Is Your Pet Slowing Down? It Might Not Be 'Just Age' — A Guide to Arthritis in Dogs and Cats

Published Dan Gray, DVM at Gentle Vet  |  Green Bay & Northeast Wisconsin  |  thegentlevets.com

Tags: Dog Health, Cat Health, Arthritis, Joint Pain, Pet Wellness, Green Bay Veterinarian

 

Is Your Pet Slowing Down? It Might Not Be 'Just Age'

It happens gradually. Your dog used to leap into the car without a second thought — now you're giving him a boost. Your cat stopped jumping up to her favorite window ledge, and you've started calling it 'her new preference.' You've probably told yourself it's normal. She's getting older. He's just taking it easy.

Here's the honest truth: slowing down is common with age, but it is not inevitable — and it's not always just age. For millions of dogs and cats across the country, that gradual shift in behavior is arthritis talking. And the earlier we catch it, the more we can do about it.

At Gentle Vet, we see this every week in our Green Bay practice. A senior Labrador who's been quieter for months. A 9-year-old cat who suddenly stopped grooming her lower back. Owners who feel terrible when they realize the signs had been there for a while — and that we had options the whole time.

This guide covers everything you need to know: how to spot arthritis in dogs and cats, why cats are especially tricky, what treatment looks like in 2025, and how to get started.

What Is Arthritis in Pets?

Arthritis — technically called osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD) — is a progressive breakdown of cartilage inside a joint. Cartilage is the cushion between bones. As it wears down, bone begins rubbing against bone, triggering inflammation, pain, and over time, permanent joint changes.

It's not a disease caused by laziness or poor care. It can be the result of aging, genetics, breed predisposition, previous injuries, obesity, or developmental conditions like hip dysplasia. It affects large breeds, small breeds, dogs, and cats equally — though it looks quite different depending on the species.

For a deeper scientific look at how arthritis develops, the veterinary professionals at Veterinary Partner (VIN) offer an excellent overview of degenerative joint disease in both dogs and cats.

Arthritis in Dogs: What to Watch For

Dogs are usually more straightforward about pain than cats. They limp, they whine, they get up slowly. But many owners still miss the early signs because they're subtle and come on so gradually.

Common symptoms of arthritis in dogs:

• Stiffness when getting up after rest — especially in the morning
• Reluctance to climb stairs, jump into the car, or get on furniture
• Visible lameness or favoring one leg
• Decreased activity, shorter walks, less enthusiasm for exercise
• Irritability or flinching when touched around the hips, shoulders, or spine
• Licking, chewing, or biting at a specific joint
• Muscle loss (atrophy) over the hindquarters

Any dog over the age of 7 — and large breeds as young as 5 — should be evaluated for joint health at every wellness visit. Don't wait for a limp. By the time a dog is noticeably limping, there's often significant joint damage already in place.

Arthritis in Cats: The Quiet Epidemic

Cats are a different story entirely — and this is where we really want you to pay attention.

Studies using X-rays have found arthritis in more than 60% of cats over the age of six and up to 90% of cats over the age of twelve. That is not a typo. Most of those cats were never brought in for joint pain. Their owners had no idea.

Why? Because cats evolved to hide vulnerability. In the wild, showing pain is dangerous. So instead of limping or crying, an arthritic cat quietly stops doing the things that hurt — and owners interpret that as personality change, laziness, or age.

Symptoms of arthritis in cats to watch for:

• Stopping jumping up onto counters, beds, or window perches — or landing awkwardly when they do
• Difficulty getting in and out of the litter box (missed edges, going outside the box)
• Reduced grooming — especially around the lower back, base of tail, and hindquarters
• Over-grooming on a specific joint (licking the same spot repeatedly)
• Hiding more than usual or avoiding interaction
• Irritability when picked up or petted along the spine
• Sleeping more, playing less

How We Diagnose Arthritis at Gentle Vet

There's no single test that confirms arthritis. Diagnosis is a combination of what you tell us, what we find on physical exam, and what imaging shows us.

What to expect during an arthritis evaluation:

• A detailed history — your observations at home are genuinely valuable diagnostic information
• Full physical and orthopedic exam — we assess range of motion, joint swelling, muscle mass, and pain response in each joint
• X-rays — we look for bone changes, joint space narrowing, and the formation of bony spurs called osteophytes; these are the hallmark of arthritis on imaging
• Blood and urine testing — especially important before starting medications; we need a baseline on kidney and liver function
• Mobility scoring — we use standardized assessment tools to track changes over time

One of the most important things we do is compare your pet's movement today to how they'll move after treatment begins. If you see improvement — more ease getting up, more willingness to play, better litter box habits in cats — that tells us we're on the right track.

Treatment Options We Offer at Gentle Vet

We don't take a one-size-fits-all approach to arthritis. The right plan depends on your pet's species, age, overall health, other medical conditions, and what's practical for your household. Most patients benefit from a combination of approaches.

For an in-depth clinical review of arthritis medications — including NSAIDs and newer biologic options — DVM360 has published excellent resources for both professionals and informed pet owners.

A Closer Look: Librela and Solensia

If you haven't heard of these yet, you will soon — and they're worth understanding.

Librela (for dogs) and Solensia (for cats) are monoclonal antibody injections given once monthly at your vet's office. They work by targeting and neutralizing nerve growth factor (NGF) — a molecule in the body that plays a major role in sending pain signals to the brain in osteoarthritis. Block NGF, and you block a primary pain pathway, without the anti-inflammatory side effects associated with long-term NSAID use.

This matters especially for cats, who are notoriously sensitive to many pain medications. For years, managing chronic pain in arthritic cats was genuinely difficult. Solensia changed that. Clinical trials showed that owners reported meaningful improvement in their cats' mobility, activity, and quality of life — and because it's an injection given here in the clinic, you don't have to wrestle with daily pills.

Therapeutic Laser: What It Is (and What It Isn't)

Laser therapy is one of the most misunderstood services we offer — and one of the most effective tools we have for arthritis management. It is not a surgery. It is not painful. And it's not science fiction.

Low-level (cold) laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate tissue and stimulate a cellular response. In joints affected by arthritis, this translates to reduced inflammation, improved circulation to the joint, and accelerated tissue repair. Most patients tolerate it extremely well — dogs often fall asleep during treatment, and cats tend to zone out or purr.

Laser works best as part of a multi-modal plan — meaning it complements medication rather than replacing it. We typically recommend an initial series of treatments close together, then maintenance as needed based on your pet's response.

The Weight Factor: More Important Than You Think

If your arthritic pet is carrying extra weight, this is the single most impactful change you can make outside of medication. Every pound of excess body weight adds roughly four to five pounds of force on a joint with every step. For a 10-pound overweight dog, that's 40–50 extra pounds of joint stress per stride.

We know weight loss conversations can feel uncomfortable — that's not our intent. Our intent is to give you the most effective tool available, and the research is clear: weight loss reduces arthritis pain more than most single medications alone.

If your pet needs help with weight management, we have prescription weight-loss diets, body condition scoring at every visit, and a team that's genuinely supportive — not judgmental.

What You Can Do at Home

Medication and veterinary care are the foundation, but there's a lot you can do between visits to improve your pet's comfort.

For dogs:

• Provide a thick, orthopedic bed with memory foam — cold, hard floors are hard on arthritic joints
• Use a ramp or steps for the car, couch, or bed to reduce high-impact jumping
• Warm up before exercise — short, slow lead walks before more active movement
• Keep exercise consistent — daily low-impact movement (short leash walks on level ground) is better than one long weekend walk
• Consider rubber-backed mats on slippery floors

For cats:

• Lower the sides of the litter box or use a box with a low entry — this is one of the most important changes you can make
• Move food, water, and beds to ground level or add carpeted steps to elevated resting spots
• Provide gentle warmth — a heated cat bed or fleece blanket is very appreciated by arthritic cats
• Continue brushing and grooming if your cat is struggling to reach certain areas
• Keep easy access to multiple resting spots throughout the house

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Arthritis

These questions are answered in plain language and optimized for Google search and AI assistants. If you ask your smart speaker or search engine one of these questions, we want this page to have your answer.

Can young dogs and cats get arthritis?

Yes. While arthritis is more common in senior pets, younger animals can develop it following joint injuries, orthopedic surgeries, hip or elbow dysplasia, or certain developmental conditions. We've diagnosed arthritis in dogs as young as 2 years old following a cruciate (ACL) ligament injury.

Is limping always a sign of arthritis?

Not necessarily — limping can indicate injury, infection, a torn ligament, a growth, or other orthopedic problems. Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic low-grade limping, especially in older pets. A physical exam and X-rays help us figure out what's actually going on. Don't assume — let us check.

My cat isn't limping. Could she still have arthritis?

Absolutely. Studies show that up to 90% of arthritic cats never limp. They express pain differently — by stopping activity, grooming less, hiding, or missing the litter box. If your cat is over 7 and you've noticed any behavioral changes, an exam is warranted.

Can arthritis be cured?

Arthritis is not curable — the joint damage that has occurred cannot be reversed. But it is very manageable. Many arthritic pets live comfortably for years with the right combination of medication, therapy, weight management, and home modifications. Our goal is not to cure arthritis; it's to make your pet feel like themselves again.

How do I know if the treatment is working?

The best indicators are behavioral changes you observe at home: Is your dog getting up more easily? Is your cat jumping again? Is she grooming properly or using the litter box consistently? We also use standardized mobility scoring at each visit to track objective changes over time.

Are there risks to long-term NSAID use?

NSAIDs like meloxicam and carprofen are effective but do carry some risk with long-term use, particularly for the kidneys and liver. That's why we require baseline bloodwork before starting and recheck labs at least every six months for pets on long-term NSAID therapy. It's not a barrier to treatment — it's how we make sure the treatment stays safe.

What's the difference between Librela and traditional pain medications?

Traditional NSAIDs reduce inflammation throughout the body. Librela (for dogs) works on a completely different mechanism — it targets a specific pain-signaling molecule called nerve growth factor (NGF). This makes it an option for dogs who can't tolerate NSAIDs due to kidney, liver, or GI issues. It does not replace NSAIDs in all cases, but it expands our options significantly.

Is therapeutic laser really effective, or is it just a trend?

There is genuine evidence supporting therapeutic laser for arthritis pain management in small animals. Clinician's Brief and other peer-reviewed veterinary resources have published studies showing improvements in mobility and pain scores following laser therapy. It's not a miracle cure on its own, but as part of a broader plan, it makes a real difference — especially for cats and pets who have limitations on what medications they can safely take.

What to Expect at Your First Arthritis Evaluation at Gentle Vet

When you come in for a mobility or arthritis evaluation, here's generally what happens:

1. We'll review your pet's history and your home observations — the changes you've noticed over time are genuinely valuable, so write them down if it helps.
2. We perform a thorough physical and orthopedic exam, checking every joint for range of motion, pain response, and muscle condition.
3. We may recommend X-rays to confirm the degree of joint change and rule out other causes of pain.
4. We run baseline bloodwork — this is non-negotiable before starting any long-term medication.
5. We build a treatment plan together, explaining every option and why we're recommending it for your specific pet.
6. We schedule a follow-up to assess response — because a plan that isn't working gets adjusted until it is.