations, the help of a doctor is required.
What should you feed your dog after giving birth? This question is very relevant. It is worth noting that after the end of the delivery process, the animal does not need to be fed food. The pet eats the afterbirth, which is rich in nutrients. The owner should not take them away, as they are completely harmless.
You can only remove part of the afterbirth. Veterinarians believe that their use can cause diarrhea after childbirth. In the first few days (2-3 days) it is considered absolutely normal. After this time, the diarrhea goes away on its own.
In the first 1-2 days the animal does not eat well. This scares some owners. They begin to feed their pets various treats. However, delicacies are prohibited. You cannot feed an animal such food. Adding new foods to your diet can cause diarrhea.
The only thing a dog needs after giving birth is clean water. 6-8 hours after delivery, the animal can be fed. Let your pet eat light food. It shouldn't be hard. It is recommended to feed little by little, but often (5-6 meals a day). Overeating can cause diarrhea. The veterinarian will advise how much to eat for a particular pet and what to feed it.
If a nursing pet has diarrhea, dairy products should be excluded from the diet. You can strengthen the stool by feeding your pet bones. However, it is not recommended to give them to postpartum dogs that have diarrhea. It is best to use bone meal.
If diarrhea does not stop after childbirth, then you need to contact a veterinarian for an examination. Diarrhea may not be caused by the afterbirth eaten, but by more serious problems. At home, in order for the diarrhea to stop, you can feed your pet rice or add rice water to its food.
Often the owners feed the dog after giving birth with cheap food. There is no need to do this. It is recommended to feed with products that are natural. When using cheap food, you must include mineral and vitamin supplements in your pet’s diet.
The owner must take into account that the animal should not be fed food that is too high in calories. Such foods often cause excess milk supply. There is a high probability of complications such as inflammation of the mammary glands.
Childbirth in dogs is a serious process that must be monitored by owners. If during or after them the pet exhibits strange symptoms (discharge, weakness, exhausted appearance, diarrhea, elevated body temperature, the animal is breathing heavily and eating poorly) and they do not go away, then you should immediately call a veterinarian. If these signs are not taken into account, then you can lose your pet forever.
Photos of childbirth in dogs My Caucasian Shepherd is about to give birth. Usually, the onset of labor is exactly two months after mating, and they were mated on October 21st.
It’s already December 18th, and my Lady is running around the territory, frolicking and jumping...! And this is good, it means she is healthy, calm, and even carefree. She probably understands that I am nearby and will always help her, because it’s not for nothing that she constantly looks into my eyes! I am also calm, this is not the first time Lady and I are giving birth, everything will happen in due time!
It's freezing outside, almost minus 30. I put more hay in the hut, and put a heater in the maternity room - just in case she starts giving birth without me. But I hope that I will not miss the onset of labor and that we will give birth at home. The house is warm and the puppies will grow well, gain weight, and I’ll be at peace, everything will be under control!
The belly has already dropped, which means we’ll be giving birth in 3-4 days!
I feel the belly: it’s big, but not as hard as a drum, that’s good, there’s room for the puppies to roam!
Lady has a good appetite, although she is picky and eats only what she likes. I feed canned puppy food and dry puppy food, in small portions, but often, I don’t want to overfeed, it will be easier to give birth.
It’s already 21.12, we’re waiting. She’s not giving birth, she’s still running around the street. Spinning around, jumping on me, looking into my eyes...
It's already 23.12! The appetite is good, it’s probably not time yet, although this is not an indicator, some of my bitches ate until the last day. The dog is in a good mood, meets me in the enclosure, easily gets out of the kennel, is light and active during walks, but no longer “flies”...! It became difficult to sit - half sitting, half lying.
I keep watch day and night, waiting for the birth to come? After all, it must often sit down, dig or scratch. In the enclosure all the hay is tousled, which means there are contractions.
On the night of December 24th she refused to eat. This means that the hour of childbirth is approaching! Until 6 in the morning she behaved restlessly, kept spinning around, clinging to me, sighing heavily and loudly, just “like a human being.” I have everything prepared in advance for the birth. Disposable diapers for puppies, sterile cloths - napkins, diapers - bedding, toilet paper for cleaning up after the dog, oxytocin, syringes, levomekol - ointment or Vaseline, sterile gloves, scissors, brilliant green, notebook, scales, etc. In addition, we also have a camera ready to take photo chronicles of the birth of a Caucasian Shepherd and then tell the owners of first-borns how the birth of a Caucasian Shepherd proceeds.
To enlarge photos, click on them.
Photo chronicle of the birth of a Caucasian Shepherd Dog Photo: “ Photo chronicle of the birth of a Caucasian Shepherd Dog ”.
At 8 am on December 24, labor began!
The lady spun around, began to scratch the floor, then lay down and began to push.
Wash your hands, preparedness #1.
I calm and encourage the dog - this is important, they feel everything, they just can’t speak!
I laid a diaper under my tail, made myself more comfortable and began to wait for the next push, holding my hand near the birth canal.
You can put a pillow or cushion under your knees, it’s more comfortable, your legs won’t get tired, because you’ll have to spend several hours on your knees!
When the bitch begins to push, I help her push, firmly holding her upper hind leg so that there is support, and with the other hand I hold the “fallopian tube”, waiting for the puppy to appear.
The bitch is pushing Photo: “ The bitch is pushing .”
As soon as the puppy appears in the passage, I very carefully move the tube under my arm while pushing, as if freeing the puppy and helping him out, but without speeding up the birth process itself.
The main thing is to help the bitch, and not rush her.
If there is no effort, do not perform any manipulations with your hand.
The girl was born quickly, in a couple of good attempts after she appeared at the exit.
Birth of puppies Photo: “ Birth of puppies ”.
She was in a bubble, which I had difficulty breaking several times, helping the Lady to quickly free her from the shell.
Treating a puppy after birth Photo: “ Treating a puppy after birth .”
I treat the puppy after birth.
I blot the puppy’s nose and mouth with a napkin, holding it upside down so that all the liquid comes out of the mouth.
Processing a puppy's umbilical cord Photo: “ Processing a puppy's umbilical cord .”
At the same time, I let Lady treat the umbilical cord and lick the puppy. It's like a joint process.
Now we need to start feeding the newborn puppy.
The lady treated the girl and took care of herself, and I quickly weighed the baby and placed it on the nipple. He doesn't want to take something.
Feeding a newborn puppy Photo: “ Feeding a newborn puppy .”
I ask the Lady to massage my daughter again, and she carefully licks the tummy, the back, and does not forget to lick the muzzle, I feel that the puppy is becoming elastic and mobile. I put it on the nipple and it doesn’t take it!
The baby won’t understand what to do, I help her open her mouth and everything is fine - we suck, that means we live!
It is very important to immediately put the baby to the nipples, the first milk - colostrum - is the most valuable for the puppy, the basis of health and strong immunity, and it is also important for the puppies to immediately be close to their mother, they should feel their mother’s warmth and protection.
Description of the born puppies Photo: “ Description of the born puppies ”.
While I have time, I write down the weight, time, gender, color and color features.
The girl is simply beautiful - dark gray, almost black with white paws, as if she were wearing white socks, that’s what I’m writing down.
PC (forelimbs) are straight toes, and CC (hind limbs) are tiny fingers, the chest is an even white triangle.
I write all this down in a notebook, then this description of the born puppies will be useful and will help in the selection of puppies; it will be easy to trace their growth and development.
An hour later, Lady became worried, she stretched out a little in a lying position, it was clear that she was pushing.
Birth of a Caucasian Shepherd puppy Photo: “ Birth of a Caucasian Shepherd puppy ”.
I have absorbent diapers ready under the tail so that all the secretions are immediately absorbed and do not leak under the dog.
After all, she is fluffy, with rich pants and a tail. Some owners trim the long hair under the tail and around the loop, but I never do this in winter.
Photo of the birth of a puppy Photo: “ Photo of the birth of a puppy ”.
The second puppy is born well, in a shell. The larger male immediately took the nipple and wriggled in his hands like a “wire”!
I love these puppies - lively, active! I lost my mother’s tit and found it right away - well done!
Birth of a Caucasian puppy Photo: “ Birth of a Caucasian puppy .”
In 25 minutes we are getting ready to give birth again, I didn’t even have time to drink tea, well, nothing, but I managed to give Lady milk and warm water, she drank it with pleasure (my other bitches like: tea with milk and sugar or coffee with milk - everything is individual), it gives the bitch strength!
Help during the birth of a dog Photo: “ Assistance during the birth of a dog .”
24-48 hours before the dog gives birth, its body temperature will drop to 37? C and even lower (the normal body temperature of a female is 38.5? C).
Very often, before giving birth, the bitch takes a characteristic pose - she lies stretched out, her head is on the floor between her front paws, the dog has a very sad look.
An accurate sign of the onset of contractions is increasing anxiety in the dog’s .
The bitch often turns around and licks herself under her tail in the loop area.
On the day of birth, dogs usually refuse to eat.
Many bitches look sick before giving birth.
At the very beginning of labor, the loop becomes swollen and soft. At this time, you may notice a mucous, colorless discharge.
And finally, the dog begins to strain and push. These are real contractions. During this period and beyond, the bitch should not be left unattended.
Real contractions can be seen by the dog's rapid breathing. In between contractions, the bitch usually digs the litter.
Periodic contractions and pushing can last from 1 to 3 hours. At this time, the cervix gradually opens, and the birth canal is prepared for the birth of puppies. If pushing and contractions last more than 3 hours without results, you just need to call a veterinarian for the birth.
Next, you can see it is the water (and not the fetal) bladder that the bitch ruptures, or it ruptures itself. It should be noted that the puppy is born in a double bladder: water and fetal.
Then, finally, the first puppy appears. More often than not, puppies emerge from the birth canal head first. First, the puppy's face appears, with the front paws folded under the chin.
After the puppy is born, you need to rupture the membranes, starting from the head area, then wipe the puppy.
The puppy can be born immediately with a placenta, which is attached to it by the umbilical cord. When the puppy is born, but the placenta is still in the birth canal, you can gently pull it tightly, holding the umbilical cord with your fingers.
It is necessary to cut, or better yet, break the umbilical cord by squeezing it tightly with your fingers. The length of the umbilical cord in puppies should be approximately 4 cm.
Now you can thoroughly rub the puppy with a cotton towel. This is a massage for the baby and stimulates breathing.
You need to write down the gender, time of birth of the puppy , and its weight (weigh it on a household scale with an accuracy of 20 g). The special characteristics of the puppy are also recorded; if the puppies are of the same color, they are marked (most often these are oilcloth tags on woolen laces).
If necessary, change the bedding under the bitch. If labor lasts a long time, you can take the bitch out to relieve herself.
All my dogs were wonderful “mothers”, and it was hard for me to take them out for walks – I had to literally drag them out by a short leash. The dog was afraid to leave the “children.” We had to take extreme measures - show one of the puppies to the bitch, put it in her bosom and go outside.
During the process of giving birth to a dog, you need to count not only the puppies, but also the placenta to see if they have all come out.
The main task of the puppy in the first days of life is sucking - we put it on the nipples. The intensity of sucking indicates the puppy's vitality. Sucking stimulates further labor in the dog.
The dog has a natural instinct to eat the placenta. On the one hand, afterbirths have some nutritional value - after all, in nature, the first days after birth, dogs do not leave the nest, on the other hand, afterbirths contain the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates labor. Personally, I let the dog eat two placentas and amniotic fluid. If a bitch eats more than 4 placenta, she experiences black profuse diarrhea (in nature, canines rarely have more than 4 puppies in one litter).
If there are concerns that not all cheeks have been born , or there is retention of the placenta, it is better to call a veterinarian .
• Severe contractions for more than two hours without visible results.
• Weak labor.
• Convulsive phenomena in the dog or even loss of consciousness.
There are cases when it is known in advance that a dog cannot do without calling a veterinarian. Unfortunately, some dog breeds have a very difficult time giving birth, or are completely unable to give birth on their own. These are large-headed breeds, such as the English bulldog. Most breeders of these dogs perform a planned caesarean section on the dog. Cesarean section for an English Bulldog allows you to save the life of the puppies. There is also a high probability of complications during childbirth in small breed dogs, especially when it comes to the birth of dwarf dogs weighing less than 2 kg. A dog of any breed is unlikely to give birth easily and safely if it has ever had to have a caesarean section. Childbirth in such dogs is quite difficult; they often have to undergo another caesarean section again.
If you suspect that your dog may have problems during the birthing process, it is better to arrange with your veterinarian to carry out the birth in advance.
Call a veterinarian obstetrician-gynecologist for childbirth (499) 408-35-44.
Arthrosis is a chronic disease that is practically untreatable. At an early stage, there is a chance to stop and even reverse degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joints, but deforming osteoarthritis is usually diagnosed only at stages 2–3. The most advanced methods of treating arthrosis, such as stem cell therapy, are still being tested and have not been introduced into widespread practice. So today, arthrosis is considered to be an incurable disease that occurs with alternating periods of remission and exacerbation. It is important to know how to live with arthrosis so that remission lasts longer and exacerbations occur less frequently, in order to minimize the inconvenience associated with the disease.
Osteoarthritis and arthritis are the most common diseases of the joints, but arthritis is characterized by a pronounced inflammatory process, and with arthrosis, degenerative-dystrophic processes occur in the joints. In most cases, osteoarthritis is a sluggish disease; 10 or more years pass from the appearance of the first symptoms to pronounced changes. Sometimes the disease progresses rapidly, with frequent exacerbations. The rate of progression depends on the causes that caused the disease, the age and general health of the patient. During arthrosis, there are 2 phases: remission and exacerbation.
Remission for arthrosis is a period when symptoms completely disappear or their severity significantly weakens. The patient does not feel pain and does not complain of increased fatigue. The range of motion in the joint is close to normal, morning stiffness is short-lived, not exceeding 10–15 minutes. During the remission stage there are no signs of inflammation. Excessive stress, injury, hypothermia, poor nutrition and other adverse effects can provoke an exacerbation of arthrosis. Acute osteoarthritis develops even in the absence of adequate treatment. Signs of exacerbation:
The treatment regimen for the remission and exacerbation stages differs. In case of exacerbation, it is aimed at relieving pain and stopping the inflammatory process. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or even intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids are prescribed. Massage and manual therapy are contraindicated at this stage. Of the physiotherapeutic methods, cryotherapy (cold exposure) and cold laser are preferable; thermal procedures should be avoided. Physical therapy classes for acute arthrosis are not started, and if the patient is already performing the complex, the load on the joint must be minimized and limited to muscle tension-relaxation exercises. During the period of remission, maintenance treatment is carried out, the main role is given to non-drug therapy, among medications - chondroprotectors.
Why is arthrosis dangerous? Although the disease is incurable, it is not fatal, but the quality of life of patients is significantly reduced. Damage to large supporting joints often leads to impaired motor function and loss of ability to work. Among diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the most common causes of disability include gonarthrosis and arthrosis of the hip joint of the 3rd degree. If gonarthrosis, bilateral coxarthrosis, or joints of different groups are involved in the process (polyarthrosis, generalized arthrosis), disability can be assigned already at stage 2.
Advanced deforming osteoarthritis can turn into ankylosis when, instead of an elastic cartilaginous layer between the bones, an adhesion of fibrous or bone tissue is formed. As a result, the motor function of the joint is completely lost, but if ankylosis of the large joints of the leg is formed in a functionally advantageous position, it can perform a supporting function.
Typical consequences of grade 3 arthrosis are constant pain, limited mobility up to complete ankylosis, joint deformation, curvature of the limb axis, and shortening of the limb. Other complications of osteoarthritis are possible:
The most important mistake is that patients diagnose themselves, prescribe and carry out treatment, without having the necessary knowledge and qualifications. Even a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis only after conducting a series of examinations: x-rays, tests. And people who are far from medicine, who rely only on their own sensations, often confuse arthrosis and salt deposition, and mistake manifestations of arthrosis for symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory diseases, or the consequences of injury. After such self-diagnosis, self-medication begins with methods that can only do harm in case of arthrosis. Here are the most common mistakes.
If something wrong happens to your joints: they hurt, crackle, swell, movements are difficult, you need to consult a doctor. Only he can determine what the cause of the problem is: arthrosis, arthritis or another disease. It happens that a doctor diagnoses arthrosis and declares that this disease cannot be treated, you need to wait until the joint is destroyed in order to replace it with an endoprosthesis, but in the meantime you can drink anti-inflammatory drugs, anoint the joints with gel or ointment. In this case, you need to look for another doctor. Yes, it is almost impossible to completely cure arthrosis, but this does not mean that it does not need to be treated. And treatment is not limited to relieving symptoms with NSAIDs and ointments. A qualified specialist will recommend:
It is best if a physical therapy specialist individually selects a set of exercises and teaches them how to perform them, and a nutritionist develops recommendations regarding nutrition. Drug treatment for arthrosis is expensive. Chondroprotectors, if they are medications and not dietary supplements, are not cheap, and you need to take them from a month to six months. Injections of hyaluronic acid give a good effect; in order to achieve long-term remission, you need to do courses of 3-5 injections 1-2 times a year. But the most expensive treatment will not be effective if the patient does not take care of his health. And for this you need, as already mentioned, to regularly engage in therapeutic exercises, as well as change your lifestyle.
Doctors do not always mention this, but a positive attitude is extremely important for the successful treatment of arthrosis. However, this applies to any disease. You need to find pleasant moments in life, protect yourself from negative emotions, stress, rest well, get enough sleep, and not bring yourself to exhaustion. This approach to the treatment of arthrosis has a completely scientific basis: under stress, hormones are produced that trigger a chain of biochemical processes, which results in the destruction of cartilage tissue and inflammatory processes in the joints. In addition, nervous tension often leads to painful muscle tension, and with arthrosis they are already overstrained and often spasm.
It is possible that the joint needs to be unloaded or stabilized. To do this, you will need to wear orthoses, knee pads and other orthopedic products, and use a cane when walking. The joints of the feet have two enemies: excess weight and uncomfortable shoes. Yes, other joints suffer from these factors, although to a lesser extent. If your weight is normal, it needs to be monitored to prevent weight gain. If you have extra pounds, you need to lose them, because they put stress on your joints. Just lose weight without fanaticism, gradually, without exhausting yourself with hunger and physical activity to the point of exhaustion.
To control your weight, you should get two items: a floor scale and a food diary. Weigh yourself daily, at the same time, and write down all snacks and drinks in your diary. This way the connection between diet and weight fluctuations will become clear.
High heels are a common cause of foot deformities, ankle injuries with subsequent development of arthrosis. Because of uncomfortable shoes, not only the small joints of the foot and ankle suffer, but also the knee, hip joints, and spine. If shoes are tight, blood circulation is impaired, and this is one of the causes of arthrosis. To prevent arthrosis, you need to constantly wear comfortable shoes, and dress shoes only on special occasions. If arthrosis has already developed, you should wear only low-toe shoes, comfortable, stable, with non-slip soles with good shock-absorbing characteristics and a slight instep. It should be neither tight nor too loose. For serious foot deformities, it is necessary to select orthopedic shoes or at least use arch supports.
When flat feet develop, in which arthrosis quite often occurs, a person develops outgrowths in the area of the big toe that resemble “bumps,” “pebbles,” or “bones.” Such changes accompany transverse flatfoot with valgus deformity of the 1st toe.
Type of foot with a combination of flat feet and arthrosis
The combination of a flat foot with arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints indicates advanced pathology (flattening of the arch of the 2nd, 3rd degree). In such a situation, during a general examination of the body, doctors often discover pathologies of the hormonal system, changes in metabolism and other diseases that cannot be cured within a month or even a year. No doctor can guarantee a complete cure for this pathology.
Combination of knee arthrosis with flat feet in a woman
Indeed, the female sex is more susceptible to pathology, but not due to the anatomical features of the structure of the reproductive system, but rather due to the “striving for beauty.” Ladies prefer high-heeled shoes; they are often overweight. Against this background, the prerequisites are created for the flattening of the foot, since the muscular-ligamentous system of the foot cannot cope with the loads placed on it.
By the way, the habit of sitting with one leg folded higher than the other is not healthy. It leads to impaired blood supply in the lower extremities, so over time, women develop not only flat feet, but also varicose veins of the legs.
If ladies want to be healthy, they should study the principles of proper selection of shoes, but it is better to walk barefoot more often on uneven surfaces (pebbles, sand, small stones).
To prevent flat feet, it is recommended to select shoes of the right size with good shock absorption, a hard heel, and elastic soles. The heel size should not be more than 4 cm.
Increased load on the knee with a flat foot led to arthrosis
Arthrosis with flat feet is detected at the 2nd or 3rd degree of the disease. Nevertheless, scientists are still deciding what is primary in this combined pathology: damage to the joints or flattening of the arch.
Osteoarthritis of the legs is a dystrophic-degenerative condition that occurs due to impaired blood supply, metabolism, and also due to excessive load on the foot. The causes of flat feet are similar, so we should only talk about provoking factors, such as:
Flat feet of the 2nd degree are accompanied by flattening of the arch, in which the middle part of the sole rests on the surface of more than 2/3 of the entire width. At this stage of the disease, arthrosis of the 2nd or 3rd degree is more common, which is characterized by impaired flexion, as well as pain when walking.
Flat foot of the 3rd degree is accompanied by arthrosis of the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the 3rd or 4th stage. In this case, simultaneously with the almost complete flattening of the arch, flexion in the joints of the toes is impaired. Any attempt to make a movement leads to acute pain in the foot. The only way out of the situation is to wear orthopedic insoles and constantly take anti-inflammatory and painkillers.
Osteoarthritis of the joints has 4 degrees of severity. In the 1st degree, changes do not cause serious problems for a person and are revealed only on an x-ray by an expansion of the joint space.
Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree is accompanied by a moderate narrowing of the height of the joint space, in which pain and bone growths around the circumference of the affected joint are already observed.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the 3rd stage is an almost complete narrowing of the joint gap with the articular ends of the bones touching each other, which creates severe pain. There is no ability to move the foot.
Warning #2 : My tips may help:
a) for those who have 1-2 or 2nd degree of arthrosis, if higher, only some advice is relevant, and it is better to consult a doctor;
b) those who do not have arthrosis, and want it not to exist, or for it to appear as late as possible, i.e. for prevention (of course, with the exception of drug treatment, why would healthy people need it?).
If you’ve been sitting, you need to get up and “Oh! We must leave,” then these are the first signs of osteoarthritis. At this stage (this is our mentality), most people do not go to the doctor. They think that this is “age-related” (this is at 40 years old!) and wait until the 3rd degree, or even the 4th, occurs, when surgical intervention is needed, which, by the way, is very expensive, because This is the replacement of a joint with an artificial one. If you are unlucky with a doctor (and I was unlucky), he will say that it is “age-related”, and you may not hear the word “arthrosis” from him.
What an “age” when both my grandmothers lived to be 87 years old, and at the time of my first visit to an orthopedic doctor I was not 50!
To the question: “How can this be stopped?” the doctor replied that arthrosis can neither be cured nor stopped, it can only be slowed down. And to relieve the exacerbation, he advised me to take some diclofenac, and go to a physiotherapist, maybe he’ll prescribe something.
The useful thing I learned from him is that gel is always better than ointment, because... It penetrates the skin better, you don’t have to rub it hard.
I was upset for exactly one day. Then I sat down at the computer and began to study the issue.
And proceeded to point 1. Positive attitude . I decided that since it cannot be stopped, I will slow down the destruction as much as possible, for example, if the deterioration is 0.5% per year, then in 30 years it will be 15%, and if you slow it down even more, the result is clear. And in general, I am an active person, I lead a healthy lifestyle (without fanaticism), and most importantly, I started treatment on time, why shouldn’t arthrosis slow down?
I bought 10 kg of sea salt (regular, without flavorings and dyes) at the pharmacy and started taking general baths at home, 1 kg per bath. As prescribed by the physiotherapist, I began going to exercise therapy, laser, alternating every other day with magnetotherapy, and to some other procedure, unfortunately, I don’t remember. They recommended paraffin or ozokerite for the knee, but I can’t do it because of varicose veins on this leg. At night I tied a cabbage leaf or a compress with bischofite to my knee.
Point 3. Drink more water. It is better to drink filtered water, spring water, well water, artesian water, but not bottled water. You can also use it from the tap, if it is of high quality and not chlorinated. Our city drinks tap water not from the Desna or Dnieper, but from wells, it is not chlorinated, but fluoridated, there is no smell, contamination can only be due to old pipes. I drink mostly filtered and well water. Since this cannot be called my habit from a young age, I drink less than the recommended 1.5 liters (this is only water, without tea, juice, coffee, etc.), but the progress is that I still drink.
Point 2. Motor activity. Sitting or standing for a long time without moving is death for the joints. At the computer, driving, doing handicrafts, etc. You definitely need to take breaks, get up, move, warm up. How many times have you heard, “Yes, I drove 900 km in one breath, I stopped at a gas station once.”
This is terrible, I can’t find another word. People are ruining themselves. Moreover, they try to drink less so that they don’t want to go to the toilet, which harms not only joints, but also blood vessels (the result is varicose veins, thrombosis, hemorrhoids, etc.) and kidneys (urolithiasis).
In the turbulent 90s, I know of cases in our city when, after a “shuttle” trip by bus to Poland or Romania, after 1-2 weeks a person died instantly from thromboembolism (separation of a blood clot).
Many travelers know Vinsky’s forum, find Vinsky himself (website or blog), read his experience in treating thrombosis, and you will understand that prolonged sitting and its results are no joke.
Switch to a healthy diet, of course, gradually. I can’t imagine how to switch to it in a week or even a month (with the exception of serious operations, they switch over there in a day, because “do you want something? - Musish.”) My family switched to it gradually, over the years, and now, when I’m visiting, it makes me sad to look at all this abundance of fatty, fried, smoked foods. But we do not have excessive fanaticism in this matter. We also eat fried food, but not very often, smoked food even less often.
I just want to remind you what products you can do without , and we successfully do:
Margarine, chips, etc. products not of the food industry, but of the chemical industry, sweet carbonated drinks, “product” - cheese, sour cream, etc. surrogate, semi-finished products with a long shelf life, condensed milk, which does not contain milk, hot peppers (capsicum), yoghurts from the supermarket (we make it ourselves in a yoghurt maker using sourdough), ice cream, factory-made chicken (a modern young city dweller may not even imagine... that the chicken is cooked for at least one and a half hours, and that home-made chicken and factory-made chicken are different representatives of the fauna), crab sticks, sausage, pates from the supermarket, etc.
And I want to remind you about some healthy and tasty products , undeservedly forgotten by many. Of course, you need to know how to cook them:
Pumpkin, beets, beans, various porridges, rose hips, viburnum (fruit juice, jelly), sauerkraut, dried fruit compote, cottage cheese.
A multicooker helps us in the kitchen - three types of cottage cheese casseroles, boiled pork, “grilled vegetables” and much more I cook in it.
Points 7, 8. And so everything is clear.
I haven’t climbed as steep as this year’s Plate Desert in 23 years of mountain hiking. There is another 300m of height above me, and I will go up there, and the details are here.