Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons that causes lameness in dogs. The most common tendons affected are the biceps tendon (front leg) and the supraspinatus tendon (shoulder). It can be difficult to diagnose, but there are several treatment options.
Risk Factors
Medium to large breed dogs, especially those who are very active (i.e., agility dogs, racing dogs and working dogs) are at highest risk for tendonitis.
Causes
Tendonitis can be acute (caused by an injury) or chronic (caused by repeated, high impact activity, especially running and jumping).
Signs
Most dogs with tendonitis will present with front leg lameness. It can be constant or intermittant. The leg will be painful and the dog will have limited range of motion. Signs will worsen after exercise.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis by radiography can be difficult because tendonitis is a soft tissue injury. Other diagnostic tests like ultrasound, arthroscopy and MRI can be more useful.
Treatment Options
Treatment for tendonitis might depend on the severity. Medical management including rest for several weeks, cold and heat therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs may be enough for a minor case. Some therapies used for cases that don't respond well to simple medical management include laser therapy, ultrasound, cross fiber massage, magnetic therapy and acupuncture.
References
Photo Credits
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funny dog puppy playing with toy in mouth running image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
Writer Bio
Lori Gordon has been writing since 1988. She has been published in "Cobblestone," "Calliope," "Faces," "Young Generation" and "I Love Cats." Gordon is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Writers Fellowship International. She has an Associate in Applied Science in veterinary technology from State University of New York, Delhi and is a licensed veterinary technician in New York State.
