Arthritis is one of the most common conditions in ageing dogs, and one of the most commonly missed — because dogs are very good at hiding it, and because we tend to file the early signs under "just getting old".
This is general information only. Arthritis needs a proper veterinary diagnosis — several other conditions look similar, and effective pain management is something only your vet can prescribe.
Why it's so easy to miss
Dogs don't limp until it's advanced, because arthritis is usually symmetrical — both hips or both elbows hurt roughly equally, so there's no "good side" to favour. Instead of limping, they simply do less. And "doing less" is exactly what we expect from an older dog anyway.
The seven early signs
1. Hesitating before jumping
The pause before hopping onto the couch or into the car. They still do it — but there's a moment of calculation first that didn't used to be there.
2. Stiffness after rest
Slow and awkward for the first few minutes after a nap, then loosening up as they move. This is the single most classic sign, and the easiest to write off.
3. Struggling on slippery floors
Tiles and floorboards demand more stabilising work from the joints. A dog who's started splaying, scrabbling, or actively avoiding hard floors is telling you something.
4. A change in how they sit or lie
Sitting with a leg kicked out to the side, shifting position frequently, or taking a long time to settle.
5. Losing interest in walks
Not refusing them — just flagging earlier, turning for home sooner, or being noticeably sore the day after a big outing.
6. Licking at a joint
Persistent licking over a wrist, elbow or hip, sometimes enough to stain the fur. It's a self-soothing response to a sore area.
7. Being less tolerant
Grumpiness when touched near the hindquarters, reluctance to be picked up, or withdrawing from the family. Pain shortens everyone's temper.
What genuinely helps at home
Veterinary treatment does the heavy lifting — but the environment you set up around it matters more than most owners realise.
Weight management
The single most effective non-medical intervention. Every extra kilo is load through already-inflamed joints. If your vet says your dog is carrying extra weight, addressing that will do more than any product you can buy.
Remove the jumping
The repeated impact of jumping down from a couch or bed is jarring for compromised joints. Steps or a ramp remove that impact entirely, and most dogs take to them within a week — our comfort stairs were designed around exactly this problem, with a low-rise incline rather than a steep climb.
A bed that actually supports
A flat, packed-down pad puts pressure straight through hips and elbows. A supportive bed with raised sides gives them something to rest against and distributes weight better. It also keeps them off cold hard floors, which stiff joints hate. Our bolster bed is built for this.
Traction on hard floors
Runners and rugs along the routes they use most — bed to door, couch to water bowl — reduce the constant micro-stabilising that tires sore joints.
Shorter, more frequent walks
Two twenty-minute walks are usually kinder than one long one. Consistent gentle movement helps; weekend-warrior bursts don't.
When to see the vet
If you recognised two or more signs above, book a check-up. Arthritis is progressive, and the earlier it's managed the better the long-term outcome. There's also genuinely effective pain relief available now — many owners are surprised how much of their dog's "old age" was actually treatable discomfort.