Bursitis in Dogs | What helps?

Bursitis in dogs. If your dog suddenly develops bumps on the outside of the joints, they are probably thickened bursae. It doesn't look nice, but more importantly, it's very painful for your dog, because they develop in a condition called bursitis, or inflammation of the bursa.

We will explain the causes and what treatment options are available. In addition, we want to show you many possibilities of how you can support your dog and promote healing. 

Where to find the dog's bursae?

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs. They are found in areas of the musculoskeletal system where mechanical stress is very high. For example, in places where muscles or tendons slide over bones or where pressure is exerted on protruding bones from the outside. They serve as buffers by absorbing the pressure and reducing friction. 

Some joints are affected more often than others because they are more heavily used or have particularly prominent bony prominences.

Commonly affected joints:

• knee

• elbow

• ankle joint

What causes bursitis in dogs?

Normally the bursae are not visible, as they are filled with only a small amount of fluid. Under heavy strain, they can enlarge and become inflamed, which is visible as a thick bump on the outside of the joint. This can happen as a result of a fall, overuse or lying on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Large and overweight dogs are particularly affected, as there is more weight on the joints than in smaller and slimmer specimens. 

Less common causes are bacterial infections that spread to the joints from other organs, or autoimmune diseases where the immune system attacks its own body. If the trigger cannot be found, it is called idiopathic bursitis.

Symptoms

The main symptom is swelling of the affected bursae due to increased filling with fluid. They become visible as thick bumps on the ankle or elbow. But there are other symptoms as well. Because the inflammation is very painful, your dog will rest the affected leg and limp. He may also lick the area intensively and appear aggressive or irritable, and his appetite may be reduced. Rarely, the bursa opens up and the fluid comes out spreading under the skin. 

Healing can be protracted. Acute inflammation of the bursa usually heals after 3 to 8 weeks. Sometimes, however, the bursitis recurs or it becomes chronic and does not disappear at all. Often the swelling decreases slightly and the skin thickens over the affected area. The pain and lameness usually remain.

What helps for bursitis in dogs?

Bursitis should always be presented to a vet as soon as possible. Don't hesitate if your dog has a painful bump on one or more joints. At the vet's practice, your dog will be examined thoroughly and some fluid may be extracted from the swollen bursa for analysis of the cause.

Your dog should be given pain relief medication. If the pain persists, it will lead to strain and joint damage in the long run, and the dog's appetite will be reduced. Effective painkillers are mainly so-called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which also have an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, it is important to treat the cause. In the case of a bacterial infection, the use of antibiotics is necessary; in the case of an autoimmune disease, the immune system must be inhibited.

Besides giving medication, there are many other home remedies and ways to promote healing that you can use. Try different things and observe what works and what your dog accepts. 

Rest and comfort

Your dog should rest and sleep a lot, especially at the beginning of the condition, so extensive walks will have to wait for now. Pad the dog bed and other favourite resting places softly to ensure that as little pressure as possible is exerted on the affected areas. Lots of cuddling is a must!

Cooling compresses

Apply a cooling leg wrap with curd or cool packs when the inflammation is still fresh. It can reduce the pain and swelling. A ginger compress can also help. Grate about 3 to 4 tablespoons of fresh ginger, put it in a paper tea filter and leave it in boiled water for half a minute. After it has cooled, apply it to the bump several times a day.

Massage

You can also massage the inflamed bursa gently if it is not infected. Make gentle, circular movements. Then put a warm towel on the area.

Turmeric

An anti-inflammatory home remedy is turmeric root. You can mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of pepper with some curd or simply add both to the food. The pepper improves the absorption. But be careful! The root colours very intensively. Wipe your dog's muzzle after the meal so that he doesn't leave any orange stains in the flat. There are also turmeric capsules for dogs, which you can make palatable with some soft sausage.

Weight reduction

If your dog is overweight, you should put him on a reducing diet at the latest. This relieves the joints and prevents secondary diseases such as cardiac insufficiency, fatty liver and arthrosis. It is important to lose weight slowly so as not to stress the metabolism and to achieve long-term results. To do this, you should calculate your dog's energy requirements and how much he is consuming with his current food. Then you should reduce the ration accordingly or use less energy-rich food. 

Bandages

Bandages serve to protect and cushion the bursa from the outside. They are available for all joints of the legs and in different sizes. They can be used over and over again for susceptible dogs.

Homeopathy

Some owners swear by homeopathic remedies such as Traumeel. We recommend using globules and the like only as a supplement to pain therapy.

Medicinal leeches

Some vets and veterinary practitioners offer this therapy. The black parasites are attached to the bursa and suck themselves in. They release substances that have a decongestant, anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effect.

Surgery

As a last resort, a chronically inflamed or outwardly ruptured bursa can be surgically removed. This option should only be chosen if medication does not work and all other treatment options have been exhausted. Since the skin over the joints is thin, poorly supplied with blood and exposed to a lot of movement, healing can be protracted. As a result, chronic, poorly healing wounds sometimes develop as a complication.

Conclusion 

Bursitis is relatively common in larger or overweight dogs. It should always be examined by a veterinarian and treated with medication. There are also many home remedies that you can use to help heal it.

As a preventive measure, it is important not to overstrain your dog and to protect it from falls. His main resting place should be softly padded to prevent too much pressure on the bony prominences of the knees, elbows and ankles.

The confidu magazine is written by our veterinarians according to current scientific standards. The articles do not replace a veterinary diagnosis, but are intended to provide you with initial information on many topics related to your animal. If you have specific questions about your pet, our vets will be happy to advise you via the confidu app.