How to Care for Your Large Aging Dog

Common Issues

Arthritis

Aging can be hard on the body, and with that comes health conditions that affect the day to day life of your dog. Arthritis shows up in dogs much like it does in humans. The inflammation of the joints causes discomfort when moving. This manifests itself in swelling and/or stiffness. Arthritis makes playing, exercising, walking, and just moving in general more of a chore than it used to be for your pup. Because of their size, large dogs experience more stress on their joints over the years and are more likely to be afflicted with arthritis. It is most common for arthritis to develop in places where an injury wasn’t able to fully heal. In less severe cases an owner may notice that sometimes the pet seems more affected than usual, like after waking up or during cold months. Moving, stretching and gentle massage can sometimes alleviate symptoms, but it is a degenerative condition that must be managed rather than cured. 

Osteoarthritis

An unfortunate disease of the joint, osteoarthritis is the wearing away of the padding between the bones. The wearing down of the padding is what separates osteoarthritis from arthritis which consists of joint inflammation, making OA a real one two punch. Osteoarthritis can result in bone grinding against bone in the affected area. Remedying the disease can consist of physical therapy and surgery, but without surgery, the padding between bones cannot be rebuilt. Treating osteoarthritis otherwise can be very similar to treating regular arthritis. Low impact exercise and stretching out the afflicted area can work wonders. A doggy massage could never hurt the situation either!

Hip/Elbow Dysplasia 

Due to large breeds growing up so fast, the hip joint can’t always keep up with the rapid growth. This can affect the way the bones grow and the ball and socket nature of the hip joint can be misaligned. In other words, the hip can’t move effectively. This misalignment can cause pain but can also, fortunately, be managed. Canine hip or elbow dysplasia is a fairly common joint disease in large dogs and while it is sometimes a hereditary issue, it can happen as larger breeds grows. Getting x-rays during your new pups first veterinarian visit can help get an idea about the potential for hip or elbow dysplasia. While it may not show up as a hereditary issue during an initial wellness checkup, it can still develop as your big pup grows. Keep nutritious dog food and vet check ups frequent if there is a reason to believe your pet may develop this condition.

What to Look For

Joint pain in big dogs reflects some of the most common issues found in these pets. Knowing what to look out for can help owners get ahead of the discomfort and in some cases even prevent the issue. Many of these joint problems will share symptoms with each other.

Limping

A dog can limp for many reasons but it is often the first visual sign that something may be wrong. Limping can be tough to catch sometimes, because when the stiffness alleviates your pup may look good as new. Look for patterns or long periods of time with limping.

Reluctance to Move

As dogs age and slow down a reluctance to move may be a bit more difficult to recognize. That being said, noticing a reluctance to walk, play, or jump is a strong indication that there is pain happening with those actions. For example, maybe your pup isn’t jumping up on to the bed as often, or you’ve noticed them struggling when they do. This might be an early sign of discomfort. Even just not greeting their owners at the door can be a cause for concern.

Licking/Chewing

An irritated, bored, or generally uncomfortable dog may adopt traits more often seen in puppies such as excessive licking and chewing. Many dog owners know this is usually a sign of anxiety or physical irritation, and it could be your dog trying to tell you that they are in pain. 

Behavioral Changes

A sweet friendly dog, when in pain, can become much more aggressive and reserved. This may be with people or other pets, but any sudden changes in behavior should be taken seriously as it is common for pets to act out when experiencing a serious ailment. Keep an eye out on other pets in the home, if the temperament of the sick or hurting dog is off the other pets may be reacting aggressively as well.

Tiredness/Weakness

Noticing a physical change in muscle mass or excessive tiredness in your pet is a clear indicator of an issue. Loss of muscle will likely appear in the afflicted limb and can often accompany limping. It’s also not unusual for a dog’s body to compensate by gaining muscle in the leg that’s not affected, so key an eye out for that as well.