Your dog still gets up when you come home. The tail starts. They bring you a toy. For a moment, you see the dog you have always known.

Then they turn to follow you, and the back end takes a little longer. They stop at the slippery hallway. Later, they circle their bed before lowering themselves down.

Both things can be true. Your dog can be delighted to see you and physically uncomfortable.

A wagging tail is not a pain assessment.

Neither is a willingness to chase a ball, finish dinner or follow you outside. Look at the whole day, including the quiet parts when nobody is offering something exciting.

Arthritis care starts with taking those parts seriously. Your dog should not have to stop enjoying everything before their discomfort counts.

What we mean by arthritis

This article focuses on osteoarthritis, often shortened to OA: a long-term joint disease involving changes to cartilage and other joint tissues, inflammation, pain and reduced function. It can develop alongside problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia, previous joint injuries or cruciate ligament disease.

It is not exclusive to seniors. Younger dogs can have it too. And although existing joint damage cannot simply be wished away, appropriate treatment can improve comfort and mobility. Cornell’s osteoarthritis overview explains the condition, contributing factors and treatment options.

Do not use the word arthritis to explain every new limp. An arthritic dog can also develop another injury or illness. A previous diagnosis belongs in the history; it does not settle what is happening today.

When this needs immediate help

Sudden inability to stand or use a leg, collapse, severe pain, major trauma or difficulty breathing needs emergency veterinary attention. Call immediately about new marked weakness or loss of coordination. Do not attempt a walk to see whether your dog can work through it.

Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, particularly with blood, weakness or refusal to eat, also needs prompt advice. These signs matter especially when a dog is receiving medication. Cornell’s emergency guidance explains why these changes should not wait.

For a gradual but persistent change, arrange a veterinary assessment. You do not need a completed diary before calling.

The pain that gets mistaken for personality

A dog who used to follow you everywhere may stay in one room. A dog who enjoyed grooming may pull away. Sleep can become unsettled. Some dogs become unusually irritable; others withdraw so quietly that the household barely notices.

Cornell’s guidance on recognising pain includes changes in movement, sleep, social behaviour and responses to touch. Crying is only one possible sign. These changes can have other causes, so report them rather than diagnosing from a checklist.

Watch ordinary transitions: getting off a bed, turning in a narrow space, stepping over a doorway, standing while you prepare food. Describe what changes and when. “She takes three attempts to rise after her afternoon nap” is more useful than “she seems old.”

If your dog moves away from touch or growls when approached, give them space. Keep children and other animals from crowding them. Do not keep pressing the same area to prove that it hurts.

Your dog does not owe anyone access to a sore body.

Tell the veterinary team about the behaviour before handling begins, so they can plan a safer examination.

Bring the ordinary dog to the appointment

The clinic sees a short period in an unfamiliar setting. You see the first steps after sleep and the hesitation at the back door.

Bring brief videos of movement that happens naturally, ideally from the side and behind on a secure surface. Include the date, recent activity and when prescribed medication was given. Do not withhold medication, provoke a limp or repeatedly ask for stairs to obtain footage.

The examination may include gait, joint, muscle and neurological assessment, with imaging or other tests selected from the findings. Ask what the vet thinks is causing the limitation and whether another problem may be contributing.

X-rays are useful, but they are not a direct measure of how much a dog hurts. AAHA’s chronic-pain assessment guidance describes the imperfect relationship between radiographic changes and joint pain. The dog’s examination and daily function matter alongside the pictures.

For a broader discussion of uncertain changes, read Is It Ageing, Pain or a New Illness?

A useful treatment plan has several jobs

You may hear the term “multimodal treatment.” It means combining appropriate approaches: pain relief, manageable movement, body-condition support, rehabilitation and changes at home.

It does not mean buying every product offered. Ask what each part is intended to achieve.

Start with goals that belong to your dog. Perhaps they need to rise more comfortably, get outside to toilet, settle for sleep and enjoy a short sniffing outing. Those are worthwhile outcomes even if jumping into the car is no longer appropriate. AAHA’s treatment principles put daily function and quality of life at the centre of pain care.

Some dogs need assessment for an underlying problem that may benefit from surgery or specialist care. Others need a revised medical plan. Cornell’s OA guidance describes both possibilities; there is no single treatment package that fits every dog.

Pain medication needs a monitoring plan

Veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can help control OA pain and inflammation. Suitability depends on the individual dog, their medical history and other treatments. Possible adverse effects include digestive, kidney and liver problems.

Before starting, ask about baseline testing, rechecks, the owner information sheet and the exact signs that should trigger a call. Keep a complete list of prescriptions, supplements and previous reactions.

If you suspect an NSAID side effect, stop that NSAID and contact your veterinarian immediately. Warning signs can include reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea or black stools, unusual lethargy, changes in drinking, or yellowing of the gums or eyes. The FDA’s owner guidance explains these precautions. Severe illness warrants emergency care.

Do not add ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, acetaminophen or another dog’s leftover prescription yourself. Do not combine NSAIDs or combine an NSAID with a steroid such as prednisone. The FDA explains the risks of human pain relievers and drug combinations. Any change between treatments needs veterinary instructions.

Other medicines may be used as part of an individual plan. Ask why each was chosen and how its benefit will be assessed. For example, gabapentin can cause sleepiness and incoordination. A quieter dog is not automatically a more comfortable dog.

Report excessive sedation or wobbliness promptly. Follow medication-specific advice; the instruction to stop a suspected problem NSAID is not a blanket instruction to abruptly stop every medicine.

Monthly injections deserve an informed conversation too

Bedinvetmab, sold as Librela, is a monoclonal antibody treatment targeting nerve growth factor, a contributor to OA pain. It is administered by veterinary professionals. The Canadian owner information sheet describes its use and the need to discuss health history, other medicines and changes after treatment.

It should not be presented as a risk-free injection or a way to rebuild damaged joints.

Safety information continues to develop. The FDA has highlighted reported neurological and urinary adverse events, including loss of coordination, seizures, weakness and changes in urination or thirst. Some reports included death or euthanasia. A report after treatment does not, by itself, establish that the medicine caused the event.

In May 2026, the UK regulator updated product information to include very rare reported joint swelling, joint pain and bone or joint disorders, with further assessment advised for new or increasing joint problems after treatment. This is UK information, not a statement that Canadian labelling is identical.

Ask your vet to review current Canadian prescribing information and relevant safety updates with you. Discuss alternatives, your dog’s neurological and medical history, how benefit will be judged, what would change the decision about another injection, and whom to call if something changes. Report new symptoms promptly; do not wait for the next monthly appointment.

Walk through your house from your dog’s height

A comfortable bed helps only if your dog can get to it, turn around and get off it. A runner helps only if it stays put.

AAHA includes environmental changes in pain management, including secure footing, easier access and protected resting places. Put that advice to work along the routes your dog actually uses.

• Follow the whole route. Check bed to water, water to door, and door to toilet area. Include turns and thresholds. One mat surrounded by slippery floor leaves gaps.
• Check the mat itself. Avoid sliding backing, curled edges and loose layers. Recheck after cleaning and when paws are wet.
• Examine access. A steep, narrow or unstable ramp may create another obstacle. Ask the team to help choose and introduce suitable equipment; do not drag your dog across it.
• Protect rest. Put a comfortable resting place near the family, with enough room to reposition and an easy entrance. Give the dog a separate quiet option when they want one.
• Look outside. Wet decking, ice, steps and the turn off the patio deserve the same attention as indoor flooring.

Small practical details matter. Where does the dog stand while you fit the lead? Where do they wait while you unlock the door? Does another dog rush past them in that narrow space?

If lifting assistance is needed, ask for a demonstration with your dog and suitable equipment. Be honest about what you can safely manage. A plan that depends on you carrying a large dog several times a day needs another conversation.

Keep movement consistent and watch the recovery

Arthritis is not an automatic instruction to stop all activity. It is a reason to choose activity carefully with your veterinary team.

Ask for a starting plan: surface, pace, duration, frequency and signs to stop. Veterinary guidance on exercise supports consistent, gradual conditioning suited to the dog’s health. A large weekend outing does not make up for a quiet week.

Record how your dog moves during the outing, after resting and the following morning. Finishing the route is only one piece of information. Increased stiffness or difficulty rising afterwards belongs in the discussion about whether that activity was manageable.

Ask specifically about fetch, sharp turns, jumping, hills and rough play. A dog who remains keen may still need you to set the limit.

When pain relief helps, avoid immediately restoring the old exercise schedule. Agree how activity can increase and how you will recognise a setback. Do not extend a walk just to find the point at which your dog struggles.

Rehabilitation should fit the body in front of the professional

A video cannot assess your dog’s joints, balance, other illnesses or response to handling. Exercises that look gentle can still be inappropriate for an individual dog.

Cornell’s rehabilitation service describes assessment, tailored conditioning, assistive devices and supervised therapies. That individual assessment is the useful starting point.

Ask a veterinary rehabilitation professional to demonstrate home exercises, watch you perform them, and give clear stopping instructions. Do not force stretches or joint movements from an online routine.

Swimming and underwater treadmill work are different activities. Neither should be assumed suitable simply because water reduces weight bearing. Discuss the dog’s health, confidence, supervision and safe entry and exit.

For any proposed therapy, ask: What is its goal? What evidence supports it for this problem? How many sessions before review? What would make us stop? What can we safely do at home?

Weight and muscle need separate attention

Extra body fat can make arthritis management harder, but an older dog’s falling weight is not automatically good news. Muscle can be lost too.

AAHA recommends assessing body weight, body condition and muscle condition separately. A dog can be overweight and losing muscle at the same time.

Ask for an individual nutrition plan that considers activity, appetite, other disease and muscle preservation. Bring the complete feeding picture, including treats, chews, oils and foods used to give tablets.

Whether you feed a commercial diet or prepare fresh or cooked food at home, the plan needs adequate, balanced nutrition for your dog’s needs. Simply cutting every portion in half is not a considered weight-management programme.

Report unplanned weight loss or reduced appetite. Do not assume arthritis explains it, and do not make a sore dog exercise harder to compensate for food intake.

A joint supplement is not a pain-management plan

The label may say “mobility,” “joint support” or “natural.” Those words do not establish that the product will meaningfully reduce your dog’s pain.

AAHA’s review of non-drug approaches describes stronger evidence for omega-3 fatty acids than for many other joint supplements. That does not make every oil, chew or combination equivalent.

If a supplement is proposed, ask about the actual ingredients, evidence, product quality, interactions and cost. For fish oil, discuss the EPA and DHA content, the amount already in the diet and the appropriate dose with your vet. “One pump” is not a universal dose.

Agree what improvement you are looking for and when to review it. Do not postpone effective pain care while waiting for a supplement to work.

You are allowed to ask whether that monthly spending would be better directed towards an examination, prescribed treatment, secure flooring or a useful rehabilitation appointment.

Use a diary that measures your dog’s actual life

Choose three ordinary activities with your vet. Keep them consistent so you can compare like with like. For example: rising from the usual bed, reaching the toilet area and settling after the agreed walk.

AAHA’s chronic-pain guidance discusses validated owner questionnaires such as the Canine Brief Pain Inventory and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs, alongside individual activity goals. Ask whether your clinic uses one.

The diary below is a communication aid, not a validated pain score or a diagnostic test. Do not combine the entries into a number that decides whether your dog deserves care.

Record	Useful detail
Date and context	Time, recent rest or activity, unusual events and surface conditions.
Prescribed treatment	What was actually given and when; any missed dose or difficulty giving it.
Three chosen activities	What the dog did, hesitation, attempts, assistance and whether the task was completed comfortably.
Rest and recovery	Settling, waking, movement after rest and the following morning.
Other changes	Appetite, drinking, toileting, interaction, unusual sleepiness or poor coordination.
Follow-up	Video reference, call made, advice received and the next agreed review.

An illustrative entry might read: “Tuesday evening: completed our agreed short route; after an hour on the bed, needed two attempts to stand. Wednesday morning: paused at the doorway. Video saved.” That gives the team something specific to compare.

Record easier days too. You are looking for the pattern, not collecting evidence for the answer you hope to hear. If someone else provides care, ask them to use the same activities and descriptions.

Review the plan before life becomes smaller again

Know when you will hear from the clinic and whom to contact sooner. AAHA recommends clear written instructions and planned reassessment, including what to do about adverse effects.

Ask what improvement is realistic, when it should appear and what happens if it does not. Bring the diary rather than relying on the single best afternoon you remember.

Tell the team if your dog still cannot rest comfortably, struggles to toilet, increasingly needs help or seems disconnected from activities they value. A partial response may mean the plan needs changing or the diagnosis needs another look.

Be equally direct about cost, transport, work schedules and lifting limits. Ask which parts have priority and what alternatives are practical. Consistent care needs a plan the household can actually deliver.

The emotional side is real. Our article on watching your dog grow old talks about the changes that are difficult to admit. Noticing a limitation does not mean giving up on the dog. It gives you something to address.

Let their life change without letting pain disappear into the background

A shorter outing can still include interesting smells. Time together can move downstairs. A dog who once charged through the woods may enjoy a quiet place where they can watch, investigate and remain part of the day.

Ask what your dog still wants to do and what makes those moments easier. Keep checking the less visible things too: getting up, settling, sleeping and reaching the door.

You do not have to turn every day into a test. You do have to notice when ordinary life is becoming harder and speak up.

Enjoy the wag. Then watch the steps that follow it.

This article is part of Life With Your Dog, our practical guide from puppyhood through the senior years.