Understanding Arthritis in Dogs: What every dog owner should know
Arthritis — especially osteoarthritis — is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting dogs today. Yet for many, it can be difficult to recognise the early signs or understand how everyday choices can either protect or harm dog’s joints. Whether you’ve just brought home a puppy or have a senior companion, knowing how arthritis develops, how it affects your dog, and what steps you can take now can make a real difference to their comfort and quality of life.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) — sometimes called degenerative joint disease — is a chronic condition where the smooth, protective cartilage in a joint gradually breaks down. In a healthy joint, cartilage and joint fluid allow bones to glide smoothly as your dog moves. When that cartilage wears down, the bones start to rub together, causing pain and inflammation. Over time, the joint becomes stiff, painful and often develops bony growths (bone spurs) that further restrict movement.
This isn’t just an “old dog problem.” While OA is most common in older dogs, it can begin much earlier, especially if the joint was damaged or didn’t grow properly in the first place.
How Does Osteoarthritis Affect Dogs?
Arthritis doesn’t only cause pain — it affects a dog’s daily life, behaviour and long-term health:
- Joint pain and stiffness make walking, standing, jumping or climbing uncomfortable.
- Dogs may move slower, limp or have a “stiff” gait, especially after rest.
- They may be less enthusiastic about walks or playing.
- Muscle loss can develop around painful joints because your dog is offloading weight from that area.
- Secondary issues can arise in other parts of the body as a result of the painful limb being favoured and additional weight being carried elsewhere.
- Some dogs become grumpy or less social because they’re sore.
Arthritis is progressive — the damage builds over years — and once started, it doesn’t reverse. But with the right management, most dogs live comfortably for many years.
What Causes Arthritis in Dogs?
Osteoarthritis can develop for several reasons:
1. Normal Wear and Tear
Just like humans, as dogs age, their joints slowly degenerate.
2. Joint Abnormalities
Conditions such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia — where the joint doesn’t form correctly — make arthritis almost inevitable.
3. Injuries
Trauma — for example from a ligament tear, fracture or sprain — can start the degenerative process that leads to arthritis later in life.
4. Genetics
Certain breeds are at higher genetic risk of joint problems that later turn into arthritis, including Labradors, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers.
5. Excess Weight
Carrying extra kilos significantly increases stress on joints — especially hips, knees and elbows — accelerating cartilage breakdown and inflammation.
Recognising the Symptoms Early
Dogs are very good at hiding pain, so early signs can be subtle. Watch for:
- Stiffness after rest, especially in the morning.
- Limping or favouring one leg.
- Slowing down, reluctant to go for walks.
- Difficulty with stairs or jumping up/down.
- Licking or chewing at a joint, often shown as a darker area of fur if you don’t see them doing it.
- Changes in behaviour — grumpiness, withdrawal, sleeping more.
If you spot any of these, book a vet check-up — early management can slow progression and improve comfort.
What Dog Owners Can Do: Clear Actions That Help
Here are practical steps you can take from puppyhood through to your dog’s senior years.
1. Protect Puppy Joints and Growth Plates
Puppies aren’t small adults — their bones are still developing. The ends of long bones contain growth plates, areas of soft cartilage that that are responsible for bone lengthening. As a dog reaches full size, the growth plates also harden into bone. They are vulnerable to damage from excessive, high-impact exercise. (see side box for what constitutes high impact exercise)
Gentle, controlled activity is ideal for puppies:
- Avoid prolonged walks, running beside bikes, being walked round town – they need to sit down when they want to.
- Skip intense games like repeated ball throws — these involve sudden starts, stops and twisting.
- Avoid repeated jumping off furniture or car boots.
- Walk on softer ground (grass or dirt), not hard pavement.
- Monitor and manage play with children who may want the pup to play when the pup is already tired.
Growth plates close at different ages depending on size: toy breeds may mature by ~6–10 months, medium breeds by ~10–12 months, while large breeds might take 14–24 months or more before their skeleton is fully mature.
Action: Build exercise gradually, let puppies rest when they’re tired and focus on low impact play until their joints are mature. As you would with a young human, you need to ensure they don’t over do it. Confinement in a crate to give the puppy some peace when there are young people about avoids too much activity too young.
2. Maintain a Healthy Weight (Body Score 4 or 5)
Keeping a dog at a healthy weight is one of the best ways to protect their joints. A common veterinary tool is the Body Condition Score (BCS) — a 1–9 scale where 4–5 is ideal.
How to check:
- Run your hands along your dog’s ribs — you should feel them easily with only a thin layer of fat.
- Look from above — there should be a waist visible behind the ribs.
- From the side — the tummy should tuck up slightly instead of sagging.
Extra weight doesn’t just strain joints — it increases inflammation and accelerates wear.
Action: Regularly body-score your dog and adjust food and treats to keep it in the ideal range. Treats should be counted as part of their food when calculating calories or total weight of food consumed. Using a slow feeder can prolong feeding time and the positive response that creates in your dog. Speak to your vet or a vet nurse if you are having difficulty keeping your dog’s score below 6 as they may have strategies to help.
3. Mind the Surfaces: Fewer Slips and Falls
Slippery floors like tile, laminate and polished wood are easy to clean — but they’re a joint risk for both puppies and older dogs. Slipping forces joints to twist awkwardly and can damage cartilage and ligaments.
Action:
Place non-slip rugs or mats along walking paths, especially near doors, in hallways, and next to beds and sofas.
4. Use Mobility Aids and Adjust the Home
Daily movements — getting out of cars, and off sofas or beds can be considered as high impact activities. Even if your dog can jump, it is not always appropriate that they should. Landing from height impacts heavily on immature joints. Landing (and take off) can be painful for dogs with joint issues and exacerbate their condition.
Consider these aids:
- Ramps or steps for cars, especially for low and long-bodied breeds (e.g. Dachshunds).
- Ramps or steps for getting onto furniture (if you allow it), so they don’t have to jump.
- Non-slip pads or flooring under food bowls, so they don’t twist or slip while eating.
- Raised food bowls for larger dogs, so they are not leaning heavily on their forelimbs to reach a floor level bowl
These changes reduce strain and help your dog stay confident moving around the house.
5. Adjust Play and Exercise for Different Life Stages
Whether your dog is young, adult or senior, sensible exercise keeps muscles strong — and muscles support joints — but there’s a balance.
Tips:
- Avoid repetitive, high-impact games like fetch that involve fast direction changes.
- For sporty dogs, warm up before intense activity, just as you would stretch before a run.
- Older dogs benefit from gentle, regular walks and low-impact activities such as swimming or hydrotherapy.
- Consider canine conditioning exercises – think Pilates or Tai Chi for dogs. These are often slow, frequently stationary exercises that can be used to build muscle in specific areas. Good muscle mass helps support joints thereby reducing pain and allowing your dog to enjoy their walks again.
Final Thought: Proactive Care Makes a Difference
Arthritis doesn’t need to be accepted as “just ageing.” By protecting your dog’s joints from puppyhood through adulthood and into their golden years, you’re giving them a better chance of staying comfortable and active for longer.
You are your dog’s best advocate — noticing small signs early, acting on practical joint-friendly changes, and working with your vet can make a profound difference to their health and happiness.