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Arthritis in Dogs: How to Help a Dog With Arthritis at Home (Dog Arthritis Care Guide)

By The Old Dog Products team · Published

Not veterinary advice. This article is general information to help you care for your dog at home. It isn’t veterinary advice and can’t replace an exam. If you’re worried about your dog, call your vet.

Stiff mornings, a slower walk, and hesitating at the stairs are signs many owners of older dogs notice. It’s hard to see a dog who once raced you up the stairs stop and think about every step. Your vet leads on diagnosis and pain control. Here’s what you can do at home to make every day easier.

If you only have a minute

  • Get a vet check first. ACVS says good management can give dogs with arthritis a good quality of life, and only your vet can confirm what’s going on.
  • Watch your dog’s weight. ACVS calls keeping a dog slim “by far the most critical aspect of OA management” (ACVS).
  • Swap long or bouncy outings for short, gentle leash walks.
  • Cover slippery floors, block the stairs, and stop the jumping.

🚩 See your vet if…

  • You notice signs of pain. VCA lists slowness to stand, reluctance to jump or use stairs, limping, a “lazy sit,” lying down to eat, and restlessness at night (VCA)
  • Stiffness or limping gets worse after exercise changes (VCA)

Emergency: can’t stand, drags their legs, or suddenly loses bladder control. ACVS calls disc rupture generally a true surgical emergency (ACVS). If your dog collapses, has trouble breathing, or seems in severe pain, call your vet or an emergency vet now.

What is osteoarthritis in dogs?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common kind of arthritis in dogs. You may also hear it called degenerative joint disease (DJD). VCA puts it at roughly 80% of dogs older than eight (VCA).

Arthritis in dogs: what’s happening in the joint

In dogs with osteoarthritis, ACVS describes inflammation and gradual breakdown of the joint, including the cartilage that cushions it and the joint fluid that keeps it moving smoothly. Hips, knees, elbows, shoulders, wrists and ankles are commonly affected (ACVS). It’s a progressive disease: joint damage builds slowly over time, so the aim is to keep your dog comfortable and moving for as long as possible. Arthritis can affect more than one joint.

Symptoms of arthritis in dogs

Signs of arthritis can be subtle at first. Watch for:

  • A stiff walk, a waddle, or “bunny hopping” with the back legs (ACVS)
  • Difficulty getting up after lying down, or sitting with one leg out to the side (ACVS)
  • Not wanting to jump onto furniture or into the car (ACVS)
  • Walking behind you instead of ahead, or cutting walks short (VCA)
  • Licking or chewing at a joint. Blue Cross and VCA both list licking or chewing at painful areas as a pain sign (Blue Cross, VCA)
  • Muscle loss, especially one leg looking thinner than the other. Blue Cross lists muscle wasting as a sign of arthritis (Blue Cross). Cornell explains that dogs shift weight away from a painful leg, and vets check for uneven muscle loss during the exam (Cornell). Run your hands down both back legs, then both front legs, and tell your vet if one side feels different.

If your dog has arthritis, you may notice these signs more when they first get up after resting or after exercise (Blue Cross). These signs can have other causes too, including injury or nerve problems, so let your vet work out what’s behind them. If it’s mostly the back legs that are weak, see senior dog back legs giving out.

What vets say matters most

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons describes OA management as multimodal and decided case by case with your vet (ACVS). Two points stand out for home care:

  • Weight. ACVS calls a slender body weight “by far the most critical aspect of OA management.” Extra weight puts more force on the joints. Ask your vet what your dog should weigh and how to get there.
  • Activity. ACVS advises limiting high-impact activity like running and jumping, and replacing it with controlled, low-impact exercise like leash walks.

At what age does arthritis start in dogs?

There’s no single age. VCA’s figure of roughly 80% of dogs over eight shows how common arthritis is in older dogs (VCA), but some dogs show signs earlier, for example dogs with old joint injuries or hip or elbow dysplasia, so don’t wait for a set age to ask your vet. Arthritis is a progressive disease, so the sooner your vet knows, the sooner you can plan together.

Treatment options your vet may discuss

Every dog with arthritis is different, so the plan is something to work out with your vet. Your vet can talk you through options, including medicines, and how to keep checking that your dog is comfortable. We don’t cover those options here. Ask your vet before adding any supplement, especially if your dog takes other medicines.

How to help a dog with arthritis day to day

The day-to-day side is where you come in. Most of it is about keeping your dog moving gently, keeping your dog at a healthy weight, and making the house easier to get around.

Walks: little and often

Ask your vet first what exercise is right for your dog. VCA suggests frequent short walks rather than long ones. A starting point is 10 minutes, three times a day, increasing weekly only if stiffness doesn’t get worse. If it does, talk to your vet (VCA). Flat, non-slippery ground is easiest.

Gentle exercises your vet may show you

Check with your vet first, and stop if your dog seems sore. ACVS advises limiting high-impact activity such as running and jumping in favor of controlled exercise like leash walks, so skip ball-chasing and sudden turns (ACVS). For more ideas, see our guide to gentle exercise for senior dogs. Call your vet if your dog limps more afterwards, is stiffer than usual the next morning, or doesn’t want to go on their next walk.

Should I ask about rehab?

It’s worth asking. ACVS lists rehabilitation, such as range-of-motion exercises, therapeutic exercise and underwater treadmill work, as part of OA care (ACVS). Ask your vet whether a referral to a veterinary rehabilitation practitioner makes sense for your dog. Don’t try rehab exercises at home without guidance.

Home comfort steps to help your arthritic dog feel more at ease

People often search for home remedies for a dog’s leg trouble. There’s no home fix for joint disease, but these changes to the house can make everyday life easier for older dogs with stiff joints:

  • Floors: runners and rugs on main routes. CARE ranks covering slippery floors among the most useful changes you can make for an arthritic dog (CARE). See Stop slipping on floors.
  • Boots and grips: treaded boots and toenail grips are other ways to add grip. In CARE’s experience, most dogs won’t put up with boots or socks, so start with rugs, and if you do try something on the feet, bring it in slowly (CARE).
  • Stairs: Blue Cross advises supporting your dog if they need to climb stairs (Blue Cross). A baby or pet gate at the top and bottom is a simple home-safety step, so your dog only uses the stairs when you’re there to help. A sling or lifting harness can help you support them.
  • No jumping: ramps or stairs for the sofa, bed, and car. Getting down is the hard part: CARE points out that leaping off a bed or out of a tall car is tough on any dog’s joints (CARE). See Ramp vs stairs.
  • Bed: a supportive dog bed with a low edge your dog can step onto, somewhere warm and out of drafts (CARE).
  • Bowls: raised if bending looks hard (VCA), but read Raised bowls first if you have a large or giant breed.
  • Help up: a sling or lifting harness for stairs and the car. See Lift harness guide.
  • Nails short, paw fur trimmed.

When to give your dog a vet check again

Arthritis symptoms can change. Book a check if your arthritic dog is slower than usual, stops wanting walks, or starts limping on a new leg.

Keeping a simple diary for your vet

A short daily note helps your vet see how your dog gets on between visits, and it can help your dog by making changes easier to spot. Write down how far your dog walked, how they managed the stairs or the car, and how stiff they seemed on first getting up. Short phone videos of your dog walking or rising from bed are useful too. Bring the notes to each check so you and your vet can adjust the plan together.

Questions to ask your vet

  • What’s the plan for keeping my dog comfortable, and what side effects should I watch for?
  • What’s my dog’s ideal weight, and how do we get there?
  • How much exercise, and what kind?
  • Would rehab help?
  • Should I check with you before adding any supplement?

Sources

Products mentioned

Products don’t treat any condition. They can make the home safer or easier. Ask your vet what suits your dog.

  • PetSafe Happy Ride compact telescoping ramp. View on Amazon
  • PetSafe Happy Ride extra-long telescoping ramp. View on Amazon
  • Miorun foam dog stairs (small dogs). View on Amazon
  • Help 'Em Up lift harness (M, 45–80 lb). View on Amazon

    Check the size and weight limits. If your dog is in pain or suddenly can't stand, contact your vet.

  • Help 'Em Up lift harness (L, 80–125 lb). View on Amazon

    Check the size and weight limits. If your dog is in pain or suddenly can't stand, contact your vet.

  • Adjustable rear-support sling (large). View on Amazon

    Check the size and weight limits. If your dog is in pain or suddenly can't stand, contact your vet.

More picks in our product guide: Getting around.