As dog owners, we all adore our furry companions. However, as they age, our dogs may need extra care and assistance for their mobility. It's a common issue that older dogs face, and it can seriously affect their quality of life.
However, the good news is that there are several things that we can do to help our dogs with mobility issues and to enhance their comfort. If we take specific measures, we can even slow down the deterioration process.
In this article, we'll discuss the reasons behind mobility loss in dogs, how to recognise the signs, and the best ways to support our dogs if they develop any movement issues.
Reasons for mobility loss in older dogs
It's no surprise that, just like humans, dogs' health and strength change as they age, and their range of motion can be affected, causing difficulties in performing simple movements.
Reasons that dogs can lose mobility can include:
- Arthritis
- Hip dysplasia
- Injury
- Illnesses
- Neurological disorders
- Breed-specific disorders
- Developmental conditions
What are the signs of mobility issues in dogs?
As our dogs age, it's essential to observe changes in behaviour as they can indicate potential problems.
Some telltale signs of mobility loss in dogs can include:
- Reluctance to move
- Difficulty standing
- Joint licking
- Difficulty jumping up to higher spots
- Needing help to climb stairs
- Loss of balance
- Limping
- Swaying hind end
- Constant shifting of weight between legs
- Dragging paws
If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms or any other problems with movement, we recommend taking it to your vet as soon as possible so that the issue can be diagnosed correctly and the appropriate treatment can be provided.
How to support a senior dog with mobility loss
Dogs that are having trouble moving will often need assistance and consideration in their care. Some might even need special equipment to make getting around easier, ensure they are getting exercise, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Your vet will advise you on the best way to support your pup, but here are some ways you may be able to help them with their mobility:
Adapt their exercise routine
Senior dogs will always need some form of physical activity, so consider their abilities, pain, and energy levels when setting expectations for exercise.
Animal rehabilitation
In consultation with your vet, your senior dog could benefit from a therapeutic program to improve their range of motion and keep them active.
Raise food and water bowls
For older or tall dogs, it may be difficult to bend down for meals. Raising their bowls to the appropriate height and using a non-slip mat can make eating and drinking easier and more comfortable.
Consider dog transportation tools
Access to the great outdoors is essential to all dogs—even ones with particularly bad immobility. Dog carriers and strollers are excellent for getting your dog out and about to enjoy nature and fresh air.
Provide ramps around the home
Senior pets often struggle with steps and jumping onto couches or into the car, so providing ramps can help them maintain their independence while minimising stress on the joints.
Provide an orthopaedic bed
Orthopaedic bedding offers extra comfort to dogs with arthritis, joint problems, injuries, and dysplasia.
Browse our recommended senior dog products
Buster Dark Grey IncrediBowl Slow Feeder
The Buster IncrediBowl is designed for long-eared dogs that are fed wet (canned/tinned) food. The conical design keeps your dog's ears outside the bowl while they are eating, avoiding staining and bad smells, and slows down greedy eaters by forcing them to pick food out of the inner corners. The soft material incorporates durable floor stabilisers that greatly reduce slippage while your dog eats.
Your dog´s ears will not be stained by liquid food that may leave a lingering bad smell behind. Buster IncrediBowl has a conical-shaped design that ensures a dog will not bolt its food, this is because they have to pick food from the inner corners. This improves your dog´s health by reducing common maladies related to improper eating patterns. The soft material incorporates durable floor stabilisers that greatly inhibit movement while your dog eats.
A unique non-slip food bowl designed for medium to large dogs with long ears.
Available in 1 litre and 2 litre capacity.
4CYTE Canine Joint Supplements for Dogs
4CYTE Canine Granules give your dog comprehensive joint support by combining Epiitalis®, a clinically studied plant seed oil for cartilage repair, with New Zealand green-lipped mussel, marine cartilage, and abalone. A loading dose in the first four weeks builds results faster, followed by a lower maintenance dose for ongoing support. Just sprinkle onto food using the supplied scoop. Available in 50g and 100g bags from 6 months of age, no prescription required.
Health Benefits
- Cartilage cell stimulation: Epiitalis, a patented plant-based triglyceride oil, helps promote the production of healthy cartilage cells and may slow cartilage breakdown by suppressing the inflammatory compounds that drive joint degeneration
- Multi-ingredient joint support: combines the plant-based oil with New Zealand green-lipped mussel, marine cartilage, and abalone, which provide naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids and glycosaminoglycans that help support joint lubrication and connective tissue health
- Faster results with loading dose: a higher dose in the first four weeks helps build active ingredient levels more quickly in joint tissue, with a lower maintenance dose continuing the benefit long-term
- Reduced stiffness and improved movement: the combination of ingredients may help ease stiffness associated with osteoarthritis and normal ageing, helping dogs rise, walk, and exercise with greater comfort
- Clinically studied active ingredient: in a University of Melbourne clinical study, 93.5% of dogs with osteoarthritis showed improvement in quality of life within 28 days on the Epiitalis plant-based oil formula
- Easy daily administration: granule format sprinkles directly onto food using the supplied scoop, with no prescription required and no strong smell or taste that puts dogs off eating
4CYTE Canine Sachets are a daily granule joint supplement for dogs that support cartilage health and joint function, mixed directly into food.
How to help prevent mobility loss in senior dogs
While mobility loss is common and usually inevitable with older dogs, depending on the cause, there are measures you can take to help slow the process:
- You can slow some degenerative joint diseases by using appropriate supplement products for joints like pentosan polysulfate.
- You can protect your dog's bones and joints by limiting high-impact exercise throughout their adult years.
- You can reduce the symptoms of abnormalities and trauma, such as valgus deformity, hip dysplasia, patella luxation and cruciate ligament damage, by treating them appropriately and quickly through your family vet.
Supporting your older dogs' mobility with their diet and supplements
You can support your dogs' mobility into their older years by exploring the best senior dog food options that have nutrients that aid joint, bone, and cartilage health.
Recommended foods
Specially formulated senior dog foods contain ingredients like omega fatty acids and beneficial vitamins and have a balanced nutrient profile to help with joint health.
We recommend trusted brands like Hill's and Royal Canin's formulations for mobility and age-related issues.
Following guidelines
Obesity in dogs, especially older ones, can also contribute to mobility difficulties. To ensure your dog gets the required nutrients, read the back of the dog food packaging and follow the feeding guidelines.
View our vet-recommended senior dog diets
Royal Canin Expert Mature Consult Large Breed Dog Dry Food
Royal Canin Mature Consult Large Dog is recommended for mature large breed dogs (> 25kg) over 5 years old, ideally after a senior health check.
This formula includes a selection of nutrients that help support vitality, including renal, cardiac and brain functions, with a specifically balanced formulation to help preserve muscle mass with age, and formulated to help maintain healthy bones and joints.
Vitality & Brain Health
This formula includes a selection of nutrients that help support vitality, including renal, cardiac and brain functions.
Muscle Mass Support
A specifically balanced formulation to help preserve muscle mass with age.
Bone & Joint Support
Formulated to help maintain healthy bones and joints.
Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight + j/d Mobility Care Adult Dog Dry Food
If your dog is carrying extra weight and has stiff or sore joints, Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight + j/d Mobility Care is formulated to tackle both conditions at once. Clinically proven to support natural weight loss, the recipe is also enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin to protect joint cartilage and improve mobility. Available in 3.86kg and 10.8kg bags, a valid vet recommendation is required for purchase.
Health Benefits
- Clinically proven weight loss: metabolic activation supports natural fat burning without hunger
- Joint support (omega-3s): 3.63% omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseed reduce inflammation and support mobility
- Cartilage maintenance: glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate support cartilage repair and joint function
- Lean muscle preservation: L-carnitine supports fat metabolism while maintaining muscle mass during weight loss
- Satiety support: 13.9% dietary fibre helps dogs feel full between meals to prevent begging
- Antioxidant support: vitamins C and E support immune function and long-term weight maintenance
Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility is a dual-action prescription diet that supports weight loss and joint health simultaneously in overweight dogs with mobility issues.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Mobility C2P+ Adult Dry Dog Food
Royal Canin® Mobility C2P+ is a veterinary exclusive dry dog food. The result of years of extensive research, this food was formulated as a nutritional solution to help support your dog’s mobility.
It contains selected nutrients, including hydrolysed collagen, to help support joint cartilage health. This formula has a moderate calorie content to help maintain an ideal body weight. Plus, it has a tailored blend of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, this specialised nutrition aids urinary health by creating an environment unfavourable to crystal formation in the bladder.
Mobility Support
Scientifically proven in a clinical study where 88% of dogs showed an improvement in mobility when fed Mobility C2P+.
Innovative C2P+ Joint Complex
Formulated with a synergistic combination of turmeric extract, hydrolysed collagen and green tea polyphenols, to help protect joint cartilage health.
Moderate Calorie
Joints are under stress when dogs are overweight. Moderate calorie content to support joint health by helping to maintain an ideal body weight.
This diet is formulated to promote a healthy urinary environment
What about dietary supplements?
A supplement is an addition to your dog's diet and usually comes in pill, capsule, chew, powder or liquid form. Supplements are given to pets to boost a particular acting nutrient and are often prescribed by your pet professional.
Although a supplement will not cure degenerative conditions or arthritis, it can aid in comfort, reduce inflammation and support overall health and strength.
Some senior dog supplements we love are listed here:
4CYTE for Dogs addresses the underlying cause of acute joint injury and osteoarthritis and helps manage the associated pain and inflammation. It contains vet-endorsed ingredients that help support, protect and maintain healthy joints so your dog can enjoy life to the fullest.
Rose Hip Vital Canine is a plant-based supplement that supports your dog's joint health and general well-being. It contains rosehips, which have natural anti-inflammatory properties and protect cartilage.
PAW by Blackmores Osteosupport Joint Care Powder For Dogs supports joint health and provides relief of arthritic symptoms for your ageing dog. Its main ingredient is natural green-lipped mussels, which are an effective anti-inflammatory and contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
GLYDE Mobility Chews are a soft, heart-shaped, gluten-free chew your dog will love. They contain chondroprotective compounds that protect joints, delay arthritis symptoms, and are a natural anti-inflammatory that relieves joint pain.
Shop all our vet-recommended mobility supplements here.
Conclusion
We welcome dogs into our homes as family members and want the best for them as they age and need more support. By watching out for the signs of mobility problems and seeking advice from your vet as soon as possible, you can treat your dog's mobility issues efficiently and ensure they are comfortable and happy as they enter their twilight years.
