7 Things to Do If Your Dog Has Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common problem affecting thousands of dogs each year. While this issue is most often diagnosed in elderly pets, it can also be seen in younger animals, so it is essential to be aware of the symptoms.

We will explore joint pain in more detail, as well as some of the top things you can do to support a dog suffering from it. Your vet will be able to advise you further on some of these, depending on your pet’s diagnosis.

Identifying Joint Pain

Dogs are very stoic and will often put up with a lot of discomfort before letting us know about it. Many joint issues creep on gradually, causing increasing levels of chronic pain over time, meaning that most dogs don’t yelp or cry out. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye out for subtle clues. 

If your dog is showing any of the following symptoms, then they could be suffering from joint pain –

• Limping
• Stiffness (especially after resting)
• Reduced activity or ‘slowing down’ on walks
• Difficulty jumping up
• Difficulty going up and down stairs
• Changes in temperament
• Swollen or irregular feeling joints
• Licking at affected joints
• Pacing and difficulty settling comfortably to rest
• Pulling away when a sore joint is handled

If your dog is experiencing any of these signs, then you must get them checked over by a vet.

7 Tips for Managing Joint Pain

Once your dog’s joint problem has been officially diagnosed, there may be a variety of ways of managing it. Often a multi-modal approach is used, which means carrying out several of the following at the same time:

We cannot stress this one enough – if you think your dog is struggling with joint pain, then you must take them to a vet. Your vet will be able to assess your dog and discuss whether further diagnostics are needed.

While age-related osteoarthritis is certainly the most common form of joint pain we see in pets, there are many other diseases that can cause similar symptoms.

For example, infectious arthritis (caused by bacterial infection), traumatic injury (such as cranial cruciate ligament rupture), and underlying developmental abnormalities can all cause pain.

Once a diagnosis has been made, options can be discussed. Your vet will often suggest treatments to help control inflammation and pain. These may include:

Controlling your pet’s pain is crucial to help them maintain a good quality of life. As well as pain relief, your vet will be able to advise you on some of the other management options (below).

Controlling your dog’s exercise can greatly help with joint pain. Activities that put undue pressure on the joints, with lots of sharp twists and turns, are to be avoided. This includes using ball flingers or going on very long jogs or hikes.

Having a steady, moderate amount of exercise every day will help your pet stay active and maintain muscle mass without causing issues.

Problems are most likely to arise when your dog only has short walks during the busy working week, and a couple of unusually long ones at the weekend.

Supplements rich in glucosamine and chondroitin have been proven to support cartilage health. They are generally safe for most dogs to start after your dog is a year old.

Cartilage is the cushioning buffer that sits at the ends of the bones, creating a smooth gliding surface within the joint. Healthy cartilage means a healthy joint.

Omega-3 also plays an important role. Supplements rich in these essential fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and pain in joints, as well as supporting other things such as skin and coat condition, brain function, and heart health.

Undenatured type II collagen may also help support joint comfort and mobility in dogs. Clinical research in dogs with osteoarthritis has found improvements in mobility and joint-related discomfort following supplementation with undenatured type II collagen.

Joint supplements are nutraceuticals, meaning you don’t require a prescription for them. However, it is always worth speaking to your vet for their recommendations.

Specific exercises and massages can help to improve muscle mass and strength, supporting painful joints. Many dogs with chronic joint disease will start to experience muscle atrophy (muscle wasting), so physiotherapy or hydrotherapy can be a big help.

Physiotherapy involves targeted exercises to help increase the range of motion and improve muscle condition.

Hydrotherapy involves exercise carried out in water, which allows your dog to perform low impact movements on sore joints. You should always use a practitioner with qualifications in this area who can help create a bespoke treatment plan for your dog’s condition.

Set your dog up for success by making a few changes at home. This could include:

• Lifting dogs in and out of the car or using a ramp.
• The same applies to things like sofas and beds.
• Providing a soft, supportive bed.
• Putting down carpets or rugs on flooring that’s slippery.
• Removing any trip hazards and keeping the floor clutter-free.

Being overweight puts excessive amounts of pressure on joints, adding to wear and tear.

Your vet can advise you on body condition scoring your pet, as this gives a good guide as to whether they are at a healthy weight or not. A dog with a healthy body condition score will be given a score of 4 or 5, where 1 is emaciated and 9 is morbidly obese.

Weighing your pet’s food out and following the feeding guidelines on your chosen diet will help to control weight, as well as avoiding too many extras like table scraps and treats. Your vet practice can help you further if a weight-reduction diet is needed.

Some owners look to alternative therapies to help manage their pet’s joint pain. This may include acupuncture, magnetic field therapy, and laser therapy.

The success of these treatments will vary and could depend on your dog’s temperament as well as the type of joint pain they are suffering from.

However, many owners report noticing a positive improvement in their pet’s comfort when these therapies are used alongside other, more traditional means.

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