Joints and mobility · Updated 2026-09-20
Canine osteoarthritis
A progressive, painful joint disease that can reduce mobility, sleep quality and willingness to exercise.
Signs to watch for
- Stiffness after rest
- Reluctance to jump or use stairs
- Shorter walks or lagging behind
- Licking painful joints
- Behaviour or sleep changes
Causes and risk factors
Cartilage breakdown and joint inflammation may follow age-related wear, developmental joint disease, previous injury, obesity or abnormal joint loading.
How veterinarians diagnose it
A veterinarian combines history, gait and joint examination with imaging where needed. Similar signs can come from spinal or neurological disease.
Treatment and management
Management is usually multimodal: weight control, tailored exercise, rehabilitation, environmental changes and veterinarian-prescribed pain relief. Supplements are not substitutes for proven analgesia.
Prevention
Keep dogs lean, build exercise gradually, avoid repetitive high-impact work in growing dogs and investigate persistent lameness early.
Outlook
It cannot usually be cured, but many dogs remain active and comfortable with ongoing monitoring and adjusted treatment.