Limited Mobility in Dogs

There are a wide variety of potential causes of limited mobility. Many body systems are involved in moving the limbs and supporting body weight. The bones and joints, muscles, blood, organs of balance, nerves, and body chemistry work together to ensure walking, jumping, climbing, and moving are possible. Disruption to any of the systems can result in limited mobility.

Limited mobility is common in dogs. Dogs of any age, breed and gender are susceptible to limited mobility. Older dogs are more susceptible to some of the causes of limited mobility. Dogs who have difficulty or are reluctant to perform the activities of daily living such as climbing stairs, getting in the car, or jumping onto furniture benefit from the attention of a veterinarian to investigate the underlying cause.

The severity of limited mobility depends on the underlying cause. Some underlying causes typically affect young dogs and some affect older dogs.

Factors that impact mobility include:

• Pain
• Dysfunction of the muscles, bones, or joints
• Dysfunction of the nervous system, including impaired vision and inner ear issues
• Disruption of breathing and oxygen delivery to tissues
• Imbalance of hormones or electrolytes

Conditions that affect younger dogs are often congenital (developed in the womb) or the result of injury. Conditions that affect older dogs are often progressive (worsen over time) or the result of injury.

Acute conditions are often severe but resolve quickly, especially when treated promptly. This includes traumatic injuries such as tears to the ligaments, fractures, and certain forms of vestibular disease. Others are chronic, meaning that they last over long periods, require ongoing treatment, and sometimes worsen with time. This includes progressive forms of intervertebral disc disease, osteoarthritis, and osteochondritis dissecans.

Careful observation of the dog at home builds a complete picture of what movements are difficult to perform and in what context. Physical assessment can rule our minor causes like a wound on the foot pad. In some cases, including minor sprains or strains, mild mobility issues resolve themselves without treatment. A dog who has ongoing or increasing difficulty performing the activities of daily living benefits from veterinary attention to diagnose underlying causes and develop a treatment plan.

Diagnostic tools include:

• Physical examination
• Bloodwork
• Diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or ultrasound
• Advanced imaging, such as CT and MRI

Treatment is difficult to generalize due to the variety of possible underlying causes. Treatments include:

• Pain management
• Antibiotics, in cases of infection
• Splinting, in cases of fractures
• Surgery

Depending on severity or complexity, some cases benefit from referral to a board-certified veterinary specialist such as a neurologist or orthopedic surgeon for treatment.

Some conditions associated with limited mobility require ongoing management strategies to make activities of daily living easier. Options include:

• Using ramps for short flights of stairs
• Using a step stool to get into the car or onto furniture
• Placing carpet runners on slippery floors
• Soothing pain and soreness with warm blankets or hot water bottles
• Vet-prescribed pain medications
• Adjusting exercise routines

Fear of certain activities is sometimes mistaken for limited mobility. In some cases, dogs who have had a bad experience going up or down stairs or getting into or out of the car (because they have been injured or frightened, for example) associate those activities with painful outcomes.

Limited mobility is not to be confused with weakness, which is the lack of energy enervating the muscles of the body.