Understanding the signs of arthritis in dogs

No longer seeing their excitement during walkies?

As arthritis causes the internal structures of their joints to wear away, every step can become painful for your dog, so they start to take things a bit slower on walks, trying to reduce the joint pain they're feeling. This might mean they struggle to keep up.

Worried about how stiff they seem?

Arthritis causes the internal structures that cushion the joints to wear away. This leads to stiffness, which restricts smooth movement and can be painful. Your dog may avoid certain movements in anticipation of this pain, making them appear even more stiff.

Missing out on regular sofa cuddles or started having to heave them into the car?

Joint pain and stiffness makes jumping increasingly difficult. Arthritis reduces shock absorption, making the impact of landing more painful for your dog. Because your dog anticipates this pain, they begin to hesitate when jumping, leaving you to do more lifting.

Noticed them limping after exercise?

Your dog's joints may be inflamed and painful due to arthritis and this can be aggravated by exercise. In advanced cases of arthritis, there is decreased muscle mass to stabilise joints. Advanced or not, this can result in your dog struggling to put weight on their leg, causing distress for both them and you.

Are they looking a bit slow when getting up after lying down for a while?

As arthritis pain leads to tightened muscles and joints, your dog will start to feel stiff and sore. This happens especially after resting for a long time, making it difficult and painful for them to rise. So they slow right down to try to reduce that pain. 

Are they not so keen to chase you upstairs anymore?

Climbing stairs puts additional stress on their joints and when those joints are affected by arthritis, that extra stress can be painful, causing your dog to hesitate or be reluctant when faced with stairs. It's not that they don't want to go upstairs with you, they just want to avoid the pain they will experience by doing so.

Are you missing out on playtime together?

As arthritis causes their joints to hurt, it becomes harder, less comfortable and even painful for your dog to move around. They can become scared of that pain so they withdraw from activities like playing - robbing your dog of these joyful activities.

Do they seem sensitive when you try to stroke them?

Arthritis can cause your dog's joints to become very sensitive, and over time they can become more sensitive everywhere in their body, which could cause them pain when touched. So they start to whine or flinch when you go to pick them up or stroke them, preventing you from being close to them.

Are they always picking different spots to rest in or struggling to get comfortable?

Arthritis pain can make it really hard for your dog to get comfortable. So they look around, trying to find somewhere to lie down that will reduce that pressure on their joints. Although it might seem like they're just looking for new places to rest, this is actually a sign they're in pain.

Have they been acting irritably or aggressively towards you?

Pain from arthritis can cause your dog to become defensive against things that might hurt, like being handled. They don't want to be aggressive, they're just scared of the pain, causing them to act defensively even against the person they love most.

Have they changed the way they groom themselves?

Joint pain from arthritis stops your dog from being able to physically reach certain areas of the body, or they might start excessively licking certain painful joints. As a result, you may see or feel a change in their once soft and snuggly fur.

Are they avoiding other dogs, people or even you?

Constant arthritis pain makes your dog less active and able, and leaves them feeling less like themselves. So they stop enjoying previously rewarding activities, stop being social, and start needing more alone time, denying you both, each other's companionship.