My dog has joint pain and won't jump. How can I help his mobility?

Hello, I’m sorry to hear about Diesel. Dogs can experience arthritis as they age due to instability in their joints. One of the most common places for them to have arthritis is in their hip joints. Just as in people, arthritis leads to aches and pains with movement. Supplements can be helpful with arthritis, because they contain compounds to improve joint health. However, they will not heal the arthritis and get rid of the pain completely. If the supplements don’t seem to have a large effect on Diesel, I would recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian. They can examined his joints and look for discomfort. They may prescribe a course of anti-inflammatory medications to help with the discomfort. Hope this helps, good luck!

I am very sorry to hear that Jake seems less eager to jump then he used to be. This is a very common problem with older small- medium dogs. Though it is difficulty to say exactly what is the cause, I would be worried about osteoarthritis in Jake's hip joints. A vet would be able to diagnose with a physical examination as well as potentially using an X-ray to visualise the changes in Jake's lower back, Such as slipped discs, knees, and hip joints. Because Jake seems otherwise very well in himself I would advise adding a supplement to his diet to help with joint health. There are several of these on the market currently. Look for Glucosamine & Chondroitin in the labels, and always buy a pet formulated brand, as doses are different for humans. I would also advise a change in his exercise regime to promote lean muscle mass development. Muscle wastage is a common contributing factor in older dogs. More frequent, but shorter walks will benefit Jake. For example, two 20 minute walks, One in the morning and one in the evening If you notice that Jake is particularly sore after a walk you can apply a cool compress to hip area I hope this answer was helpful and if you believe that Jake is not benefiting from these tactics I advise a trip to the veterinarian to ensure noting more is occuing.

Poor girl. Considering her age she likely has some arthritis setting in her joints. Sometimes joint supplements (ie Dasuquin or Cosequin) can help with pain if it is mild-moderate. However for immediate help with her pain your vet can prescribe some anti-inflammatory (Rimadyl or Meloxicam) and pain medicine (Tramadol) to help with Nila’s comfort. Also the vet will want to check her organs (liver, kidneys, etc) to ensure they are also fine. Best of luck with Nila and I hope she feels better soon. Take care.

I hate to hear Scrappy is slowing down. My top joint supplements are Dasuquin and Duralactin. Either one to start is fine. Putting him on an omega-3 fatty acid would also be beneficial. Just make sure to get a dog version as the human versions can have xylitol which is toxic to pets. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diamond is adorable! It does sound like she is somewhat painful as she is hesitant to do normal activities. This can be caused by arthritis - pretty much any joint can be affected as well as the spine. Your vet can perform a thorough orthopedic exam and x-rays to isolate the signs to a particular part of the body. Certain conditions such as Lyme disease and autoimmune disease also cause generalized joint pain and can be ruled out with bloodwork. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have about Diamond!

Hello, sorry to hear about Diesel. It sounds like he could have a condition known as luxating patellas in where the knee caps dislocate from their normal groove. Certain breeds are predisposed to this such as Yorkies and Chihuahuas. I would recommend having Diesel evaluated in the near future for this condition. There are other potential causes, but typically are accompanied by more pain an discomfort. In the interim, if Diesel is otherwise doing well, restrict his activity and do not allow any jumping, running, or rough playing as this can exacerbate any underlying orthopedic conditions. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I suspect Hank may have some arthritis. It is very common for dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes to get arthritis as they age. The only true way to definitely diagnose arthritis would be with x-rays. I suggest you take Hank to your vet for an examination - there may be obvious clues to the vet that arthritis (or something else) is present. In the meantime you can try using a joint supplement that is made for dogs (not humans). I would use one that has the following ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). The MSM is very important as it is a natural anti-inflammatory. I would suggest one of the following products; ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=118402 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=115737 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=116465 ) It usually takes 6-8 weeks before you notice any difference once you start giving it to him so it use for a minimum of 2 months. If after that he does not seem to be doing much better you should really take him in to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.