Why is my senior dog walking crouched and having trouble with stairs?

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!

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!

Rose may be looking for a good place to jump up, but she could be painful. I see she is an old dog, and arthritis is common in old dogs. The circling may be a sign of reluctance to jump. Have her seen by a vet for this.

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!

The most likely cause for your dog's pain would be arthritis based on her age and the description of the problem you provided. Arthritis is an extremely common condition in dogs. I suggest you take her to your vet for an exam. There are definitely good medications that can be used to make her feel better. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8896028 )

Poor Chloe! It sounds like she may be painful somewhere. I often see dogs with back or neck pain that act this way, because doing stairs or jumping is painful for them. It's also possible that she may have injured herself somehow, or has some type of orthopedic problem that makes these activities uncomfortable. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam. He/she may be able to determine what the problem is by palpating her neck, back, and legs, and may also recommend x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. These symptoms are possibly related to arthritis in the spine or hips. Please, take Roxi to your local vets for an appointment. Full clinical examination should allow making the diagnosis and adequate treatment can be started. It possibly will be a course of anti-inflammatory medications.