Why does my senior dog struggle going upstairs but not down?

In senior dogs, arthritis is common and that could be causing Poppy's reluctance to climb the stairs. It may be painful for her. 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 conjuction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hi there. A few things could be going on here with snowball. Hip dysphasia is a possibility, as well as instability due to disk disease or a back injury. She could also have luxating patellas (knee caps) that are getting stuck and she's trying to pop them back in by flinging them out. To know for sure, she would need to see your veterinarian for an orthopedic exam and probably x rays. I hope this gives you some ideas!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Pippin is very cute, I am sorry he is having issues. Moving slowlying and trouble with stairs can be caused by arthritis, spinal disease (IVDD vs. degenerative myelopathy vs. other less common conditions), heart disease (weakness), and cancers. To figure out exactly what is going on with thim, I would suggest thinking about having a referral with either a neurologist or a surgeon, and an MRI would likely be recommended. A physical exam can make a lot of these diseases more or less likely, however only with imaging can you rule out a slipped disc (IVDD). I hope that gives you a direction to go to get an answer for Pippin. Best of luck with him, I hope he feels better soon!

As a 16 year old dog it is almost a given that Nokie has some serious arthritis and that while she probably has been having pain for a few years now but did not show it, the pain now is so bad that she is afraid to jump up on the bed or climb stairs. In severe arthritis cases like that the quality of life can be significantly improved by giving NSAIDs which take inflammation away and therefore pain. Make an appointment with your vet for an exam and a blood test to verify that her kidneys and liver are working properly and then your vet can prescribe NSAIDs or pain medicine for Nokie. At the same time the vet can rule out other causes of weakness.

Poor Luna! Because she is 8 or 9, my first thought is that she may be suffering from arthritis. That would cause her pain, and from your description, it sounds like she is painful. It could also be that she injured herself. Arthritis is common in 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. Give her vet a call today to make an appointment. Best of luck!

It could be that Missy is in pain. As an older dog, arthritis is common and it would cause her to be lethargic, struggle to walk up and down stairs, and to be slow when walking. I would have her seen by a vet today if possible for a physical exam, lameness exam, and possibly x-rays. If she does have arthritis, the vet can prescribe pain medications to help her with the pain. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Since he’s still eating this is most likely from pain not an internal organ problem. There is a good chance he over did it and he has arthritis pain. I recommend giving him a gentle massage, and getting him up for several short walks during the day. Once he’s up and moving a little he should feel better. Bring him in Monday for an exam and a senior work up if he hasn’t had one lately. They may do X-rays to check his joints. They can then tell you whether it’s arthritis or a more serious medical problem. There is prescription medication for his pain and he should be back to his old self in a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Milo.