If your dog has slowed down a little, you might have put it down to “just getting older.” That’s a fair assumption, but it’s also worth checking, because arthritis is one of the most common conditions we see in senior dogs, and one of the easiest to miss. The encouraging part is that arthritis in dogs is well understood, and there are now more comfortable, convenient treatment options than ever before.
This guide walks through how to spot the early signs, what you can do at home, and the treatment options worth discussing with your vet.
A Quick Self-Assessment
If you’re not sure whether your dog’s changes are simply age or something more, this short assessment can help frame the conversation with your vet. For each item, think about how often you notice the behaviour: 0 for never, 1 for rarely, 2 for sometimes, 3 for often or always.
Mobility changes
- Hesitates or refuses to jump into the car, onto furniture, or up stairs
- Moves stiffly, particularly when getting up from rest
- Reluctant to go on walks, or tires easily
- Has difficulty getting up from lying down
- Seems less active or playful than before
Behavioural changes
- Seeks out soft, warm places to lie down
- Reluctant to be touched or handled in certain areas
- Seems uncomfortable when the weather changes
- Appetite has decreased
- Sleeps more and plays less
Physical signs
- Visible limping or a changed gait
- Difficulty with stairs, going up or down
- Pants more than usual when not hot
- Seems uncomfortable lying down, or shifts position often
Add these up for a total out of 42.
- 0–10: Low likelihood of arthritis. Worth keeping an eye on as your dog ages.
- 11–21: Moderate concern. Environmental changes and a vet check are a sensible next step.
- 22–32: High likelihood of arthritis. A veterinary assessment is recommended.
- 33–42: Severe signs. An urgent veterinary consultation is needed.
This assessment was developed by Dr Stuart Cunningham BVSc, Personalised Mobile Vet.
What Does Arthritis Look Like in Dogs?
Dogs tend to show more obvious signs of joint discomfort than cats, though the changes can still creep up gradually.
Early signs to watch for:
- Stiffness after rest, especially first thing in the morning or after a nap
- Less enthusiasm for exercise: shorter walks, less interest in play
- Hesitation or difficulty with stairs and jumping
- More sleeping, seeking out warm spots, or irritability when touched
- Subtle lameness, most noticeable after exercise or in cold weather
More advanced signs:
- Visible limping or an altered gait
- Obvious discomfort when moving
- Reluctance to be touched or handled
- A clear drop in activity levels
- Muscle loss around the affected joints
Dogs are naturally stoic, so the early signs can be subtle and easy to write off. As arthritis progresses, though, the signs generally become harder to ignore. Arthritis is thought to affect up to 80% of dogs over eight years of age, making it one of the most common conditions we see in senior patients.
Environmental Modifications: What You Can Do at Home
Small, practical changes at home can meaningfully improve a dog’s day-to-day comfort, often before any medication is even needed.
Improving accessibility:
- Ramps for the car, furniture, or stairs
- Non-slip mats on smooth floors and in the car
- Raised food and water bowls to reduce neck strain
- Lower-sided beds or steps to favourite sleeping spots
- Multiple water stations to cut down on walking distance
Improving comfort:
- Orthopaedic bedding, such as memory foam or heated beds
- Warm, draft-free sleeping areas
- Soft surfaces for lying down
- Joint support harnesses to assist with mobility
Exercise and mental stimulation:
- Short, frequent walks rather than long ones
- Swimming, an excellent low-impact option
- Gentle play, avoiding anything high-impact
- Mental enrichment, such as puzzle feeders and sniff mats
Veterinary Treatment Options
Prescription medications
Bedinvetmab (Beransa): the latest advancement
Beransa is a monthly injection that targets nerve growth factor (NGF), blocking pain signals at the source rather than working through traditional anti-inflammatory pathways. It has a favourable safety profile, doesn’t require ongoing organ monitoring, and is given as a simple injection at the clinic each month. The main trade-off is that it needs a vet visit for administration, rather than being something you give at home.
A 2025 study comparing bedinvetmab to meloxicam found the two provided equivalent pain relief for canine osteoarthritis, with bedinvetmab associated with fewer adverse events overall [1]. This makes it a strong long-term option for most dogs.
Meloxicam (Metacam): The go-to
Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) that reduces inflammation and pain in the joints. It’s effective, well studied, and can be given at home, though it requires regular blood monitoring and carries a higher risk of kidney or liver effects, along with a higher rate of adverse events than bedinvetmab. Dosing is usually around 0.1mg/kg daily, as directed by your vet.
Other NSAIDs, such as carprofen (Rimadyl) and firocoxib (Previcox), may also be considered depending on the individual dog.
Supportive supplements: best started early
Joint supplements tend to work best as a preventative measure, started before arthritis develops, rather than after symptoms appear.
- 4Cyte: plant-based anti-inflammatory compounds, may help slow cartilage breakdown when started early
- Antinol: green-lipped mussel extract with natural anti-inflammatory properties, good long-term safety profile
- Glyde Mobility Chews: an Australian-made (Sydney) vet-channel chew combining green-lipped mussel (760mg), sodium chondroitin sulfate (285mg), and glucosamine hydrochloride (570mg) per chew.
Prescription diets
- Hill’s j/d: formulated with omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, clinically shown to improve mobility in arthritic dogs
- Royal Canin Mobility: contains EPA/DHA along with glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health
Alternative therapies
While not first-line treatments on their own, some dogs benefit from:
- Hydrotherapy, including swimming or an underwater treadmill
- Laser therapy, to help reduce inflammation
- Acupuncture, which may provide pain relief in some dogs
- Physiotherapy, using targeted exercises and stretches
These tend to work best as part of a broader plan, alongside medical management rather than instead of it.
Creating a Treatment Plan
A multimodal approach works best
Most dogs do well on a combination of approaches rather than relying on any single treatment:
- Environmental modifications for immediate comfort
- Bedinvetmab injections as the current gold standard for pain control
- Supplements, ideally started early as prevention
- Weight management, to reduce stress on the joints
- Controlled exercise, to maintain mobility and muscle strength
Cost considerations
- Budget-friendly: environmental changes, meloxicam, and supplements
- Recommended approach: environmental changes, bedinvetmab, and supplements
- Preventative approach: starting supplements early in a healthy dog
A Note on Safety
Several 2025 studies have looked closely at bedinvetmab’s safety profile. A comparative trial found it offered equivalent efficacy to meloxicam with fewer adverse events [1], and it has been well tolerated in clinical trials with minimal side effects [2]. It also doesn’t require the ongoing organ monitoring that traditional NSAIDs do.
It’s worth noting that recent FDA analyses have identified some musculoskeletal adverse events associated with bedinvetmab [3]. Even so, comparative studies continue to show a more favourable overall safety profile than traditional NSAIDs for most dogs. As with any medication, the right choice depends on your individual dog, and that’s a conversation worth having with your vet.
When to Seek Help
Get in touch with your vet if you notice:
- A sudden worsening of mobility
- Loss of appetite or behavioural changes
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Any signs of pain or distress
Regular monitoring at home helps too, through the occasional video of your dog moving, periodic quality of life checks, and blood work if your dog is on NSAIDs.
The Bottom Line
Arthritis affects the majority of senior dogs, but with the right combination of environmental changes, medical management, and a bit of patience, most arthritic dogs go on to enjoy a very good quality of life. Every dog is different, and the best plan is usually worked out together with your vet, tailored to your dog’s individual needs.
Start with the small things: a ramp, a softer bed, shorter and more frequent walks. Consider supplements early if your dog is still young and healthy. And when it’s time to add medical management, know that there are now safer, more convenient options than there used to be.
Ready to set up a treatment plan for your dog? Get in touch and we can talk through the best approach for your dog’s individual needs.
References
- Innes JF, et al. A randomised, parallel-group clinical trial comparing bedinvetmab and meloxicam for canine osteoarthritis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025. PMC11974340.
- Zoetis. Results of a Comparator Clinical Trial Evaluating Librela vs Meloxicam. March 2025.
- Farrell M, et al. Musculoskeletal adverse events in dogs receiving bedinvetmab (Librela). Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1581490.
