As dogs get older they very commonly develop arthritis in their joints. There are a number of things that can be done though.

  1. Make sure your dog is the correct weight. If your dog is even slightly overweight this can vastly increase the pressure on joints. A recent study showed reducing your dog’s weight by just 10% resulted in the same reduction in lameness as starting your dog on anti-inflammatory medication.
  2. Use supplements. Joint and mobility supplements containing glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Omega-3 fish oils are available to help reduce inflammation in joints. 
  3. If your dog is very sore and stiff, then take them to the vet. Painkilling medication, acupuncture and laser treatment are now widely available and can drastically improve your dog’s quality of life if they are very sore.