Canine osteoarthritis: the early signs owners often miss Sources: PubMed · Scientific Reports · Merck Veterinary Manual · Frontiers in Veterinary Science Pic's Star : Fidji

Osteoarthritis is often seen as something that happens to old dogs. A dog slows down, struggles to get up after a nap, hesitates before jumping into the car, or takes longer to recover after a walk, and it is easy to put it down to age. But osteoarthritis does not always wait until a dog is old...

A 2024 study found radiographic signs of osteoarthritis in nearly 40% of dogs aged between 8 months and 4 years. Some of these young dogs were not only showing changes on X-rays; they were already showing clinical signs and signs of pain.

That is one of the reasons canine osteoarthritis is so often missed. In its early stages, it rarely looks dramatic. A dog may not limp. They may not cry. They may simply move differently, avoid certain actions, recover less well after activity, or become less tolerant when touched or handled.

This article is for educational purposes only. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment or advice.

 

 

Osteoarthritis is more than “wear and tear”

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is a chronic and progressive condition affecting the joints. It is often described as “wear and tear”, but that expression makes the disease sound simpler than it really is.

In a healthy joint, cartilage helps the bones glide smoothly and absorb part of the mechanical load. In osteoarthritis, this balance is disrupted. The cartilage gradually deteriorates, but the disease does not stop there. The synovial membrane, the bone beneath the cartilage, the joint capsule, ligaments, tendons and surrounding muscles can all become involved.

This matters because osteoarthritis is not just an old joint becoming worn down with time. It is an active disease process, often driven by inflammation, structural change and pain.

The Merck Veterinary Manual describes osteoarthritis as a self-perpetuating cycle: joint damage triggers inflammation and cartilage degradation, which then worsens joint function and can fuel further discomfort.

In other words, once osteoarthritis is established, it can quietly progress.

 

 

Why it can start early

In humans, osteoarthritis is often associated with ageing. In dogs, the picture is different.

Primary osteoarthritis, which develops without a clear underlying joint problem, is less common in dogs than in humans. In dogs, osteoarthritis is more often secondary. It develops because a joint was already vulnerable.

This can happen after hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, patellar luxation, trauma, poorly healed fractures or developmental joint disease. Breed, body shape, previous injuries and joint history can all influence risk.

That is why a young dog can already be affected. A dog with elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia or a previous joint injury may still look energetic, playful and happy, while changes are already developing inside the joint.

In these dogs, waiting for a clear limp may mean waiting until pain has already become part of daily life.

 

 

Why osteoarthritis hurts

One detail often surprises people: cartilage itself does not contain nerve endings. Damaged cartilage is therefore not usually the direct source of pain.

The pain comes mainly from the structures around and beneath the joint surface. The synovial membrane can become inflamed. The bone beneath the cartilage can remodel and become more sensitive. The joint capsule can be stretched. Osteophytes, the bony outgrowths associated with osteoarthritis, can create mechanical tension around the joint.

Pain can also change over time. When pain signals are repeated for long enough, the nervous system can become more reactive. This is known as central sensitisation. In practical terms, the body becomes better at feeling pain.

That is one reason chronic osteoarthritis can become harder to control when it has been left untreated for too long.

Researchers describe canine osteoarthritis pain as involving several mechanisms at once: inflammatory, mechanical and sometimes neuropathic components. This is why veterinary management is often multimodal rather than based on one single solution.

 

 

The joints most often affected

Osteoarthritis does not affect every joint in the same way.

In older dogs, studies have found high rates of osteoarthritis in the elbow, shoulder, stifle and hip. A 2024 retrospective study by Roitner et al. reported osteoarthritis in 57.4% of elbows, 39.2% of shoulders, 36.4% of stifles and 35.9% of hips in dogs over 8 years old.

Large breeds and breeds such as Labradors, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Golden Retrievers are often represented, depending on the joint involved. In younger dogs, the elbow is also a major joint to watch. In the 2024 study by Enomoto et al., which looked at dogs aged 8 months to 4 years, the joints most often affected were the elbow, hip, tarsus and stifle.

So the elbow is not only a concern in older dogs. It can also be one of the first joints involved in young dogs, especially when there are underlying risk factors.

 

 

Why owners miss the first signs

Osteoarthritis does not always begin with obvious lameness. At first, many dogs simply adapt.

They shift their weight. They avoid certain movements. They slow down. They change how they rest. They become more cautious. To an owner, this can look like maturity, tiredness, laziness or normal ageing. The work of Belshaw et al., published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, shows how easily early signs can be overlooked or explained away. Owners may notice that a dog is slower after rest, less willing to jump into the car, less playful, or more reluctant on stairs, without immediately recognising these changes as possible signs of pain.

A dog who no longer wants to sit, lie down, give a paw, climb into the boot, jump onto the sofa or keep the same walking pace has not necessarily become stubborn. The movement may simply be uncomfortable.

Other signs can be even more discreet. A dog may lick or chew around a joint, change resting positions more often, lag behind on familiar walks, avoid slippery floors, or react differently when touched. Some dogs become more withdrawn. Others become irritable. In both cases, behaviour can be part of the pain picture.

 

 

Risk factors that matter

Osteoarthritis has many causes, and not all of them can be changed. Breed, genetics, body conformation, age, sex and previous joint disease can all influence risk.

Other factors can be managed.

• Body weight is one of the most important. Excess weight increases mechanical load on the joints, but it also contributes to inflammation through adipose tissue. For a dog already at risk, weight management can make a meaningful difference.
• Lifestyle also matters. Repeated high-impact activity, unsuitable surfaces, poor conditioning, excessive load or sudden changes in exercise can all add stress to vulnerable joints. Nutrition during growth is another important factor, especially in large-breed puppies.
• Sterilisation may influence risk in some contexts, but the effect depends on breed, age at neutering and the condition considered. It should not be treated as a simple rule.

The useful point is not that every risk can be removed. It is that some risks can be reduced, especially when they are identified early.

 

 

Diagnosis is not just an X-ray

X-rays can be useful. They can show osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, joint effusion and other bone changes, they can help confirm that a joint has been affected. But osteoarthritis is not diagnosed from an X-ray alone. Imaging has limits : X-rays do not show cartilage directly. They also do not always match the dog’s pain level. Some dogs have clear radiographic changes with only mild clinical signs. Others show significant discomfort despite less dramatic imaging.

That is why diagnosis relies on the full picture: the dog’s history, owner observations, orthopaedic examination, gait assessment, mobility evaluation and imaging when needed.

Veterinary medicine also uses structured tools such as COAST and COASTeR, the Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool, which classifies dogs from stage 0 to stage 4. Its strength is that it does not rely only on imaging. It also considers risk factors, owner observations and clinical assessment. That matters because osteoarthritis is not just what appears on a radiograph. Osteoarthritis it's what the dog really experiences in daily life.

 

 

What can be done?

Osteoarthritis is irreversible and damaged cartilage cannot simply be rebuilt but that does not mean nothing can be done.

The aim of veterinary management is to reduce pain, preserve mobility, protect function and slow further deterioration where possible. Most dogs benefit from a multimodal approach, because osteoarthritis itself is multifactorial. Weight control is often one of the most important interventions, particularly in overweight dogs. The home environment can also be adapted with non-slip flooring, ramps, stable bedding, easier access to resting areas, and fewer repeated jumps on and off furniture or into the car. Exercise should usually be adjusted rather than stopped. Total inactivity weakens muscles and can make joint stability worse. Regular, controlled movement helps maintain muscle support and mobility, while physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or rehabilitation may be useful when recommended by a veterinary professional.

Medication may include NSAIDs, analgesics or other treatments prescribed by a veterinarian. Nutritional support can also be discussed with a vet, especially when weight, inflammation or joint function are part of the wider clinical picture.  No single measure works for every dog. The best results usually come from combining several appropriate measures under veterinary guidance.

 

 

Do not wait for a clear limp

The most important point is simple: do not wait for obvious lameness. If a dog belongs to an at-risk breed, is overweight, has a history of joint problems, or starts moving differently, it is worth discussing an orthopaedic assessment with a vet. Small changes matter. A dog who hesitates before jumping, slows down on walks, avoids stairs, sleeps differently or becomes unusually sensitive to touch may be showing early signs of pain.

These signs do not automatically mean osteoarthritis. But they do mean something has changed. And when osteoarthritis is involved, earlier recognition usually gives the dog a better chance of staying comfortable for longer.

 

 

When to speak to a vet

A new limp, even if it comes and goes, should be taken seriously. So should stiffness after rest, difficulty getting up, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, reduced interest in walks or play, repeated licking around a joint, sensitivity when touched, or a change in mood, patience or tolerance.

These signs are not a diagnosis, they are a reason to look more closely.

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Sources

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2. Anderson K.L. et al. (2020). Risk Factors for Canine Osteoarthritis and Its Predisposing Arthropathies: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 220. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00220
3. Anderson K.L. et al. (2018). Prevalence, duration and risk factors for appendicular osteoarthritis in a UK dog population under primary veterinary care. Scientific Reports, 8, 5641. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23940-z
4. Pye C. et al. (2022). Advances in the pharmaceutical treatment options for canine osteoarthritis. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 63. DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13495
5. Pye C. et al. (2024). Current evidence for non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical treatments of canine osteoarthritis. Journal of Small Animal Practice. DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13670
6. Cachon T. et al. (2023). COAST Development Group’s international consensus guidelines for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1137888
7. Roitner M. et al. (2024). Prevalence of osteoarthritis in the shoulder, elbow, hip and stifle joints of dogs older than 8 years. The Veterinary Journal, 305. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106132
8. Belshaw Z. et al. (2020). Could it be osteoarthritis? How dog owners and veterinary surgeons describe identifying canine osteoarthritis in a general practice setting. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 185, 105198.
9. Merck Veterinary Manual. Osteoarthritis in Dogs and Cats. merckvetmanual.com
10. Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Osteoarthritis. vet.cornell.edu