Dog arthritis: What to do?

Few things tug at your heart quite like watching your beloved dog slow down—struggling to rise from their bed or hesitating before that familiar leap into the car. You might chalk these changes up to “just getting old,” but as an experienced veterinarian, I need to tell you something important: these subtle shifts often signal chronic pain, most commonly caused by osteoarthritis (OA), or dog arthritis. When you’re wondering dog arthritis what to do, I want you to know that while this degenerative joint disease—involving cartilage breakdown and joint changes, which result in an arthritic joint characterized by inflammation, pain, stiffness, and irregular joint surfaces—is typically incurable, modern veterinary science gives us evidence-based strategies to manage it effectively. Dog arthritis treatment is a comprehensive approach that may include medications, supplements, and lifestyle adjustments to address pain and inflammation. We can significantly reduce your dog’s suffering and restore the mobility that brings joy back to your furry friend’s life. This guide will empower you to become an active partner with your veterinary team in fighting this disease and enhancing your dog’s quality of life, with the primary goal of improving your dog's quality and overall well-being.

To manage arthritis effectively, you first need to appreciate what chronic pain truly is. Unlike acute pain—which acts as that sharp warning system when you step on something sharp—chronic pain persists and actually transforms into a nervous system disease itself. In your dog with arthritis, the dog’s pain is dynamic: it stems from joint inflammation, neuropathic pain, and often from other coexisting painful conditions like dental disease.

Here’s the challenge: dogs have evolved to hide discomfort because showing vulnerability made them easy targets. This means your dog’s chronic joint pain usually stays hidden, and your pet continues to eat or move, adapting their behavior until the pain becomes severe. However, subtle changes in your dog's behavior—such as reluctance to play, difficulty rising, or changes in gait—can be early indicators of arthritis and should not be overlooked.

You might be attributing your dog’s behavior changes to aging simply because you haven’t had the information to recognize them as pain signals. It is important to monitor your dog's pain closely and note any changes in their comfort or activity, as these can signal worsening arthritis. This invisibility of chronic pain means you need to become an expert observer—your long-term observations provide the best evidence we have for identifying chronic discomfort in your pet.

Since your dog cannot tell you where it hurts, identifying pain falls squarely on both the veterinary team and you, the owner. The symptoms of arthritis in dogs are rarely dramatic—instead, they show up as changes in everyday habits and functioning. Monitoring and managing your dog's arthritis at home can help improve their comfort and quality of life, making it important to pay close attention to subtle changes.

You may notice mobility changes: stiffness when getting up, moving more slowly, or hesitating before doing activities they once loved. But pain also impacts your dog’s social behavior and overall demeanor. To catch these shifts, I recommend screening regularly by asking yourself whether you’re noticing changes in your pet’s ability to move or perform normal activities like grooming or playing.

Simple tools can effectively help you track these symptoms and evaluate how well treatment is working:

• Keeping a pain/activity diary: when you track owner-perceived pain levels, overall activity, and sleep quality, this information assists us during veterinary reviews and helps us adjust pain medication dosages appropriately.

• Using validated questionnaires: tools like the Canine Brief Pain Inventory or Helsinki Chronic Pain Index let you track changes in pain and disability over time, giving you objective data instead of relying purely on memory.

Remember, when we’re managing arthritis, our goal often focuses less on eliminating visible signs like limping—though that’s certainly wonderful when it happens—and more on achieving functional improvements: that renewed interest in playing or increased enthusiasm for walks that tells you your dog feels better.

Since pain in arthritic joints is complex, your treatment approach needs to be equally sophisticated. There are various ways to treat arthritis, including medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, and electrical stimulation. Relying solely on one method rarely succeeds when you’re managing chronic, progressive conditions. Dogs arthritis is often caused by factors like aging, injury, and genetics, which increase the risk of developing this degenerative disease.

Modern, evidence-based treatment options for canine arthritis integrate what we call a “multimodal” strategy—combining several elements together for optimal results.

The multimodal treatment plan for dogs with arthritis typically integrates six key components:

1. Weight Management and Exercise

2. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

3. Joint Supplements (Chondroprotectants)

4. An EPA-Rich Diet

5. Adjunct Pain Relief Medications

6. Physical Rehabilitation

Weight management is arguably the single most impactful factor you can control at home. Here’s why: obesity promotes systemic inflammation throughout your dog’s entire body—what we call a pro-inflammatory state—and this directly contributes to existing joint pain. Studies have proven that maintaining a lean body weight is the only intervention we know increases both the quantity and quality of life for dogs. Furthermore, weight loss demonstrably improves the clinical signs of lameness in obese dogs suffering from hip osteoarthritis and elbow dysplasia.

Your veterinarian can assess your dog’s Body Condition Score (BCS) using a 9-point system, where the ideal lean conformation typically sits at 4/9 or 5/9. Each point above this ideal can represent a 10–15% increase over your pet’s ideal body weight. Regularly monitoring your dog's weight is essential to prevent or alleviate arthritis symptoms and maintain joint health.

Losing that excess weight becomes critical because it reduces mechanical stress on damaged cartilage while actively lowering the inflammatory chemicals circulating in your dog’s body. A successful weight loss program requires individualized attention to your dog’s food intake and regular exercise routine. Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA found in fish oil, into your dog's food can also help reduce inflammation and support joint health.

Medications form the cornerstone of managing the pain and inflammation associated with degenerative joint disease.

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): these medications are central to chronic pain treatment because they tackle the inflammation that's contributing to your dog's pain. NSAID therapy proves highly effective, but your veterinarian must prescribe and monitor it through blood tests—especially in older dogs and senior dog patients—to manage potential side effects. If your dog doesn't respond well to one NSAID, your veterinarian may recommend switching to an alternative after a recommended 5–7 day "washout period".

• Adjunct pain relief medications: for dogs experiencing severe arthritis or more complex pain, including neuropathic pain from nerve damage, we may add medications like Gabapentin or Amantadine to the protocol. When we combine multiple drug types, we can target different pain pathways simultaneously, which often results in better comfort with lower dosages of individual drugs.

Specific dietary changes can powerfully support your dog's joint health. An EPA-rich diet—one that's high in Omega-3 fatty acids—serves as a key element of the recommended multimodal approach. These fatty acids actively help combat the inflammatory process affecting one or more joints in your dog's body.

Joint supplements, including chondroprotectants, serve as valuable complementary treatment options. These nutraceuticals can help maintain joint fluid and support damaged bone surfaces, though they work best when you combine them with other therapies rather than using them as standalone treatment options.

While physical activity might seem contradictory when your dog is sore, appropriate exercise is actually essential for improving muscle strength around affected joints—and that's key to managing arthritis long-term. Your dog's physical therapy needs to be engaging, sustained, and realistically balanced with your schedule.

Weight management combined with a progressive, tailored exercise plan typically proves more effective than diet alone, especially when it comes to preserving vital lean muscle mass. You can design this approach to achieve specific milestones you set, such as comfortably completing neighborhood walks or climbing stairs again.

Working with a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner for techniques like hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, or passive stretching can be extremely helpful. Consider controlled walking on anti-slip mats instead of slippery floors to reduce extra strain on your dog's joints. Memory foam beds and a heat pad can also help keep your dog comfortable.

These non-pharmacological therapies are generally required for truly effective treatment of significant chronic pain, and they can make a significant difference in joint mobility.

Physical examination during regular veterinary care helps us monitor your dog's progress. X-rays may be needed initially to assess how severe the joint disease is and which joint affected requires the most attention. Most dogs show improvement within a few weeks of starting a comprehensive treatment plan.

Certain breeds carry a genetic predisposition to developing arthritis. Bernese Mountain Dogs, Springer Spaniels, and other large breeds face increased risk due to conditions like hip dysplasia. These dogs benefit tremendously from early intervention and aggressive weight management to reduce inflammation and manage pain before severe arthritis develops.

For dogs already diagnosed, the treatment plan should be tailored to your dog’s specific needs based on physical examination findings and your dog’s weight. It is important to address your dog's specific requirements when managing arthritis to ensure the most effective care. Multiple treatment options exist, and I can help you determine which combination works best for your individual pet.

With proper management, your dog with arthritis can live comfortably for many years. The key lies in early intervention and consistent adherence to a multimodal treatment plan. While osteoarthritis affects your dog progressively, the right combination of weight management, anti-inflammatory drugs, joint supplements, physical therapy, and environmental modifications can dramatically improve your dog's quality of life and joint health.

Range of motion exercises, regular exercise appropriate to your dog's condition, and ongoing monitoring ensure that as the disease progresses, your treatment plan adapts accordingly. Many dogs maintain excellent quality of life throughout their senior years when their arthritis receives proper management.

Successfully treating arthritis requires recognizing this as a chronic and progressive condition—but I want to emphasize that it is manageable. As the pet owner, you are the most valuable partner on the veterinary team because you're the expert on your dog's daily life and behavioral nuances.

My role as your veterinarian is to offer you customized, evidence-based treatment plans and communicate clearly and empathetically with you, focusing on functionality and overall well-being rather than promising an unrealistic cure. Your commitment to cooperation and understanding becomes essential to our success.

Here's the best actionable advice you can start applying today:

• Prioritize weight management: if your dog is overweight, make weight loss your absolute top priority. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight increases their quality and quantity of life while directly reducing joint pain.

• Track everything: start a simple diary where you record changes in mobility, activity levels, and willingness to play. This objective data helps your veterinarian tailor the multimodal pain protocol to your dog's specific needs.

• Communicate goals: discuss specific functional goals with your veterinary team—for example, "I want him to play fetch for 10 minutes." This alignment ensures your plan focuses on restoring joyful activities and improves your satisfaction with the outcome.

By maintaining open communication and embracing a comprehensive multimodal plan—incorporating diet, medication, and appropriate movement—you can help reduce pain, improve joint mobility, and ensure your furry friend enjoys the longest, healthiest relationship possible. Remember, managing arthritis in dogs isn't about curing the condition; it's about maximizing comfort and functionality so your beloved companion can continue to thrive.