How does a dog act when they have arthritis?

You may notice that your dog is reluctant to do things that previously were not a problem for them. Perhaps your pet used to dart into your vehicle the second the doors opened, and now seems indifferent. You may notice your dog has difficulty going up or down the stairs. Is your once playful pet no longer interested in running and playing? Maybe lagging behind on walks? If you notice these changes in your pet, arthritis could be the culprit. Chances are, these once easy tasks are now painful due to swollen joints. Depending on the joints that are affected, you may see your pet limping or favoring one or more legs over the others. Your dog may seem to experience pain or stiffness when getting up or down that seems to resolve after they have walked a bit and warmed up. Inflammation in the joints can cause the affected areas to be sensitive to touch. Has your once lovely pup seemed to turn into a grumpy old man? If you were in constant pain when moving, it is likely you would have a shorter fuse, too. They may snap or bite when someone tries to touch them, particularly if you are handling them in a way that worsens the pain. Your pet may spend more time in quiet areas of the house, or stop following you around. Pain is exhausting! If it is uncomfortable for your pet to move around, they will not want to walk as far or play. Instead they may spend more time resting or sleeping. You may notice them licking or chewing on or more spots often, even to the point of hair loss and inflamed skin in the area. Arthritic dogs often develop muscle atrophy from inactivity. The decreased use of certain muscles will cause them to deteriorate over time. If the arthritis is in one or more legs, you may notice that those legs look thinner than the others.

Symptoms include difficulty getting up from lying down especially in the morning. Lameness, usually of gradual onset, can also occur. Problems climbing up or down stairs or jumping into the car are common. Dogs may not be able to walk so far or so fast. Possible temperament changes, such as becoming grumpy, can happen. Licking of the affected leg or other objects may also be seen. As an arthritic joint is painful, the leg is not used as much as normal. This leads to loss of muscle, stiffness and a change in gait. All these changes in one limb can lead to extra stress and strain being put on the dog’s other limbs and back.

Arthritis is a progressive joint disease and symptoms develop and worsen over time. You may notice your dog slowing down and taking it easier when out and about on walks. They may also become reluctant to play or go up and down stairs, and they might struggle to get up after long periods of rest. The condition becomes worse in cold weather, so if they appear stiff or slow or yelp out in pain during the winter months, this could be a sign of arthritis. Other symptoms of arthritis in dogs include: Limping or lameness A stiff walk that is worse when first waking up Groaning or caution when lying down or getting up Being wary of joints being touched Tiredness Irritability Licking or chewing at joints.