TL;DR
Arthritis — an inflammatory, degenerative joint condition — is common in pets and easy to mistake for normal aging. But it isn’t only a senior issue. Younger pets can develop it, too. Because animals instinctively hide pain, the signs are often subtle: trouble with stairs, hesitation before jumping, or difficulty getting up off the floor. It isn’t curable, but it is very treatable, and earlier intervention leads to better outcomes. Treatment is tailored and stepwise — from joint supplements, acupuncture, and cold laser therapy to veterinarian-prescribed anti-inflammatories.
“They’re only 4 years old. There’s no chance this is arthritis.”
It’s an easy assumption for pet parents to make — and, unfortunately, not always the right one.
We tend to file arthritis under old age, something to worry about somewhere down the road. But Dr. Jerica Lugo, VMD, of Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care, sees things differently: arthritis doesn’t always wait for the senior years, and it hides better than most pet parents may realize.
More Than “Just Getting Old”
The gray-muzzled dog who takes the back steps a little slower these days. The cat who once ruled the bookshelf and now watches wistfully from the floor.
When a pet starts slowing down, it’s easy to chalk things up to age.
Sometimes, that’s all it is. But sometimes it’s something more — the quiet, easy-to-miss signs of arthritis in pets. And unlike aging, Dr. Lugo notes, it’s something pet parents can do something about.
Arthritis is an inflammatory, degenerative condition of the joints. Degenerative is the operative word here. It means the condition tends to worsen over time, with signs that may start mild and gradually progress over a pet’s life.
The trouble, Dr. Lugo says, is that those early signs are so often waved off.
“A lot of people don’t recognize arthritis and arthritis-related pain in their pets,” she says. “Often, with senior animals, we think, ‘Oh, they’re just getting older. They’re slowing down. It’s a normal part of the aging process.'”
In many cases, though — it isn’t.
“In a good deal of our patients, slowing down is often related to discomfort,” Dr. Lugo continues. A dog who can’t quite climb the stairs anymore, or a cat who no longer jumps onto the furniture, may not simply be “less capable” with age — that change may be the only clue that something’s wrong.
Pets Are Built to Hide Pain
Part of what makes arthritis so easy to miss is that our animals work overtime not to show it.
“Our pets are incredibly stoic animals. They don’t want to show us pain,” Dr. Lugo says.
It’s an instinct that runs deep: in the wild, an animal that looks vulnerable is an animal at risk.
“Not that our domesticated babes live in the wild anymore,” she adds, “but those instincts remain.”
Cats, in particular, tend to hold onto that wiring, which can make their discomfort especially hard to read.
Everyday routine hides it, too. If a pet’s daily life doesn’t demand much in the way of mobility, there are far fewer chances to notice a problem exists.
“Say you live in a one-story home, and your pet never has to go upstairs,” Dr. Lugo says. “You wouldn’t realize that is difficult for them, because that’s not one of their daily tasks.” We tend to equate a pet who is moving around with good health, she says, and that isn’t always the case.
Signs Worth a Closer Look
The good news, Dr. Lugo says, is that changes in behavior and activity level are usually easier for pet parents to spot.
A few worth paying attention to:
- Hesitating before jumping on or off the couch — or not jumping at all
- A cat who can no longer get up to a favorite perch or cat tree
- Difficulty on the stairs
- Trouble rising from the floor to a pet bed
When you notice changes like these, it’s a good idea to have your pet examined.
“By bringing them in and having the vet get a good look and feel, we can help figure out what exactly might be going on,” Dr. Lugo says.
Arthritis is a common culprit. But sometimes it’s something more systemic that’s worth investigating either way.
A veterinary exam also catches what an owner simply can’t at home. During a physical, a vet can feel grinding or crunching in a joint, resistance when a limb is extended or bent, or a pet tensing at a particular spot — subtle findings most of us would never detect at home. As Dr. Lugo points out, most pet parents aren’t feeling their dog’s joints every day, or even once a month.
Why Acting Early Matters
When it comes to arthritis, sooner is better.
At the first signs, there’s already plenty that can help — doctor-approved supplements or targeted exercises that keep a pet from losing muscle tone while supporting the joints. Just as important, catching things early allows you and your veterinarian time to plan for the senior years.
“If I’m seeing a patient who is six years old and already showing signs of hip arthritis, the owner and I can come up with a plan for what this might look like a year down the line versus four years down the line,” Dr. Lugo says. “Often, the earlier we make changes, the better these pets do in the long run.”
Treatable, Even If Not Curable
Here’s the reassuring part.
“Arthritis is not a curable condition, but it definitely is something we can treat,” Dr. Lugo says. And treatment tends to be stepwise, tailored to the individual pet rather than one-size-fits-all.
For pets in the earlier stages, that could mean options like acupuncture or cold laser therapy — sometimes enough to bring real improvement without turning to daily medication.
For pets whose arthritis is more advanced, or who simply aren’t comfortable, a veterinarian may prescribe medication to ease pain and help them move more freely. Because arthritis is an inflammatory condition, that’s often a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), which can address both the pain and, to a degree, the underlying inflammation.
There’s an important safety line here, however. And Dr. Lugo is emphatic about it: the medicine cabinet at home is not the place to look.
“There are no human non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are safe for use in our pet patients,” she says. “Things like Aleve and ibuprofen can have deadly consequences if given to our pets.”
Finding the right treatment is a job for your veterinarian, and your veterinarian alone — and it may take some trial and error, especially when a pet has other health considerations, like kidney disease, that steer the plan in a particular direction.
Be Wary of Miracle Cures
The pet parent-veterinarian partnership matters even more given how much noise and misinformation are out in the world regarding pet care.
“I see all of the ads on social media,” Dr. Lugo says. “‘This supplement will fix your dog right up,’ And a lot of those claims are not studied. There’s not a lot of support for them.” The result? Pet parents spend a great deal of money — sometimes $50 to $60 a month — on a product that isn’t doing much — thanks to a video of an arthritic dog leaping through a field.
“They’re ads. They’re designed to convince people to try their product,” she continues. “That doesn’t always mean that product is going to be right for your pet.” Looping in your veterinary care team helps sort the genuinely useful tools from the arthritic-dog-leaping-through-a-field fluff.
Not Just a Senior Issue
One last misconception is worth clearing up: the idea that arthritis is strictly an older-pet problem.
This is where that “they’re only 4” assumption does real damage.
“‘Oh, my dog’s not 10. We don’t have to worry about that yet,’” Dr. Lugo says, voicing a common train of thought among pet parents.
The truth? Arthritis doesn’t always stick to that schedule.
Some pets are genetically predisposed, she says. Conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia can cause arthritis in very young animals. So can joint injuries — a torn CCL (the pet equivalent of an ACL), for instance, can lead to arthritis in that joint regardless of whether the pet had surgery. Once a joint has been disrupted, inflammation follows, and arthritis can set in.
In younger pets, it often goes unrecognized even longer, precisely because they’re young and energetic.
“They want to go out and run and chase the ball,” Dr. Lugo says — and all that activity can overshadow the discomfort. The goal in those cases isn’t to sideline our pups, but to modify their activities so we support their joints rather than make things worse.
When in Doubt, Loop in Your Vet
Arthritis rarely announces itself. It shows up quietly — a slower climb up the stairs, a favorite perch suddenly abandoned — and it’s easy to file those changes under “getting older” and move on.
But the earlier it’s caught, the more can be done. If your pet’s movement is changing, a visit is the surest way to find out why and to build a plan that keeps them comfortable and moving for as long as possible.
***
FAQs
What are the signs of arthritis in pets?
Watch for changes in movement: hesitating before jumping, trouble with stairs, difficulty rising from the floor or bed, or a cat who can no longer reach a favorite perch. Because pets hide pain well, these subtle shifts are often the only clue — and a good reason to have them checked out.
Can young dogs and cats get arthritis?
Yes. While it’s more common in seniors, younger pets can develop arthritis too — often from genetic predisposition, hip or elbow dysplasia, or a joint injury like a torn CCL (a pet’s version of an ACL). It frequently goes unrecognized longer in young pets, since their energy can mask the discomfort.
Is arthritis in pets curable?
No, but it is very treatable. Arthritis can’t be reversed, but a tailored plan can manage the pain, slow its progression, and keep your pet comfortable and mobile. Earlier intervention generally leads to better long-term outcomes.
Can I give my pet ibuprofen or another human pain reliever?
No. There are no human NSAIDs that are safe for pets. Common medications like ibuprofen and Aleve can have deadly consequences for dogs and cats. Always work with your veterinarian to find a safe, appropriate treatment.
Do joint supplements work for arthritis?
Some can help, but many heavily advertised supplements aren’t backed by solid research — and pets can end up on expensive products that do little. Your veterinarian can help identify the options genuinely worth trying for your pet.
