Signs of Joint Discomfort in Dogs: How to Spot Them Earlier

Did you know that running, jumping, and playing doesn’t necessarily mean your dog is feeling their best?

Our pups can sometimes hide when they’re not feeling well, and they’re typically much better at moving right along with their day, even if they’re feeling a little stiff or sore. What does that mean for loving pet parents?

By the time you notice major signs of joint stiffness, they've likely been experiencing some discomfort for months—even years.

Spot the signs earlier so you can be aware of the type of support your pup needs. Read on to learn more!

How Dogs Hide Everyday Discomfort & Joint Stiffness

Most dogs are generally very stoic: the occasional tummy ache, stubbed toe, or sore neck can easily be forgotten in the face of fun adventures with their person. This ability to hide everyday discomfort isn’t learned, though. It’s an evolutionary skill left over from when early canids were living in the wild, and showing physical weakness could mean terrible consequences.

While today’s dogs are living in vastly different (plusher, safer, more comfortable) conditions, their instincts don’t always know that.

Now, keep in mind that all dogs are different! Some sensitive pups may be more open with their everyday aches and will let you know when they’re not feeling their best. But some dogs can break a toenail and keep right on running as if nothing happened.

Subtle Signs of Joint Stiffness That Owners Usually Miss

There are some signs of joint discomfort that are nearly impossible to miss. You can see and hear them, and they can be heartbreaking. However, there are lots of tiny, early signs of stiffness or inflexibility that are easy to miss, and many pet parents don’t know what to look for.

So, what can dedicated pet parents do?

Monitor your dog for small changes in behavior, gait, or willingness to exercise or participate in favorite activities. “Slowing down” may not be just normal aging, and there are ways you can support your pup!

Changes in Activity

These may be visible, measurable changes to your dog’s everyday life that are easier to spot. These changes don’t immediately signal joint discomfort, but are important to monitor.

Your dog may be:

Less likely to jump onto furniture or into cars
Avoiding stairs or steep inclines
Sleeping in another room
Less interested in playtime or walks
Moving slower on walks or hikes

Changes in Behavior

Behavior changes can be harder to spot and vary from dog to dog. These changes also don’t mean your dog is experiencing stiff and achy joints, but research shows that there is a strong link between nagging discomfort and behavior problems. If problem behaviors aren’t soothed by a high-quality Calming supplement, you may need to look deeper.

You may notice:

Increased irritability or reactivity
Excessive barking, whining, or howling
An increase in stress or frustration
Lower energy or less interaction with you
Restlessness and being unable to settle or sleep well
Frequent or heavy panting, even in cooler weather

Physical Changes

Physical changes can be hard to track—this is where your veterinarian or groomer can help!

You may notice your dog:

Holding their tail higher or lower than normal
Holding their head lower than normal
Skipping or hopping occasionally while walking or running
Taking longer to stand from resting
Licking their knees, toes, wrists, hocks, or elbows

When to Include Your Veterinarian

Ideally, mobility & joint health should be a topic of conversation at every annual visit to your veterinarian! Your trusted vet will be able to do a quick physical examination, ask about your pup’s activity and behavior, and help guide you in the right direction.

But you don’t need to wait for their annual to keep in touch. Loop in your veterinarian any time you have concerns about your dog’s health or wellness: like major changes in behavior, energy, or activity levels, or visible signs of discomfort or stiffness in movement.

They may recommend changes to your dog’s diet or lifestyle, or recommend joint support supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin, green-lipped mussel, or Omega-3 fatty acids!

How to Support Their Joints & Soothe Occasional Discomfort

If you’ve noticed some of these signs of joint stiffness—don’t panic! Research estimates that up to 20% of all dogs (and 80% of senior dogs) may be walking around with stiff or achy joints from everyday exercise, so it’s more common than you might think.

However, that doesn’t mean your dog needs to just live with it!

There are many ways to help your pup live a more comfortable life with diet and lifestyle changes, plus helpful supplements that are vet-formulated to support strong, healthy joints!

Lifestyle Changes

Researchers at the Cornell Canine Health Center report that around 60% of dogs are overweight. While weight can be a sensitive topic for pet owners, every extra pound your dog is carrying is an extra pound their joints have to carry, too!

If you notice signs of joint discomfort in your pet and they may be a little overweight, your veterinarian can help you make sure you’re feeding the right number of calories for your pup’s age, weight, and activity level. Gentle exercise like walks and swimming can help keep them in shape without stressing their joints too much.

Some of the best things you can do for your dog’s health, overall, is make sure that they’re a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, and getting plenty of appropriate exercise! But when that isn’t enough…

Joint Supplements

Vet-formulated joint supplements are a great way to support your dog’s mobility and comfort for life, and Natural Dog Company has a solution for every dog and every lifestyle.

Hip & Joint Chews are made with glucosamine, MSM, green-lipped mussel, chondroitin, and turmeric to strengthen cartilage, lubricate joints for top flexibility, and support overall joint health throughout the body. Need more? Veterinary Strength Hip & Joint Chews have double the green-lipped mussel, plus more glucosamine and added eggshell membrane.

For picky or sensitive pups, our Hip & Joint Liquid combines glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid with 100% pure aloe vera juice and a light sweetener to make daily joint support absolutely irresistible.

High-quality fish oils offer high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids to help support joint health and comfort, with the added benefit of supporting skin, coat, brain, and immune health, too!

Alternative Care Options to Support Joint Comfort

Because we know there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting joint health in dogs, we want to give you all the options.

Diet changes, consistent age-appropriate exercise, and joint supplements can all play a big role in your dog’s health and comfort. But, there are also a variety of research-backed care options to support joints, too, including:

Veterinary acupuncture
Physical therapy and rehab (yes, there are Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapists!)
Laser light therapy
PEMF therapy

When to Start Joint Support

Typically, even the most well-intentioned dog parents don’t start active joint support until they see the major signs of stiff, uncomfortable joints.

These days, though, some experts suggest that foundational joint support should start as soon as your dog’s growth plates close, to provide the best proactive support for active bodies.

Growth plates are made up of cartilage on both ends of the “long” bones in your dog’s body. When your dog is finished growing, this cartilage will harden and “close”. On average, small breed growth plates close and are fully formed by 8-10 months of age—large and giant-breed dog growth plates are fully formed closer to 14-18 months.

This means that proactive joint support could benefit your pup much earlier than you may think!

Dog Breeds & Ages That Benefit from Extra Joint Support

While proactive and maintenance joint support are beneficial for just about every dog, it’s especially important for these dogs!

Large & giant breeds (over 75 lbs full grown) like:

Newfoundland
Mastiff
Great Dane
German Shepherd
Saint Bernard
Beauceron
Bernese Mountain Dog

Breeds who are predisposed to joint health concerns, like:

Golden Retrievers
Labrador Retrievers
Old English Sheep Dogs
Dachshunds
Corgis
Bulldogs
French Bulldogs
Pitbull-type dogs

FAQs:

At what age do dogs start to have joint stiffness or discomfort?

Dogs can experience joint discomfort at any age, but it’s most common to see everyday stiffness in senior dogs: 7+ years of age for most dogs, 6+ years for extra-large dogs, and 10+ for small and mini dogs.

Can young dogs struggle with stiff joints?

Yes! While it is less common for a young dog to struggle with stiff or achy joints, research estimates that at least 20% of dogs one year and older are affected by joint discomfort. Genetics, body shape/conformation, nutrition, high-impact activities, and physical injury can all affect the structure or function of your dog’s joints when they’re young.

Do joint supplements work for dogs?

There is strong evidence to support all the joint-nourishing ingredients in our joint health supplements for dogs! Glucosamine & MSM, chondroitin, green-lipped mussel, and salmon & pollock oils have been used for decades to support joint function in pets as well as people. While all dogs’ bodies are different, so results may vary in terms of how long it takes to see changes or how drastic those changes may be, we can confidently say that supplements are beneficial for maintaining healthy, comfortable joints.

How long do joint supplements take to work?

Since the healthy, holistic ingredients in Hip & Joint need time to absorb and build up in your dog’s system, you likely won’t see results right away. Typically, it takes about 4-6 weeks for the amino acids, essential fatty acids, and other beneficial compounds to build up and really start working. If your dog is already experiencing stiff joints, you may not see the maximum effects for 6-8 weeks. If you’re giving joint supplements proactively, you may not notice any changes at all! However, that will pay off in the long run, when your senior dog can still run and play like a puppy.

What’s better for my dog: joint chews or a liquid joint supplement?

Both Hip & Joint Chews and Hip & Joint Liquid are made with glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, so both are appropriate for daily use to support joint health. Our core Chews include green-lipped mussel powder and organic turmeric, so may be better for dogs who are showing some of these early signs of stiff or uncomfortable joints. Our Liquid includes hyaluronic acid and manganese chelate, and may be more appropriate for proactive support. Its limited-ingredient liquid formula may also be better for picky pups or dogs with sensitive digestive systems.