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Research Severity of Mobility Issues in Large Dogs
Hello! Thanks for your question about the severity of mobility issues in large breed dogs. The short version is that degenerative joint disease is associated with loss of mobility and a common reason to choose euthanasia in large breed dogs. Below you will find a deep dive of my findings.
METHODOLOGY
While researching, I found good quality information regarding osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease, secondary to age or other processes, as a major player in loss of mobility. However, I could not find specific data on mobility relating to euthanasia. Nor could I find euthanasia numbers outside of animal shelter data. However, a large retrospective study exploring cause of death addresses the question, though admittedly it is not clear which animals were euthanized and which may have died spontaneously. Additionally, I use the figures in this article to calculate the approximate number of dogs that died from musculoskeletal causes because the exact numbers for individual causes are not given.
DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE & MOBILITY
Dogs that weigh 55 lbs. or more as a fully grown adult are generally considered large breed dogs. They tend to suffer from severe degenerative joint disease (DJD) whereas smaller breed dogs tend to suffer from milder signs. Degenerative joint disease is a complex condition that is not fully understood, but is "often the result of specific developmental orthopedic diseases, particularly in the hip and elbow joints." The effects of DJD can range from subtle to severe lameness. Owners of dogs with DJD most often report changes in mobility including being able to perform activities of daily living, activity level, and playfulness.
Another small study of large breed dogs with musculoskeletal disability shows that owners commonly report issues of mobility including difficulty with: long walks, slippery floors, jumping up into and out of the car or on furniture, apparent discomfort while defecating, and playing with other dogs and toys. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has guidelines for senior animal care which includes a recommendation for client education in maintaining mobility. They also list osteoarthritis (also referred to as DJD elsewhere) as the only "particularly important" orthopedic disease in senior animals.
Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little, an associate professor of orthopedics at North Carolina State's College of Veterinary Medicine, says recent studies have been focusing on the relationship between osteoarthritis and mobility. He goes on to say "lack of mobility, particularly in large breed dogs, is a common reason for euthanasia." Compared to small breed dogs, loss of mobility has a more significant effect on the owner and therefore often results in euthanasia.
COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH
In adult large breed dogs, the most common organ system contributing to death is the musculoskeletal system. In this study, there are a total of 64,697 adult dogs of which 12,374 individuals are unclassified for organ system leaving 52,323 animals with approximately 5,755 (11%) having a cause of death attributable to the musculoskeletal system. Over the course of 20 years (records were retrieved from 1984-2004), that would be approximately 288 dogs per year. Considering mortality by organ system, the most common causes in large breed dogs are musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematopoeitic (which includes spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow), respiratory, neurologic, urogenital, hepatic (liver), endocrine, and dermatologic. If organizing by process, the common causes of death are neoplasia, trauma, metabolic, degenerative, and infectious with vascular, toxic, and congenital causes being quite low in frequency.
MOBILITY & EUTHANASIA
According to the the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), larger breed dogs are considered geriatric at 6 years of age (versus 7 years smaller dogs) because their life span tends to be shorter in general. Further, as mentioned previously, large dogs are vulnerable to arthritis and other joint diseases which may compromise their mobility and ability to participate in daily life. A veterinary hospice and in-home euthanasia service called Lap of Love also cites loss of mobility as a major issue for aging pets and dedicates a page to recommendations for environmental and other changes to improve quality of life. Often, owners are unsure of how to tell when it is time to euthanize an aging pet, so a quality of life scale is provided through the AVMA and also through Lap of Love. These can be helpful to monitor changes and also weigh whether there are more good days than bad. While mobility is listed as its own category on these scales generally, mobility issues caused by DJD can influence the pain (or "hurt") score, happiness or participating in favorite activities, ability to defecate and urinate, and even interaction. Dr. Dani McVety, a Lap of Love veterinarian, states that pets in end stage arthritis make up approximately 30% of her cases and they may pant, pace, and whine because they have difficulty lying down and getting up. Also, Dr. Mary Gardner says that lack of mobility is a common reason owners call her hospice practice. Without mobility, owners perceive that their dog's quality of life is significantly affected which can result in euthanasia.
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, degenerative joint disease is commonly associated with loss of mobility, especially in large breed dogs. Also, signs tend to be more severe and because mobility is so important for quality of life, euthanasia is often the outcome.
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