Arthritis Symptoms in Senior Dogs

If your senior dog is having trouble moving around, especially when he or she first wakes up, then most likely your older dog is suffering from arthritis.

Knowing the symptoms and signs of arthritis in dogs helps dog owners to treat arthritis as soon as it appears. Depending upon the severity of your dog's arthritis, treatment involves a healthy diet, keeping the dog's weight under control, daily exercise, over the counter supplements which support healthy joints, or adding a prescription for steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs

Early Signs of Arthritis

• Lame after exercising but then recover

Moderate Arthritis

• Stiffness when first waking up
• Lame after exercising
• Slow walking pace
• Hesitant to go up or down stairs

Severe Arthitis Symptoms

• The dog needs help getting up
• Limping all the time
• Will not attempt to climb stairs or jump
• Has trouble lifting leg or squatting to urinate
• Shaking leg muscles
• Seems to experience pain when touched
• Hops rather than runs

If your senior dog displays any of these signs of arthritis, contact your veterinarian for a consultation. Sometimes, early stages of arthritis only need diet and exercise for positive results.

The later stages of arthritis in dogs often requires supplements like, glucosamine, chondroitin, and other joint products.

If your older dog is really suffering on a regular basis, a prescription for pain medication will relieve your dog's discomfort.