Joint pain 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 joint pain 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.
Young dogs — puppys — are the focus of this guide. joint pain in a puppy is often harder to spot than in an adult, because a puppy is growing fast, and its signs — stiffness, limping, not gaining weight, or a puppy that is quieter than its littermates — are easily mistaken for growing pains or a quiet personality. The rest of this guide covers the condition itself, with young animals in mind throughout. A puppy that is not growing, not gaining weight, or not moving well needs a vet check, not just more food or more rest.
What is joint pain in dogs?
Joint pain is a condition where one or more joints hurt — the hips, the elbows, the knees, or the spine — and the dog moves less, moves stiffly, or cries out when it moves. Joint pain is a sign, not a diagnosis: it can be caused by arthritis, by hip or elbow dysplasia, by an injury, by an infection, or by a dog that is overweight and putting too much load on its joints. Joint pain is common in older dogs, and it is often hidden: 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 joint pain is diagnosed, how it is treated, whether it can be prevented, and how to live with a dog that has it. A dog with joint pain 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 joint pain 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 joint pain in dogs
The signs of joint pain in dogs are listed below. Not every dog with joint pain 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.
- Limping, or a dog that favours one leg.
- Stiffness when getting up, especially after rest or in cold weather.
- Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or get into the car.
- Slowing down on walks, or a dog that stops and wants to go home.
- Crying out, flinching, or licking at a joint when it 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 joint pain
Joint pain is usually caused by arthritis, which is the wearing away of the cartilage that cushions a joint, and which gets worse with age. It can also be caused by hip or elbow dysplasia, where the joint grows wrong from an early age, by an injury, such as a sprain or a torn ligament, or by 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 joint pain 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 joint pain as it gets older.
Some dogs are more prone to joint pain 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 joint pain. 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 joint pain 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 joint pain and to have it found late, when it is harder to treat.
How joint pain is diagnosed
A vet diagnoses joint pain 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 whether there is an injury or a problem with the way the joint grew. A dog that is stiff, limping, or reluctant to jump should be checked, even if it is young — joint pain can follow an injury or a joint problem at any age.
If you are worried about your dog, see a vet and mention joint pain 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 joint pain 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 joint pain 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 joint pain
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. The vet will also treat the cause, if it can be found — a torn ligament, for example, may need surgery.
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 joint pain 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 joint pain
A dog with joint pain 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 joint pain 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.
joint pain in puppys: what to watch for
A puppy with joint pain may show the signs differently from an adult: it may be quieter than its littermates, slower to play, reluctant to jump or climb, or not gaining weight as it should. Those signs are easy to miss, because a puppy is expected to sleep a lot and to be clumsy — but a puppy that is consistently quieter, slower, or lighter than its littermates should be checked by a vet. Early help works better than late help, and a puppy that is treated early will grow better than one that is treated late.
Can joint pain be prevented?
Joint pain 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 painful.
Early checks matter most: have the dog checked regularly, so joint pain 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 joint pain in dogs?
Joint pain is a condition where one or more joints hurt — the hips, the elbows, the knees, or the spine — and the dog moves less, moves stiffly, or cries out when it moves. Joint pain is a sign, not a diagnosis: it can be caused by arthritis, by hip or elbow dysplasia, by an injury, by an infection, or by a dog that is overweight and putting too much load on its joints. Joint pain is common in older dogs, and it is often hidden: 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 joint pain in dogs?
The most common signs are: Limping, or a dog that favours one leg. Stiffness when getting up, especially after rest or in cold weather. 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 joint pain in dogs?
Joint pain is usually caused by arthritis, which is the wearing away of the cartilage that cushions a joint, and which gets worse with age. It can also be caused by hip or elbow dysplasia, where the joint grows wrong from an early age, by an injury, such as a sprain or a torn ligament, or by 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 joint pain 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 joint pain as it gets older.
How is joint pain diagnosed?
A vet diagnoses joint pain 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 whether there is an injury or a problem with the way the joint grew. A dog that is stiff, limping, or reluctant to jump should be checked, even if it is young — joint pain can follow an injury or a joint problem at any age.
How is joint pain 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. The vet will also treat the cause, if it can be found — a torn ligament, for example, may need surgery.
When should a dog with joint pain 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 joint pain 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.