Unlocking the Secrets of Pet Bones and Joints: An Interview with Dr. Tang, DVM. Burapong Suteerat, Taling Chan Animal Hospital. Are any dog owners worried about their pets' limping, difficulty standing, or hind leg problems? We believe many of you are searching for information on how to care for canine hip dysplasia or how to protect your beloved pets' joints for a long time. Today, Dr. Tang, a specialist in orthopedics at Taling Chan Animal Hospital, has compiled all the most frequently asked questions from pet owners about the environmental factors affecting their pets' joints and bones, and will explain them clearly in this article! Unlocking Misconceptions: Bone and joint problems are caused by DNA, not just the environment. The first thing Dr. Tang quickly clarifies is that patellar luxation or hip dysplasia in pets is caused by congenital structural abnormalities inherited through their DNA. External factors do not initially cause the disease. Therefore, finding ways to slow down hip dysplasia in dogs... It's important to understand that we can't prevent body structure from changing, but we can manage the environment to prevent the condition from worsening too quickly. Here are four factors affecting your pet's joints and bones, summarized by Dr. Tang: 1. Slippery floors: A catalyst for hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. Dr. Tang explains that slippery floors don't cause patellar luxation directly, but the abnormal body structure makes it difficult for them to stand on a slippery surface. Hip dysplasia occurs when the ribcage can't adequately support the hip joint, and slippery floors accelerate this process. When your dog walks or stands up, their hips have to bear weight. On a slippery floor, they have to constantly adjust their balance and push their hips back for stability, leading to hip dysplasia. Changing to slippery floors can help, but from a veterinarian's perspective, we can't definitively say how much it will slow the progression, as the primary problem stems from the abnormal body structure. 2. Going up and down stairs: This doesn't necessarily cause joint degeneration. However, it's a great tool for checking symptoms. Many people are misinformed that dogs should never climb stairs because it can cause joint degeneration. But from Dr. Tang's perspective, he doesn't believe in this at all. In fact, he wants dogs to walk because climbing stairs allows us to clearly see any abnormalities in the dog. If a dog feels unwell or starts experiencing joint pain, they won't want to climb stairs, or they'll hesitate, wondering whether to go up or not, or they might stop abruptly if they stop – if they stop, they'll fall. These are indicators that their hind legs are not strong enough. Regarding the dangers of stairs, Dr. Tang states that the only danger is "falling down the stairs." He believes other factors that could worsen joint degeneration from climbing stairs are unrelated. 3. Overweight… A result of pain (which gives the owner a six-pack instead of the dog). Dr. Tang offers a very interesting perspective: excessive weight isn't the cause of hip dysplasia or patellar luxation in dogs. The weight gain is due to the dog's joint pain, preventing them from walking and thus hindering their ability to engage in sufficient activity or exercise. Therefore, when many owners think they need to reduce the dog's weight to improve symptoms, Dr. Tang suggests considering how to build muscle while the dog is in pain. Because when the dog walks, it hurts. How can we force them to walk? Some owners take their dogs swimming instead, but swimming only once a week is very difficult to achieve effective weight loss in dogs. For effective weight loss, they should swim daily. At this point, the veterinarian confirms that while weight loss is beneficial, it's very difficult to implement in practice. 4. Age, Nutrition, and the Truth about Joint Supplements: As dogs age, natural joint degeneration may occur, though this doesn't happen to all dogs. The veterinarian explains that if their body structure was normal to begin with, the chances of joint degeneration occurring as they age are very low.

Why do dogs that used to potty in the right place suddenly start urinating everywhere? This is a problem many owners face. Inappropriate urination is more than just a "bad habit"; it's a clear warning sign that something "wrong" is happening to your dog. This could be physical pain they can't express or accumulated stress. But don't panic, because everything can be fixed. First, let's explore the root causes of this behavior so you can address the problem effectively. Health Causes: If your dog, who has always been a potty trainer, suddenly changes their behavior… don't scold or punish them! This might not be just playful behavior, but a physical signal that they're unwell. The first thing owners should suspect are these health problems: Urinary tract diseases: These include cystitis or kidney stones, which can cause pain during urination or incontinence. Serious internal diseases: Frequent urination or incontinence could be due to kidney disease (kidney failure) or diabetes, which directly affects the body's fluid balance. Age-related degeneration: Such as urinary incontinence or physical pain, especially in older dogs with hip dysplasia. Walking a long distance to the bathroom is agonizing for them, so they need to choose the closest and easiest spot to urinate instead. 🚩 Important Note: If inappropriate urination is accompanied by other symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, or urine with an unusual color and smell, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately for a checkup before the condition worsens. Behavioral and Emotional Causes: Even if your veterinarian confirms your dog is healthy, if they still exhibit inappropriate urination behavior, the cause may be: Territorial marking; Incomplete potty training: This may be due to inconsistent training by the owner, or the dog not yet understanding where to urinate, especially in puppies or dogs that have recently moved to a new home; Stress and anxiety: This is a major cause that many people overlook, and they don't know that dogs can express stress through their urination and defecation; Separation anxiety: They will urinate (or defecate) inappropriately only when the owner is not home; Changes in environment: Such as moving house, rearranging furniture, the arrival of a new family member (person or animal), or the presence of other animals outside the home; Fear: Fear of loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, or construction noises. Urinating to show submission: Dogs may urinate when they feel threatened, scolded, or even extremely excited to see their owner. This is often seen in puppies who are still insecure. Owners need to know how to solve this problem because changing a dog's behavior isn't something that can be done in a day. It requires a great deal of love, patience, and understanding. Don't give up... let's start adjusting it step by step together. Never punish: Scolding is one of the methods to avoid this behavior.