2. Slowing Down During Walks

Changes on walks are often gradual.

A dog may begin the walk enthusiastically but fall behind later. Hills, uneven ground and long outings may become less appealing.

Owners sometimes interpret this as laziness. But a dog that repeatedly sits down, asks to turn home or loses interest in a familiar route may be communicating that the walk has become uncomfortable.

Changes in breathing, heart health, fitness and general illness can also reduce exercise tolerance, so persistent slowing deserves veterinary attention rather than an assumption about the cause.

AAHA's guidance on chronic pain assessment in dogs notes that owners can help identify pain by comparing normal and abnormal mobility, demeanour and lifestyle over time.

3. Moving Stiffly After Rest

Some pets appear stiffest when they first stand up.

They may rise slowly after sleeping, take several short or awkward steps, and then move more freely after a few minutes.

Owners may also notice frequent repositioning in bed or difficulty settling into a comfortable posture.

Cold weather can make changes in movement more noticeable, although weather alone does not confirm a joint condition.

4. Changes in Grooming and Litter Tray Habits

Cats often show mobility problems through their daily routines.

A cat with reduced flexibility may struggle to twist around and groom the lower back or hindquarters. The coat in those areas may become greasy, scruffy or matted while the front of the body remains well groomed.

Other changes can include:

• Jumping onto fewer high surfaces
• Using furniture as intermediate steps
• Sleeping in lower or easier-to-reach places

Avoiding a litter tray with high sides

• Toileting beside the tray
• Becoming less tolerant of being picked up

Litter tray accidents can have urinary, digestive, behavioural and environmental causes as well. They should not automatically be attributed to stiffness.

The AAHA chronic pain assessment guidance for cats highlights changes in running, jumping, stair use and chasing as behaviours owners can monitor. It also explains why home videos can be valuable when a cat will not demonstrate normal movement in the clinic.

5. Muscle Loss Around the Back Legs

Muscle loss can be easier to feel than to see.

When a pet uses a leg less, the muscles around the hips and thighs can gradually become smaller. Owners may notice thinner back legs, more prominent hips or a difference between the two sides.

Muscle loss is not specific to joint disease. It can also occur with ageing, reduced activity, poor nutrition, neurological disease and other medical problems.

Because strong muscles help support movement and balance, visible or progressive muscle loss is a good reason to book a check-up.

6. Repeatedly Licking One Area

Some dogs and cats repeatedly lick or chew an uncomfortable area.

The fur may look damp, stained, thin or broken over a wrist, knee, hip or another part of the body.

However, licking is more commonly associated with several possible causes, including allergies, skin irritation, parasites, anxiety and pain.

The location of the licking can be useful information for a veterinarian, but it should not be used to diagnose a joint problem at home.

7. Changes in Mood or Social Behaviour

Pain and discomfort can change behaviour.

A normally patient dog may move away when someone touches its back end. A cat that once enjoyed being picked up may begin to squirm, swat or hide.

Owners may also notice:

• Less interest in play or family activity
• Irritability when touched in certain areas
• Sleeping more than usual
• Choosing quieter or easier-to-reach resting places

Less enthusiasm around walks, play or other familiar routines

Sudden behaviour change always deserves attention. Pain is one possibility, but illness, fear and changes in the home can also affect behaviour.

What Owners Can Do at Home

Home changes can make daily movement easier, but they work best alongside veterinary assessment when signs are persistent or worsening.

Keep movement regular and manageable.

For many dogs, shorter and more frequent walks are easier than occasional long outings. Gentle play can help cats remain active without requiring large jumps.

Avoid suddenly increasing exercise or forcing a pet through an activity that appears painful.

Current AAHA nonpharmacologic pain-management guidance supports including appropriate physical activity, rehabilitation and environmental modification within a broader pain-management plan.

Support a healthy body weight.

Extra body weight increases the load placed on joints. A veterinarian can help assess body condition and create a feeding plan that protects muscle while reducing excess weight.

Make the home easier to navigate.

• Place non-slip mats on tiles and floorboards
• Use a stable ramp or steps for cars and furniture
• Provide a supportive bed in a warm, easy-to-reach area
• Keep food, water and resting areas accessible
• Offer cats a litter tray with at least one low side
• Create intermediate steps to favourite elevated areas

Where Daily Nutritional Support May Fit

Joint care is usually most useful as a combination of weight management, appropriate movement, environmental changes and veterinary treatment when needed.

Some owners also choose nutritional products as part of that routine. The evidence and expected benefit vary between ingredients and individual pets, so supplements should not replace diagnosis, pain relief or a treatment plan.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines encourage owners and veterinary teams to evaluate the complete diet, health status and nutritional needs of the individual animal rather than assessing an ingredient in isolation.

Petmima Advanced Bone Broth + Hydrolyzed Collagen combines beef bone broth, hydrolysed collagen and glucosamine in a powder that can be mixed with normal food. It is designed for everyday nutritional support of cartilage, joint function and mobility in dogs and cats.

For pets whose routine also focuses on maintaining muscle and bone health, Muscle 2 Bone Advanced + Vitamin D is another food-topper option.

Ask your veterinarian before introducing a supplement if your pet has a medical condition, follows a therapeutic diet, is pregnant, or takes medication. Follow the product directions and monitor the pet's response over time.

When to Book a Veterinary Appointment

Arrange a veterinary assessment if a change in movement or behaviour is recurring, worsening or affecting normal activities.

Seek prompt veterinary advice if your pet:

• Suddenly cannot use a leg
• Cries out or appears severely painful
• Has a swollen, hot or visibly injured joint
• Is limping repeatedly
• Stops eating or seems generally unwell
• Has unexplained muscle loss
• Has difficulty toileting or repeatedly misses the litter tray

A veterinarian can check whether the problem involves the joints, muscles, spine, nerves or another part of the body. Videos of the pet getting up, walking, using stairs or jumping can be useful because some pets move differently in the clinic.

AAHA's principles for developing a pain therapy plan emphasise individual assessment, realistic treatment goals and ongoing monitoring.

Final Thoughts

Joint stiffness rarely announces itself in one dramatic moment.

It may begin with a pause at the car, a shorter walk, a lower sleeping place or a patch of coat that an older cat no longer grooms.

The goal is not to diagnose every small change at home.

It is to notice when a pet is adapting.

Early observation, sensible changes around the home and veterinary guidance can help dogs and cats remain active and comfortable for longer.

Editorial Source Note

This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Its approach to recognising and managing pain is consistent with the multimodal assessment principles described in the 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.

Veterinary References

AAHA: 2022 Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

AAHA: Chronic Pain Assessment in Dogs

AAHA: Chronic Pain Assessment in Cats

AAHA: Nonpharmacologic Modalities for Pain Management

AAHA: Guiding Principles for Developing a Therapy Plan

WSAVA: Global Nutrition Guidelines

FDA: Novel Treatment to Control Osteoarthritis Pain in Cats

PubMed: Degenerative Joint Disease and Osteoarthritis Research in Cats

PubMed: Canine Osteoarthritis Management Research