What to do if my dog is having mobility issues around the home

Disclaimer: This article, its content, and its related references do not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is showing any symptoms that could indicate a medical emergency, please seek immediate emergency care.

There are many reasons why a dog may have difficulty going up or down stairs, hopping on or off furniture, and getting in or out of a car. Musculoskeletal issues, neurologic conditions, and systemic disease can all affect a dog’s mobility by causing joint pain, reducing range of motion, and causing weakness or incoordination. If you have a dog with mobility challenges, read on to learn:

• How to help your dog navigate stairs, furniture, and getting in and out of the car
• Health issues that can cause changes in mobility
• When to seek veterinary help for your dog’s mobility issues

Conditions such as osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease, degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia, and many others can lead to mobility problems in dogs. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of gradually progressing mobility issues in senior dogs. When a dog has mobility challenges, it’s important to seek veterinary advice. It often requires seeing a veterinarian in person initially to get an accurate diagnosis and professional guidance on the best way to manage any conditions, such as with medication, weight loss, or environmental adaptations.

There are many reasons why your dog may have mobility issues around stairs, furniture, and the car. “An accurate diagnosis is necessary to understand what exactly is causing the problem,” explains Dr. Jamie Lecky, a veterinarian on Vetster. “Pet owners can help their dog by promptly talking to a vet and having their dog assessed to diagnose any underlying medical conditions contributing to their changes in mobility.” Once the health issue is diagnosed, proper treatment, as well as ensuring your dog is at a healthy weight, can help minimize stress on the joints and alleviate joint pain.

Talk to a veterinarian

It’s important to talk to a veterinarian if you notice any mobility issues in your dog, even if those issues seem minor. Dogs often hide their pain and don’t show signs of it unless it’s severe. There are many potential causes for mobility problems and joint pain, so an accurate diagnosis from a vet is necessary to determine an effective treatment plan. In addition, a veterinary professional can offer advice on how to help your dog at home while they’re being treated. Avoid giving any human or animal medication unless advised by a veterinarian.

Use mobility aids

Assisting your dog in climbing the stairs, getting in and out of the car, or helping them onto furniture can help when they’re having mobility challenges. Animal mobility aids include:

• Pet ramps or stairs next to furniture
• Pet ramps or lifting your dog in and out of the car
• Mobility slings and other supportive devices when climbing stairs
• Keeping food and water bowls and other important items on one floor
• Nonslip rugs and mats on hard or slippery surfaces
• Using nonslip canine socks or booties

Providing soft or heated beds around the home can also help support your dog’s joints and relieve pain while they’re resting. These aids may help in many cases and are unlikely to cause harm regardless of the underlying cause.

Treat underlying health issues

There are many health conditions that can cause mobility issues in dogs. Working with a veterinarian to diagnose, treat, and manage these conditions can improve your dog’s mobility and manage potential pain. Veterinary professionals can also offer tailored advice on mobility aids and home modifications that may help your dog.

Various injuries and medical conditions can cause pain, reduce range of motion, and overall decrease a dog’s mobility. These can include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Strains, sprains, and other soft-tissue injuries
• Broken bones and dislocated joints
• Hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and other inherited joint disorders
• Neurologic conditions, such as degenerative myelopathy
• Intervertebral disc disease
• Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease

Obesity is also a risk factor for mobility challenges in dogs. Excess weight puts strain on the musculoskeletal system, making it difficult to walk, jump, and climb.

Osteoarthritis is a very common cause of gradually declining mobility, especially in senior dogs. Musculoskeletal injuries are more common than arthritis in young dogs. Owners of arthritic dogs are likely to see their dogs having difficulties in the following situations:

• Going up or down stairs
• Getting in or out of the car
• Jumping on or off furniture
• Getting up after napping or sleeping

It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian and not assume mobility issues are due to old age or slowing down.

Symptoms associated with mobility problems in dogs

A dog with mobility problems may have difficulty with stairs, hopping on or off furniture, and getting in or out of the car. They may or may not show other clinical signs, such as:

• Stiff or slow gait
• Swollen joints
• Limping
• Decrease in activity or overall energy level
• Difficulty standing up from rest or lying down
• Leg weakness or paralysis
• Incoordination
• Changes in behavior, such as aggression or irritability
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Muscle loss

Noting any observed changes at home, even minor changes, can help a veterinarian pinpoint an accurate diagnosis.

A vet visit is warranted if you notice a change in your dog’s mobility, activity level, or behavior. It’s important not to assume your senior dog has arthritis and to get a proper diagnosis from a veterinarian. There are multiple other medical conditions that have similar symptoms. Even if your dog has arthritis, there are many ways to help improve their quality of life.

Seeking veterinary attention when your dog has mobility concerns will enable you to get an accurate diagnosis for your dog and allow your veterinarian to establish a treatment plan specific to your dog’s condition. If you have concerns about your dog’s mobility, professionals are available on Vetster for virtual vet appointments that work for your schedule to offer advice on mobility challenges and ways you can help.

Why is my dog having difficulty climbing stairs?

There are many physical issues that can make it difficult for a dog to climb stairs. Some common conditions in dogs include arthritis, patellar luxation, soft-tissue injuries, and hip dysplasia. These conditions can have similar symptoms, such as difficulty climbing stairs, signs of pain, and other mobility challenges. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian in order to properly treat the underlying issue.

How can I make stairs easier for an older dog?

It’s important to not assume your senior dog’s difficulty with the stairs is just age. Talk to a veterinarian to identify the reason for your dog’s trouble, and once you’ve got a diagnosis, your vet can recommend treatment. This may include weight loss, medication, or surgery. In the meantime, you might find it helpful to use devices such as a mobility sling that can help senior dogs with stairs by helping to support their weight and alleviate pressure on the wrist, knee, and hip joints. Placing important items a dog uses every day — such as food and water bowls, beds, and toys — on one floor, will prevent dogs from needing to climb up and down stairs unnecessarily.

Why won’t my dog jump off furniture anymore?

Dogs with musculoskeletal conditions or injuries, neurologic conditions, and other health problems may have difficulty jumping on or off furniture. There are a wide variety of health issues that can cause mobility challenges, so getting an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian is necessary to address the underlying problem.