Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My senior dog has arthritis. How do I manage her pain and mobility?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 11 years and 5 months old | 76 lbs

Getting and has many new Fatty tumors. She has been on Natural Balance Duck,Chicken and Salmon wet food for a long time and Science Diet for years before the Natural Balance she loves the Natural Balance very well but i'm having trouble keeping up with her arthiritis needs.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Megan, DVM, CVA

Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian

Published on June 5th, 2018

Poor Olivia. As they age it can be so difficult as their internal organs are functioning perfectly but their bodies are developing arthirits which can be crippling. I would start her on some joint supplements if you haven't already. I like dasuquin and flexadin. You can actually do both as long as your seaparate each one by 12 hours so you would give dasuquin in the AM and flexadin in the PM. If she has trouble slipping on slick floors I would consider buying some Dr. Buzby's toegrips to help with traction. You can also start her on an omega-3 fatty acid to help with her joints. I would also talk to your vet about an anti-inflammatory to help with pain and inflammation if needed. You don't have to give her this daily but just on the days that she is having a tough time. Although, if every day is tough, then don't hesitate to give it. Finally, I would consider getting her some acupuncture as this can really help relieve pain if you can find one in your area. The goal with geriatrics is to give the a good QUALITY of life over quantity so focus on her pain relief and her mobility to see if you can help her feel better. I hope this helps !
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 12th, 2017

    It sounds at this stage like she may need prescription antiinflammatory medications from your vet. I recommend a specialist diet such as hills mobility also which is fully supplemented to reduce arthritis pain

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on January 12th, 2020

    Hi there. Yes, there are many things that can be done to help dogs with arthritis get around more comfortably - including a variety of prescription medications, acupuncture, and laser therapy. I would recommend taking Lucy to the vet for an exam, so that you can discuss some of these options with your veterinarian. There's a good chance that he/she will be able to get her started on some daily medication that will significantly improve her quality of life, and can also talk to you about some of the adjunct treatment options mentioned above if you're interested in pursuing them.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Jenny, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 29th, 2018

    If she was just at the vet, call and tell them you saw little improvement. On that medicine. They will recommend you come in for a further work up, which is best. But often times they may be able to try another medicine first
    I would it recommend any Tylenol or aspirin at home as they can have side effects and are in the same class as the deramaxx such you will unlikely notice any relief
    Rest at home is a good option. You can also add omega 3 fatty acids and fish oils to the diet to help with joint pain from arthritis. Adding a canine glucosamine and chondrotin supplement makes a big difference Ce also. These can be purchased online or any pet store

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
My senior dog has back pain and trouble walking. What can I do?
Hello. I agree, surgery at this age would not be ideal given her age. You do not indicate what meds she is already on, but she should be receiving an NSAID such as meloxicam, carprofen, or any one of several excellent drugs in this classification. I would also have her on gabapentin, possibly tramadol, & maybe even Adequan injections, just in case some of her joints are painful. An alternative for the NSAIDs would be steroids as they are very good at reducing inflammation, but that does put her at some risk for side effects. Hopefully, these can keep him comfortable for some time to come. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My senior dog struggles to walk. What helps his joint pain and mobility?
Poor Blitz. I would first make sure you have him at a healthy weight. These things can be so much harder to handle when they are overweight. I am most worried about the aspirin dose as it can cause an upset stomach and even a GI ulcer when given for too long. I would talk to your vet about trying Galliprant or rimadyl or something similar for pain and inflammation. Galliprant is the safest for the liver and kidneys. I would also look to see if you have an alternative or integrative vet in your area that specializes in Chinese herbs and acupuncture. I have had great success with these and dogs with severe arthritis and pain. Finally, I would look into a brace that helps these guys stand up. It is called orthodog hip hound brace. You can also look into Dr. Buzby's toegrips or pawfriction to help him with traction on slick floors if that seems to be troubling him as well. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
How can I help my old Golden Retriever with joint pain and mobility?
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.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My senior dog's health is declining. What can I do to help her?
I am so sorry to hear that your pet has so many major issues that are debilitating and causing her to have a poor quality of life. I do think that if her condition cannot be improved with medications then it is someting you should discuss with your veterinarian. Humane euthansia, although it is probably not something you want to consider, should be considered if Sophie is not able to helped with medical management. However, there are pain medications that can be tried to see if they make a difference. You can discuss with your vet about trying Tramadol and/or Gabapentin to help with pain management. Probiotics can also be tried to help with her diarrhea, as well as a high fiber diet such as Royal Canin Gasrointestinal High Fiber (Rx). It sounds like she may have cancer involving her nervous system, which is why she can't maintain her mobitliy well. Poor girl. I hope that you can come to terms with her condition and maybe there is more you can try with her. Best wishes with Sophie. We are also available for a private consultation if you need to discuss more about Sophie's condition and futher care recommendations. Take care.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
What daily pain medication is safe for my senior dog with arthritis?
Hello. There are many wonderful medication availably to make Sassy much more comfortable in her older years. You can start with a good glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement ( I like Dasuquin by Nutramax ). Then, you can visit with your vet about some of the amazing medications we have to keep our elderly pets so much more comfortable, like NSAIDS ( Previcox, Rimadyl, Deramax, Meloxicam, Galliprant ) to which we can add additional medications such as Gabapentin, if necessary. In addition, adding Adequan injections may actually lower the amount of medications that Sassy might need to keep her comfortable. We have so many safe medications available, but they do need some monitoring. I hope you can talk to your vet soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Why is my older dog struggling to get up and move around?
Unfortunately it sounds like Bailey has joint pain or arthritis possibly of the hips or spine. X-rays may help to provide more information on the exact site of the problem and it sounds like he requires additional pain relief from prescription anti-inflammatories. Acupuncture and chiropractic care can be helpful also and weight loss is definitely recommended to remove additional strains, my preferred option here is hills metabolic mobility diet which is supplemented with joint support, natural anti-inflammatories and promotes healthy weight loss whilst preserving muscle strength and fitness
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
What can I give my senior Collie for sore hips and difficulty walking?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree that this is possibly arthritis especially if this has been an issue before. Usually this can improved with joint supplements like Cosequin and the food Science Diet j/d. Pain control medications such as NSAIDs and gabapentin can be used on an as needed basis to help with pain. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment of this. If they agree that this is likely, they can go ahead and prescribe this to help her. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Dog FoodDog Pain Relief & Arthritis MedsDog Health & WellnessPain Meds & Arthritis Relief for CatsDog Hip & Joint SupplementsDog Vitamins & SupplementsDog Pain Medicine & ReliefSenior Cat Vitamins & SupplementsCat Hip & Joint SupplementsPrescription Horse Pain Relief & Arthritis MedicationUTI & Kidney Supplements for DogsDog Medicine and PrescriptionsDog Skin & Coat SupplementsSenior Cat FoodDog MultivitaminsDog Calming Aids and SupplementsWet Dog FoodDog Pill CapsulesDog Lift Harnesses & WheelchairsPet Pharmacy
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button