Arthritis in dogs can be challenging to manage. With up to 20 percent of adult dogs affected, it’s one of the most common conditions our pets need our help with.
Medical treatment plays a key role, but the good news is that knowing how to help a dog with arthritis at home can also make a significant difference to their quality of life. Simple changes to your living spaces and routines can help to keep your dog moving comfortably.
How Arthritis Can Impact a Dog’s Quality of Life
Nobody wants their dog to live with chronic pain. Feeling stiff and sore is as unpleasant for them as it is for us. However, dogs with arthritis can be surprisingly stoic, making it hard to spot the signs.
In the early stages dogs may show few, if any, obvious signs of pain. Few dogs with arthritis will whine or cry – so it’s important to pay attention to the changes in behavior that can indicate underlying pain.
As arthritis progresses and pain begins to affect a dog’s quality of life you may start to notice one, or several, of the following signs:
Difficulty Standing Up or Lying Down
Taking longer to get up, especially in the morning, is often one of the first signs of sore joints affecting your dog.
Slowing Down
It’s incredibly common for vets to hear that older pets are slowing down. “But it’s normal for them to slow down as they get older, right?” Unfortunately, slowing down is often a sign that something is wrong. Pain from joints is often responsible.
Not all dogs will slow down due to early arthritis. For some, excitement masks pain and they continue to push through. However, it’s common for dogs to become reluctant to exercise and seem “lazy” – especially if they avoid exercising when cold weather makes their joint pain worse.
Reduced Interest in Activities They Usually Enjoy
For many dogs, the excitement of playtime or a walk with their favorite person overrides everything else. However, if your dog is less enthusiastic than normal, arthritis could be the cause.
Increased Irritability
Do you remember when you last had a sore back, or a nagging headache? Pain can easily make people – and dogs – grumpy. If a particular area is sore, your dog may also become reactive, trying to guard themselves from potential pain.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Arthritis
If you suspect your dog has arthritis, what should you do? The first step is to see your veterinarian, who can help to rule out other conditions and discuss the various options available to manage the condition.
Arthritis is a progressive condition, and the best arthritis care for dogs involves working closely with your vet to support your dog as effectively as possible.
12 Ways to Help a Dog with Arthritis at Home
Helping your dog with arthritis isn’t just about medication. Alongside pain relief, your veterinarian may recommend a range of other interventions – and some of the most important involve learning how to help your dog with arthritis at home.
Home Modifications
Non-Slip Flooring
One of the best ways of helping a dog with arthritis around the house is to invest in flooring that doesn’t leave them slipping and sliding.
You don’t need to carpet your entire home, but strategically placing non-slip mats or rugs, carpets or stair treads can make a big difference to your dog. Try adding some to hard-floored entryways, by your dog’s food bowls, and in other high-traffic areas.
Orthopedic Beds
Everyone’s been left stiff and sore from a poor mattress at least once in their life – and arthritis only makes this worse. Just like us, dogs can benefit from extra support to evenly distribute their weight while they sleep, giving them the best possible rest.
If your dog has arthritis, picking a bed with a thick layer of memory foam can help – but it’s also important to make sure they have beds in the places they choose to rest. Some dogs will prioritize their favorite spot over the comfort of a new bed.
Ramps (and Steps)
For dogs with arthritis, jumping on and off furniture, and in and out of the car, can become a real challenge and risks flaring up painful joints.
Adding in ramps or even sets of small, easy-to-use steps can help dogs avoid these daily strains. You may need to encourage them to use them at first with treats and praise.
Raising Food and Water Bowls
Bending down to reach bowls on the floor can become increasingly challenging for dogs with arthritis, especially if their elbows or shoulders are affected. Using elevated bowls or simply raising their bowls onto a solid box or step can keep them eating and drinking comfortably.
Keeping Things Accessible
This point’s simple, but worth bearing in mind. If your dog is struggling at home, make sure the main things they need are close together. For example, if they spend a lot of time upstairs but routinely have to go down to the kitchen for a drink, try adding an extra water bowl upstairs.
Checking the Thermostat
If your dog has arthritis, they’re more likely than ever to appreciate you keeping the house warm. Cold temperatures can worsen dog arthritis in several ways, including reducing blood flow and increasing muscle tension.
Even if you can’t keep the whole house warm, it’s especially important to make sure your dog’s bed is in a cozy spot so they can sleep away from cold spots.
Lifestyle Changes
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
If you ask your vet how to help a dog with arthritis, weight management is likely to be near the top of their list. It may seem cruel to deny your dog that extra treat, chew or scrap of cheese, but in reality, it’s one of the kindest things you can do for them. Maintaining a healthy weight can make a world of difference to their quality of life.
Weight gain in dogs with arthritis is incredibly common and can be part of a vicious cycle. The heavier they are, the more pain they’re in and the worse their mobility is. The worse their mobility is, the less exercise they do, and the more weight they gain.
You shouldn’t force your dog to exercise if they’re in pain, so adapting their diet is key to maintaining a healthy weight. The good news? Even small changes can make a real difference. If your dog is obese, losing just 6-9 percent of their bodyweight could significantly reduce their joint pain.
Continuing Low-Impact Exercise
You shouldn’t encourage your dog to exercise through pain – but continuing to move is vital. Pain relief can play a big role, but it’s also essential to adapt the exercise you do together.
Swap out high-impact activities like chasing after balls for lower intensity walks with plenty of sniffing. Playing hide and seek, doing scent work, or training new tricks can also help to keep your dog mentally and physically active, without overloading their joints.
The key is to keep exercise controlled, regular, and adjusted to your dog’s ability. For example, two 30-minute walks a day are a better way to maintain muscle and avoid flareups than a 2-hour hike or 5k run at the weekend. If their symptoms flare up, you might need to reduce their walks to 15-minutes before slowly building back up.
Feeding a Balanced, Vet-Recommended Diet
Senior dogs tend to lose muscle mass as they age, and arthritis can accelerate this. Their metabolism also slows, leaving them prone to weight gain. Feeding an age-appropriate, complete diet with good quality protein is important not just for their arthritis, but also to support their overall health.
Heat Therapy
Warm compresses can be a great option to improve blood flow, relax muscles, and soothe sore joints. Applying heat is similar in dogs to humans – simply use a warm heat pack wrapped in fabric and apply for periods of 10-20 minutes at a time.
It’s vital to make sure you never use a heat pack that’s too hot and never apply it directly to the skin. You should also check the area you’re treating at regular intervals to ensure it’s not too warm.
Heat pads can also be helpful but should be used with care. These products can cause significant burns if used inappropriately and it can be difficult to monitor their temperature.
Keeping Nails Trimmed
Walking less can easily result in overgrown nails. Overly long nails can change how your dog’s paw moves as they place it on the ground, potentially placing extra strain on their joints.
If your dog’s not a fan of nail trims, nail files and scratch boards can be effective alternatives.
Holistic Therapies
When considering how to help a dog with arthritis at home, you may also want to discuss holistic therapies with your veterinarian. Hydrotherapy, massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy can be incredibly beneficial to some dogs. These therapies may help alleviate pain, aid weight loss and maintain strength and mobility.
It’s important to check with your vet before trying these options to ensure they’re safe for your dog and discuss which might be most valuable. They may also be able to recommend reputable practitioners in your area.
Things to Avoid If Your Dog Has Arthritis
We’ve covered our top tips for how to help a dog with arthritis – but what about the things you shouldn’t do?
Here are the top five things to avoid if your dog has arthritis:
- Strenuous exercise: Excitement often suppresses pain for dogs in the moment, but excessive activity can leave them stiff and sore a few hours later.
- Overfeeding: It’s easy to fall for puppy dog eyes and slip your dog a few table scraps, but these quickly add up. It’s best to stick to a set diet and make sure everyone in the house is on board.
- Rough play: Some dogs may continue to enjoy this despite arthritis, but if they seem more grumpy than usual it’s best avoided. Arthritis may be a chronic condition but affected dogs are prone to flareups if they take a tumble.
- Boisterous playmates: Your dog may be good at ignoring others that are over-enthusiastic, but if they experience sudden pain from another dog jumping on them unexpectedly it’s easy for things to get out of hand. Try to avoid other dogs that won’t take no for an answer.
- Human medications: If your dog is in pain, it can be tempting to try offering them a dose of human pain relief. Unfortunately, many human medications are highly toxic to dogs. Never give your dog any form of medication without discussing it with your vet first.
Conclusion
If your dog has arthritis, working closely with your veterinarian to control their pain and keep them as healthy as possible is crucial. As part of their arthritis treatment plan, knowing how to help a dog with arthritis at home can allow you to more effectively manage their symptoms, avoid flareups and maintain their mobility.
While a diagnosis of arthritis can be daunting, with the right medical and home care, affected dogs can enjoy long and happy lives.
References
- Anderson KL, Zulch H, O’Neill DG, Meeson RL, Collins LM. Risk Factors for Canine Osteoarthritis and Its Predisposing Arthropathies: A Systematic Review. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:220. Published 2020 Apr 28. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00220
- Marshall WG, Hazewinkel HA, Mullen D, De Meyer G, Baert K, Carmichael S. The effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet Res Commun. 2010;34(3):241-253. doi:10.1007/s11259-010-9348-7
