Arthritis In Dogs: How To Catch & Handle It Early

Does your buddy seem more reluctant around walks? Is it a chore to get them off their paws for a bit of playtime? If you’ve got a senior dog at home, watch out – it might not be them just growing “lazier” over time! Rather, you’re best off learning how to spot the signs of arthritis in dogs early on – and how to spot a drop in their activity – so you can help them live their happiest, healthiest life by your side.

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What is arthritis? And what causes it in dogs?

Osteoarthritis in dogs is a degenerative joint disease. Here, the cartilage that protects and supports your dog’s joints gradually breaks down with time and age. This degradation can lead to:

• Inflammation
• Pain
• Stiffness
• Limited mobility
• And in some rare cases, even joint deformities or bone damage

This condition can be a painful, scary condition to handle – but with some patience, vigilance, and lots of love, you can help your buddy live a long, happy, healthy life by your side. (Even in their grand-paw years.)

Osteoarthritis vs Arthritis in dogs: What’s the difference?

“Osteoarthritis” and “arthritis” are actually two different diseases, though the terms might be used interchangeably. Both affect your dog’s musculoskeletal system and can cause joint pain and dysfunction – though due to different causes.

Where are joint problems in dogs most likely to turn up?

Much like humans, osteoarthritis in dogs might turn up in certain joints across their bodies. Though where it turns up can depend on your buddy’s breed, age, and activity level. Here are some of the most common spots you’ll find linked to joint problems in dogs:

• Hip joints, with hip dysplasia being a common hereditary condition that can lead to osteoarthritis in the hip joints.
• Stifle joints, or the joints near your dog’s hind legs.
• Elbow joints.
• Shoulder joints, especially among very active dogs.
• The spine, especially in older dogs.
• Toe joints, which can cause limping or difficulties walking.

Unfortunately, once your dog’s joints have been damaged by arthritis, it rarely repairs itself completely. But it’s possible to prevent their condition from worsening by keeping an eye out for your dog’s symptoms and risk factors, dropping by for regular checkups at your vet, and a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle adjustments.

How common is arthritis in dogs?

Sadly, arthritis in dogs is a pretty common condition – especially for senior dogs and those exposed to high levels of stress. But you might also find it occurring more often among:

• Large- and medium-sized dog breeds, like the Shepherd family, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and Saint Bernards. In fact, German Shepherds have a genetic predisposition towards joint problems.²
• Dogs prone to weight gain, like in the Retriever family.
• Dogs with long backs, like Daschunds and Basset Hounds.
• Dogs with short legs and long bodies, like Corgis.
• Brachycephalic dog breeds, like Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers.
• Small dogs breeds, including miniature and toy breeds that might be more at risk for patellar luxation, or osteoarthritis of their stifle joints.

⚠️ Importantly: any dog of any breed can develop arthritis. And just having a dog of these breeds doesn’t necessarily mean they WILL develop arthritis.

What are the signs of arthritis in dogs?

Like with most age-related diseases, dog arthritis tends to develop slowly and gradually over time. So keep an eye out if you notice your buddy having:

• Trouble getting up and down from a lying position
• Slowness or stiffness when moving
• Difficulty climbing stairs or jumping into the car
• Joint swelling
• Excessive panting – especially after exercise
• Not seeming as keen to exercise as before
• Limping
• Frequently holding a leg off the ground
• Favoring one leg
• Seeming lethargic or less energetic in general
• Matted, tangled, less-groomed fur – since joint problems can make it difficult for your buddy to groom themselves in hard-to-reach spots

How I can spot arthritis in dogs early?

There’s a reason why vets recommend keeping track of your dog’s everyday movement. It’s a window into your dog’s overall health and wellbeing – and a change could signal that they might not be doing so well, health-wise.

“Keep track of your dog’s energy levels, especially how long they are able to walk.

If you notice significant declines, it could be a sign of pain, heart disease, or other illness.”

– VCA Animal Hospitals²

So start by watching out for these changes in your dog’s behavior – and remember: this isn’t your dog being “lazy” or “difficult” if they seem:

• Reluctant to go on walks
• Less interested in games that involve running or chasing – or they seem slower or tire out easier
• To sleep much more than usual
• Less sociable and more withdrawn, maybe even more aggressive
• Less curious or eager to explore the outdoors
• To pant or wheeze more after exercise – especially light exercise, like a walk
• To look for alternative routes around furniture, stairs, or any high objects
• To no longer eat as much food or drink as much water as usual

💡An Activity Tracker for dogs can help you catch on to a drop in your dog’s daily activity that much quicker – which could be a potential sign of sickness, injury, or pain. We’ll cover it in detail a little further below.

Dog arthritis treatment: What your vet might recommend

Since arthritis is a relatively common condition among older dogs, there are quite a few therapy options for it. Your vet might diagnose your buddy’s condition through an x-ray scan to examine your dog’s joints and identify any problem areas, plus a full physical examination to get a picture of your dog’s overall health.

Based on how severe your dog’s symptoms are, here are a couple of steps your vet might recommend:

• Medical treatment, including anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and inflammation, supplements to improve your dog’s joint health, physical therapy, or even surgery in more serious cases.
• Dietary changes to help your dog maintain a healthy weight, including portion control or even a calorie-restricted diet.
• Gentle exercise that’s easy on your dog’s joints, like swimming, slow walks on soft surfaces, low Cavaletti poles, balancing toys, or even stair stepping.

How you can set up a supportive home environment for your dog

• Put a carpet over hardwood floors to reduce any slipping or sliding that sometimes happen to older dogs or dogs with joint problems.
• Go for walks with dog booties that reduce some of the pressure from walking on hard surfaces. (Though they can work indoors as well.)
• Keep your dog warm and dry: Cold and damp conditions can aggravate arthritis. Consider investing in a padded dog bed and apply warm compresses to painful joints.
• Use ramps and stairs to help your buddy get around to any hard-to-reach spots they might once have jumped to reach.
• Place your dog’s food and water bowls on elevated surfaces so that they don’t have to bend over or strain their necks to reach them.
• Provide your dog plenty of shade and cool water during the warmer months. Excessive heat can actually worsen inflammation and can even lead to potentially fatal conditions, like heat stroke.

How to catch on to arthritis early with an Activity Tracker

Tracking your dog’s activity can be a lifesaver – especially as they recover and get back on their feet again. But it’s also an important early sign that can help you catch arthritis in dogs much before it has a chance to worsen.

Strapped to your dog’s collar, your trusty your trusty Tractive GPS doubles as an Activity and Sleep Tracker for dogs. Logging in your dog’s movements throughout the day as “ active minutes.” Which, with time, can help you figure out:

• How active your dog is on the regular
• Where your dog ranks on your community leaderboard – i.e., how active they are compared to other, similar dogs around the world
• If there’s a weird drop in your dog’s everyday active minutes – whether gradual or more extreme – which you can catch with a Health Alert.

💡So you can take action early, get your dog to a vet, make an informed decision based on actionable data – and potentially save your dog’s life while at it.

“Absolutely love this tracker. It gives us peace of mind when we leave them home alone and also gives great insights on their activity and sleep levels.

I’m comforted knowing that if they started acting strangely or the data shifted drastically that we could take them to the vet potentially before we would notice something wrong. Can’t recommend this tracker enough!”

– Eva, US (Source: Trustpilot)

Stay on top of your dog’s wellness

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

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Here’s a helpful video that details 10 symptoms to watch out for if you suspect your buddy might be dealing with some joint problems:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.