It is a widely held belief that joint pain increases when the weather cools. This belief applies to both humans and our dogs. However, research on the effects of cold weather on symptoms of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in animals and people appears contradictory.

Back pain and the weather

A study of humans with lower back pain sought to quantify the relationship between the increase of acute lower back pain and temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, wind gust, wind direction and precipitation.

The study concluded there was generally no association between weather changes and the onset of back pain. It did find a small increase in the risk of back pain with an increase in wind speed and wind gust.

Musculoskeletal disease and exposure to the cold

A literature review of human studies into the potential causative relationship between exposure to cold working conditions (such as working in a cold store) and musculoskeletal disorders including arthritis came to the following conclusions:

• Humans report musculoskeletal symptoms more frequently in cold working conditions compared with normal temperatures.

• Exposure to cold magnifies the reported symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and this increases with the time exposure to cold conditions.

• Cold exposure combined with repetitive movements increases the incidences of tenosynovitis (carpal tunnel disease)

Effect of cold on arthritis in mice

A study using mice with induced arthritis in a knee joint sought to investigate the effects of one hour exposure to low temperatures (10 degrees Celsius) on the animal’s pain sensitivity and blood flow in the affected and contralateral knee joint.

The study made the following conclusions:

• The mice exposed to cold temperatures had increased pain sensitivity in both knees.

• Following exposure to cold, increased blood flow in the synovial membrane of the affected joint. Increased vascularity in the articular cartilage is linked to the destruction of the synovial lining and accompanied by sensory nerve growth which results in joint pain.

• The mice that remained at room temperature had increased joint pain in the contralateral knee after two weeks which was thought to arise from changes in the behaviour of sensory nerves in the limb and increased generation of inflammatory cytokines.

Can dogs with arthritis feel more pain in cold weather?

From these three papers we can draw the following conclusions for our dogs with joint pain from osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia or other musculoskeletal conditions.

1. Exposure to temperatures between 8 – 10 degrees Celsius in humans increases the incidence of reported pain – so the perception of pain increases. In the mouse study, increases in pain sensitivity were observed in the arthritic joint and contralateral joint. Despite inconclusive scientific evidence of increased joint pain with cold weather, it is reasonable to protect dogs from cool weather, particularly those suffering from musculoskeletal disorders by considering the following:

• Housing – Providing warm and dry housing particularly if the dog lives outside. For dogs inside, consider covering tiles or concrete floors to provide extra warmth and closing curtains or blinds if the dog sleeps near a window.

• Bedding – Add an extra blanket at night to keep your dog warm. For dogs sleeping in crates, consider placing a large blanket over the crate to trap the warm air and make it a cosy den for your dog.

Adding a warm water bottle or heat pack to your dog’s bedding will also help warm it for them. Just ensure your dog doesn’t eat the water bottle or heat pack. You can even microwave a couple of towels with a cup of water to warm them up – just check they are not too hot for your dog.

• Coat – Providing a coat for cool mornings and evenings helps keep the hip joint, shoulder joint and back warm however it has little effect on elbow, stifles, tarsal or carpal joints.

2. Combination of exposure to cold and repetitive movements increased incidence of soft tissue injury

When our dogs perform repetitive activities regardless of temperature, they increase the risk or injury by overloading and overworking specific parts of their body. For dogs, repetitive tasks may include ball chasing, long distance lead walking on one side of their owner, and high frequency jumping. When these activities are performed in cold conditions, the risk of injury increases.

While reducing the frequency of repetitive tasks and adapting the task to exercise the dog’s body symmetrically will help prevent injury, consider adding a good warm up to all exercise sessions, particularly when it is cool.

A simple warm up routine may include:

• Walking at a normal pace for 3 – 5 minutes.

• Interval jogging / walking for 3 – 5 minutes

• Vigorous warm up massage of the dog’s large muscle groups – back, shoulder, and hamstrings

• Stretches of the large muscles groups – back, shoulder, hamstrings

I would be happy to demonstrate warm up massage techniques and basic stretches for the large muscle groups. Full Stride provides therapeutic canine massage and exercise therapy to keep dogs free from injury and exercising regularly.

Please leave me a comment or a post on the FullStride Facebook page about how you manage your dog’s joint pain in cold weather.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.

Sources:

Fernandes, E.S, Russell, F.A, Alawi, K.M, Sand, C, Liang, L, Salamon, R, Bodkin, J.V, Aubdool, A.A, Arno, M, Gentry, C, Smillie, S-J, Bevan, S, Keeble, J.E, Malcangio, M, and Brain, S.D. 2016 “Environmental cold exposure increases blood flow and affects pain sensitivity in the knee joints of CFA-induced arthritic mice in a TRPA1-dependent manner” Arthritis Research & Therapy 18:7

Pienimäki, T 2002 “Cold exposure and musculoskeletal disorders and diseases. A review” International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 61:2, 173-182

Steffens, D, Maher, C.G, Li, Q, Ferreira, M, L, Pereira, L. S.M, Koes, B.W and Latimer, J 2014 “Effect of weather on back pain: Results from a case crossover study” Arthritis Care and Research. Vol 66, No. 12: 1867 – 1872