Bone, Joint and Muscle Problems in Dogs

Signs of Joint, Bone or Muscle Pain

• Limping, which may be subtle or come and go^1,2
• Stiffness or slowness getting up, especially after rest^1,13
• Trouble with stairs, jumping or getting into the car^1,13
• Less play or activity^1,2
• Bunny hopping, a waddling or swaying gait, or sitting with a leg out to the side²
• Muscle loss, especially in the thighs, or joint swelling^14,13
• A skipping step, where the dog carries a back leg for a few strides³

Owners can spot pain by comparing their dog's normal and abnormal behavior.¹² Owners often put changes in older dogs down to normal aging when chronic pain may be the cause.¹⁵ See why dogs limp.

Common Bone, Joint and Muscle Problems

Arthritis (osteoarthritis)

Arthritis is a slowly worsening disease of the joints. In dogs it is most often caused by developmental problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans and cruciate ligament injury.¹ Signs are often not recognized until dogs are 5 to 13 years old, even though X-ray changes can start much earlier.^1,8 Arthritis isn't simply normal aging, and vets rule out other causes of pain first.¹⁶ Read more: canine arthritis.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a loose hip joint that leads to arthritis. Heredity is the biggest single risk factor, along with rapid growth, exercise and nutrition, and it mostly affects large breeds.^17,18 Lameness is often worse after exercise, with a bunny-hopping gait, but many affected dogs show no obvious signs.^18,17 Most dogs don't need surgery.¹⁸ Read more: hip dysplasia in dogs and dog hip surgery.

Elbow dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia is a group of related elbow abnormalities in young, fast-growing large breeds such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rottweilers and German Shepherds.¹⁹ Front-leg lameness and stiffness after rest are usually noticed at 4 to 10 months.¹⁹ Treatment may be medical or surgical, and lifelong management of the arthritis that follows is needed.¹⁹

Cruciate ligament disease

Cranial cruciate ligament disease is the leading cause of hind-leg lameness in dogs. The ligament usually degenerates slowly rather than tearing suddenly, especially in large-breed, neutered or female dogs.^7,13 Signs include lameness after rest, trouble rising or jumping, thigh muscle loss, firm swelling on the inner shin and sometimes a popping or clicking sound, which may mean a meniscus tear.¹³ About half of dogs later injure the other knee.¹³ Read more: canine knee surgery.

Luxating patella (slipping kneecap)

Patellar luxation is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs, diagnosed in 7% of puppies, and is most common in small breeds.³ The classic sign is a skip: the dog carries a back leg for a few steps, then walks normally.^3,20 Signs usually start before 1 year of age.²⁰ Dogs with patellar luxation are also more prone to cruciate disease.³

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)

Disc degeneration is an inevitable part of aging in dogs.²¹ Some dogs develop disc disease that needs a vet's care. Read more: IVDD in dogs.

Sprains and strains

Soft tissue injuries are another cause of limping that vets consider during the exam.¹⁶ Read more: dog sprain and dog paw sprain.

Elbow hygromas

Large dogs, and older dogs with elbow arthritis, often develop soft, fluid-filled swellings over the elbow from lying on hard surfaces. Soft bedding and padding help.^22,23 Read more: dog skin lesions, scabs and sores.

Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)

Osteosarcoma mostly affects older large and giant breeds, especially tall dogs and Rottweilers, though dogs under 15 kg can be affected.⁴ It causes lameness that is usually slow to develop and swelling of the bone, and the weakened bone can break.⁴ With palliative care alone, median survival is 90 to 175 days; with treatment aimed at a cure, it is 235 to 366 days, with 33% to 65% of dogs alive at 1 year.⁴ Read more: dog bone cancer.

Comparing Common Problems

Popping Joints and Sudden Limping

A "popping" leg can mean different things. A kneecap can slip out and back in, causing a skip.^3,20 A torn cruciate ligament or meniscus can cause a popping or clicking sound.¹³ Arthritic joints can grind (crepitus), and a hip can dislocate.⁷ Your vet needs to examine the leg and take X-rays to know which.^4,1

Surgery isn't the only option for every cause:

• Slipping kneecap: surgery is usually recommended for grade 2 and up or worsening lameness. Mild cases can be managed with weight control, controlled exercise, physical therapy and pain relief, though this doesn't correct the anatomy.^20,3 Because kneecap signs usually start before age 1, new signs in an older dog may point to another problem such as cruciate disease.^20,3
• Cruciate disease: surgery gives the best results for most medium and large dogs.^13,7 In an older study, 86% of small dogs under 15 kg improved without surgery, but only 19% of larger dogs did.²⁴ Other studies found many large dogs also did well without surgery, and overall the evidence is weak.^24,25 Non-surgical care means strict activity restriction, pain medicine, rehab and sometimes a brace, but the knee stays unstable.¹³
• Dislocated hip: it's usually first put back under anesthesia without surgery, though about half dislocate again and then need surgery.⁷

In an older dog, the vet will also rule out bone cancer, which causes slowly worsening lameness and bone swelling.⁴ Your vet can tell you what to expect for your dog.

Signs That Need a Vet

• Limping that doesn't settle, or that keeps coming back^1,13
• Not putting weight on a leg, or a sudden change after a fall or injury⁷
• A firm swelling on a bone, especially in an older large dog⁴
• Muscle loss in one leg^13,14
• A young large-breed dog with front or hind leg lameness^19,18
• Slowing down, reluctance to walk or play, or trouble rising in an older dog^15,1

How Vets Diagnose Joint and Bone Problems

A full orthopedic exam comes first, to tell cruciate disease, hip dysplasia, nerve problems and bone cancer apart, followed by X-rays.⁴ Vets feel for swelling and joint looseness, and use specific tests for knee instability and hip looseness.^7,18 CT and arthroscopy (a camera in the joint) help diagnose elbow dysplasia.¹⁹ Owner questionnaires can help track chronic pain over time.¹²

Treatment Overview

Arthritis care works best when several approaches are combined.^1,2 Medicines are listed here by type only. Give them only as your vet directs.

• Weight control: even very modest weight loss improves function.¹
• Exercise changes: regular controlled exercise, ideally on soft surfaces, while limiting high-impact running and jumping.^1,2,14
• Prescription NSAIDs: the most predictably effective treatment for arthritis. Long-term use can cause stomach, gut, liver and kidney problems, so dogs need blood tests of liver and kidney function before and during treatment.^1,14,6
• A monthly antibody injection that targets nerve growth factor, for moderate to severe arthritis pain.¹
• Injectable joint-protective medicines in early stages, and other pain medicine classes for advanced arthritis.¹
• Rehab and physical therapy, laser and acupuncture.^1,12
• Surgery, such as arthroscopy, joint stabilization, fusion or joint replacement, for some dogs.^14,1

Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, black or bloody stool, less appetite or yellow gums or eyes while your dog is on an NSAID, and call your vet if you see them.⁶

Joint Supplements: What the Evidence Shows

• Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, EPA and DHA): the best evidence of any supplement. They improved gait and reduced the need for NSAIDs, and only 2 of 20 omega-3 trials found no effect.^1,11,12
• Glucosamine and chondroitin: widely used and often recommended, but studies show little or no pain benefit. A 2022 review said they should no longer be recommended for arthritis pain.^2,11,1
• Cannabidiol: promising, but with less evidence. Collagen evidence is weak, and turmeric results conflict.¹¹

Pain guidelines rate the evidence for most supplements other than omega-3s as low.¹² Tell your vet about every supplement your dog takes.

Weight and Joint Health

A slender body weight is the most important part of arthritis management.² Pain guidelines say long-term studies strongly support keeping dogs lean.¹² Keeping dogs with hip dysplasia very slim from a young age is the most effective and least expensive long-term approach.¹⁷ In UK vet records, dogs above average weight had 2.3 times the odds of an arthritis diagnosis.²⁶ See overweight dog.

Neutering and joints

In a US study of 35 breeds, the link between early neutering and joint disorders depended mostly on body size. For example, 5% of intact male Golden Retrievers had a joint disorder vs 25% of males neutered before 6 months, while Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds showed no increase.²⁷ Talk to your vet about timing for your breed.

How Common Is Arthritis in Dogs?

It depends on how you count. Estimates run as high as about 40% of dogs, and a US X-ray study found signs in 39.8% of dogs aged 8 months to 4 years.^1,12,8 But in UK vet records from 2013, only 2.5% of dogs had arthritis recorded in a year, at an average age of 10.5 at diagnosis, because many cases are never diagnosed.²⁶ Rottweilers had 3.1 times the odds of crossbreeds in that UK study.²⁶

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I give my dog for joint problems?

Only what your vet prescribes or approves. Prescription anti-inflammatory pain relievers work most reliably, omega-3 fatty acids have the best supplement evidence, and weight loss and controlled exercise help most dogs. Never give human pain relievers.

What is a natural anti-inflammatory for dogs?

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil have the best evidence for arthritis pain. Turmeric results are mixed. Tell your vet about every supplement, and never combine pain relievers without your vet's approval.

How can I tell arthritis from bone cancer in my dog?

Arthritis usually causes stiffness after rest that worsens slowly, often in several joints. Bone cancer usually affects older large dogs, with lameness in one leg and a swelling on the bone. Only an exam and X-rays can tell them apart.

What are the signs my dog is in pain?

Limping, slowness getting up, trouble with stairs or jumping, playing less, sitting with a leg out and muscle loss. Changes in an older dog are often mistaken for normal aging.

Is surgery the only way to fix a popping or slipping joint?

Not always. Mild kneecap problems and cruciate disease in small dogs can often be managed without surgery, and a dislocated hip is usually first put back without surgery. Your vet needs to find the cause first.

Do glucosamine and chondroitin work for dogs?

They are widely used, but studies show little or no benefit for arthritis pain. Omega-3 fatty acids have much better evidence.