My older dog won't jump on furniture and seems slow. What's wrong?

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While back pain may definitely be the cause of this, other conditions can cause Honey to be less active or painful. For instance, conditions such as pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain, and thus reduced activity. I recommend having Honey seen by a vet, who can perform bloodwork and x-rays to determine what is causing these signs. Blodwork would be able to rule out any malfunctioning organs or infections, while x-rays can rule out abdominal masses and vertebral fractures or herniated discs. I hope all is well with Honey!

Poor Sugar! She could have arthritis, a problem with an inter-vertebral disc in her neck or back causing her some pain, an infection, etc. If she is reluctant to jump on things and/or go up steps then it is probably a disc problem and she is experiencing some discomfort. The best thing would be to have your vet take a look at her to determine the cause and treat, She may need an anti-inflammatory and pain medications to help. Hope she feels better soon!

Ammu definitely sounds like she might be in pain on some part of her body. While you might not be able to appreciate any pain on palpation of her legs and hips at home, a more well-trained set of hands might be able to isolate a small area that could be injured. Even if you have not seen a traumatic event occur, it is still quite possible that a young Beagle could have somehow caused herself an injury while romping around. Other causes of difficultly rising or getting around could be a systemic infection, neurologic problem, or inflammatory condition. Any of these would require a diagnostic work up by a veterinarian to determine what therapies should be instituted.

Hi there! Your dog may be getting sore and arthritic, which would make it harder for her to get up when she's laying down. There are many possible treatments for arthritis in dogs, including pain medication, physical therapy, acupuncture, Adequan injections, laser treatments, specially-formulated foods, and a variety of supplements. It would be a great idea to have your dog examined by a veterinarian to determine if treatment is needed at this time and, if so, which treatment would be more appropriate. Please remember there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs, so you will need to have these prescribed by a veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best of luck to you and your dog!

Her reduced activity level may be due to the lameness or arthritis pain. I recommend a veterinary exam for the lameness. They will feel her neck shoulder and the rest of the leg to determine the cause. They may also do X-rays to look for bone and joint problems. If they think Ruby is painful they can prescribe pain medication. I don't like older dogs to get too lazy and not exercise since they can gain weight and lose muscle mass which makes the lameness worse. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ruby.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Pepper. Poor girl. It could be she has arthritis, hip dysplasia, or a problem with her back causing her difficulty getting up. Arthritis is common in middle aged to older dogs. I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if she is suffering from arthritis, and can give her some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving her glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjunction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. I hope this helps!