Arthritis is one of the health conditions that dogs owners should know about, because it affects quality of life, and it is easier to manage when it is caught early. This guide explains what arthritis is, the signs to watch for, what causes it, how it is diagnosed, how it is treated, whether it can be prevented, and how to live with a dog that has it. Every suggestion here is general guidance, not a prescription for an individual dog.
Senior dogs are the focus of this guide. A dog is usually considered a senior from toy and small breeds from about 10 years, medium breeds from about 8 to 10 years, large breeds from about 7 to 8 years, and giant breeds from about 6 to 7 years, and from that age vet checks should move to twice a year, with weight, teeth, and kidneys checked each time. arthritis is more common in older dogs than in young ones, and it is often harder to spot in a senior, because its signs — stiffness, slowing down, weight loss, confusion — are easily mistaken for normal ageing. The rest of this guide covers the condition itself, with the senior years in mind throughout.
What is arthritis in dogs?
Arthritis — osteoarthritis — is a condition where the cartilage that cushions a joint wears away, so the bones rub together, the joint becomes inflamed, and movement hurts. It is the most common joint problem in older dogs, and it can also follow an injury or a joint problem such as hip or elbow dysplasia. Arthritis develops slowly, and a dog with arthritis will often hide its pain — dogs are good at coping, and they will change how they move rather than cry out — which is why owners often do not notice it until the dog is clearly stiff or slow.
The rest of this guide covers the signs, the causes, how arthritis is diagnosed, how it is treated, whether it can be prevented, and how to live with a dog that has it. A dog with arthritis should be checked by a vet, because the right treatment depends on the individual dog, its age, and how advanced the condition is — and because some of the signs of arthritis can also be signs of other conditions, which need a vet to tell apart. The dog ideal weight calculator works out a target weight range, and the when is a dog considered a senior guide gives the senior thresholds by size.
Signs of arthritis in dogs
The signs of arthritis in dogs are listed below. Not every dog with arthritis will show every sign, and some dogs will show only one or two — but any one of these signs, especially if it lasts more than a few days or gets worse, is worth mentioning to a vet. A dog that is bright, eating, drinking, and otherwise well between episodes is less likely to be seriously ill than a dog that is lethargic, off its food, or losing weight — but the only way to know is to check.
- Stiffness when getting up, especially after rest or in cold weather.
- Limping, or a dog that favours one leg.
- Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or get into the car.
- Slowing down on walks, or a dog that stops and wants to go home.
- Licking or chewing at a joint, or flinching when a joint is touched.
- Muscle loss in the legs, because the dog uses them less.
- A change in behaviour — less playful, more grumpy, or sleeping more.
If two or more of those signs apply, or if one sign is severe — a dog that cannot urinate, cannot breathe, cannot stand, or has had a seizure lasting more than five minutes — see a vet the same day. Those are signs that need a vet, not waiting. Bring a note of when the signs started, how often they happen, and what the dog eats and drinks — that information helps the vet far more than a guess about the cause. The how to tell if your dog is overweight guide gives the hands-on check for weight, which matters for many of these conditions.
Causes and risk factors for arthritis
Arthritis is usually caused by wear and tear with age: the cartilage in a joint wears away over a lifetime of use, and the joint becomes inflamed. It can also follow an injury, a joint problem such as hip or elbow dysplasia, or an infection in the joint. Excess weight makes it worse, because it puts more load on the joint, and a dog that is overweight will develop arthritis earlier and more severely than a lean one. Some breeds are more prone than others, because of their build or their joint problems, but any dog can develop arthritis as it gets older.
Some dogs are more prone to arthritis than others, because of their genes, their breed, their size, or their age — but breed and age are not destiny, and a dog of any breed can develop arthritis. What an owner can control is weight, food, exercise, and vet checks: a dog at a healthy weight, with measured food and daily exercise, is less likely to develop arthritis and will cope better with it if it does. A dog that is overweight, that eats a poor diet, or that never sees a vet is more likely to develop arthritis and to have it found late, when it is harder to treat.
How arthritis is diagnosed
A vet diagnoses arthritis with a physical examination and an X-ray. The vet will feel the joints for pain, swelling, and range of movement, and will watch the dog walk and move. An X-ray shows how much cartilage has worn away, whether new bone has grown around the joint, and how advanced the arthritis is. A dog that is stiff, limping, or reluctant to jump should be checked, even if it is young — arthritis can follow an injury or a joint problem at any age.
If you are worried about your dog, see a vet and mention arthritis by name, with the signs you have seen and when they started. Bring a note of what the dog eats, how much, and any medicines it takes, and whether it has had arthritis or a related condition before. A video of the signs, if it is safe to take one, helps the vet far more than a description — especially for seizures, limping, or breathing problems. Do not try to diagnose arthritis yourself, and do not buy medicines or special diets for it without veterinary advice, because the wrong treatment can make it worse.
Treatment and management of arthritis
Treatment is about managing pain and keeping the dog moving: weight control, gentle regular exercise, and pain relief prescribed by the vet. A dog at a healthy weight puts less load on its joints, and gentle exercise keeps the muscles that support the joint strong. Pain relief is usually a medicine prescribed by the vet — do not give medicines meant for people, because many of them are dangerous for dogs. Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and a warm, supportive bed can all help, and ramps or steps instead of jumping make daily life easier. There is no cure for arthritis, but treatment can keep the dog comfortable for years.
Treatment is a decision made with the vet, weighing the dog's age, health, and quality of life against the treatment and its side effects. Some owners choose not to treat, and to keep the dog comfortable instead — and that is a valid choice, made with the vet, not on the basis of a web page. Whatever is decided, the treatment must be followed every day, at the same times, and the dog must be checked regularly, because arthritis changes over time, and the treatment needs to change with it. Do not stop a medicine suddenly, and do not change the dose without veterinary advice.
Living with a dog with arthritis
A dog with arthritis can live a full and happy life with the right care. Keep its weight in the healthy range, keep exercise regular but gentle — short, frequent walks on flat ground rather than one long hike, and swimming where the dog is safe and comfortable — and give it a warm, supportive bed, ramps or steps instead of jumping, and a predictable routine. Watch for bad days: a dog with arthritis will be stiffer in cold or damp weather, and it may need more rest and a little more pain relief on those days, as the vet advises. Mention any change to your vet promptly, because a dog that suddenly gets worse may have a new problem, not just a bad day.
Keep a routine: the same times for food, medicines, walks, and play, the same places for furniture, food, and water, and a calm, predictable home. Keep a note of appetite, drinking, weight, and behaviour, and mention any change to the vet promptly — a change that lasts more than a few days, or that gets worse, is worth a vet visit. Keep the dog at a healthy weight, with measured food and daily exercise at a level that suits its body, and keep vet checks regular: once a year as an adult, and twice a year as a senior. The senior dog diet guide covers feeding older dogs, and the dog calorie calculator works out daily calories for any weight.
Senior care for a dog with arthritis
A senior dog with arthritis needs more care than a young one: twice-yearly vet checks, a diet review, and attention to weight, teeth, and kidneys. Keep the dog moving every day, at a level that suits its body — shorter, more frequent walks or play sessions, and play that does not strain stiff joints. Give it a warm, supportive bed, ramps or steps instead of jumping, and a predictable routine, with furniture, food, and water in the same places. Mention any change to your vet promptly, because a senior dog that suddenly gets worse may have a new problem, not just a bad day.
Can arthritis be prevented?
Arthritis cannot always be prevented, because much of it is about age and genes — but its severity can be reduced a lot. Keep the dog at a healthy weight for life, with measured food and daily exercise, because extra weight is the biggest factor an owner can control. Feed a large-breed puppy a large-breed puppy food, designed for steady rather than rapid growth, and do not overfeed it. Avoid high-impact exercise such as jumping and stairs in a growing puppy, and treat joint injuries promptly, because an injured joint is more likely to become arthritic.
Early checks matter most: have the dog checked regularly, so arthritis is found early, when treatment works best. Keep the dog at a healthy weight, with measured food and daily exercise, and mention any change in drinking, eating, weight, or behaviour to your vet early, because a change caught early is easier to treat than one left for weeks.
For related reading, see the dog ideal weight calculator, the dog body condition score chart, the how to tell if your dog is overweight guide, the senior dog diet guide, the dog calorie calculator, the when is a dog considered a senior guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is arthritis in dogs?
Arthritis — osteoarthritis — is a condition where the cartilage that cushions a joint wears away, so the bones rub together, the joint becomes inflamed, and movement hurts. It is the most common joint problem in older dogs, and it can also follow an injury or a joint problem such as hip or elbow dysplasia. Arthritis develops slowly, and a dog with arthritis will often hide its pain — dogs are good at coping, and they will change how they move rather than cry out — which is why owners often do not notice it until the dog is clearly stiff or slow.
What are the signs of arthritis in dogs?
The most common signs are: Stiffness when getting up, especially after rest or in cold weather. Limping, or a dog that favours one leg. Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or get into the car. See the full list above for every sign to watch for, and see a vet promptly if two or more apply, or if one sign is severe.
What causes arthritis in dogs?
Arthritis is usually caused by wear and tear with age: the cartilage in a joint wears away over a lifetime of use, and the joint becomes inflamed. It can also follow an injury, a joint problem such as hip or elbow dysplasia, or an infection in the joint. Excess weight makes it worse, because it puts more load on the joint, and a dog that is overweight will develop arthritis earlier and more severely than a lean one. Some breeds are more prone than others, because of their build or their joint problems, but any dog can develop arthritis as it gets older.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
A vet diagnoses arthritis with a physical examination and an X-ray. The vet will feel the joints for pain, swelling, and range of movement, and will watch the dog walk and move. An X-ray shows how much cartilage has worn away, whether new bone has grown around the joint, and how advanced the arthritis is. A dog that is stiff, limping, or reluctant to jump should be checked, even if it is young — arthritis can follow an injury or a joint problem at any age.
How is arthritis treated?
Treatment is about managing pain and keeping the dog moving: weight control, gentle regular exercise, and pain relief prescribed by the vet. A dog at a healthy weight puts less load on its joints, and gentle exercise keeps the muscles that support the joint strong. Pain relief is usually a medicine prescribed by the vet — do not give medicines meant for people, because many of them are dangerous for dogs. Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and a warm, supportive bed can all help, and ramps or steps instead of jumping make daily life easier. There is no cure for arthritis, but treatment can keep the dog comfortable for years.
When should a dog with arthritis see a vet?
See a vet promptly if the dog shows any of the signs above, especially if they last more than a few days or get worse — and the same day if the dog cannot urinate, cannot breathe, cannot stand, has had a seizure lasting more than five minutes, or is lethargic or off its food. Bring a note of when the signs started and what the dog eats and drinks. A dog with arthritis should be checked by a vet, because the right treatment depends on the individual dog, its age, and how advanced the condition is.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.