Signs Your Senior Dog Is in Pain and What to Do About It in Toledo

Senior dogs in Toledo are one of the most common things we see at Graber's, and pain from arthritis is one of the most commonly missed issues in older patients. Not because owners do not care, but because dogs are really good at hiding it. Our pets live to see us happy.

Your dog is not going to cry every time they move. What they do is adapt. They get up slower. They stop jumping on the couch. They start chewing on one side of the mouth. You think they are just getting older. Sometimes they are just in pain.

Here is what to actually watch for:

• Getting up is the big one. If your dog takes a few attempts to stand from lying down, or their back legs look stiff for the first few steps, that is worth mentioning. A dog that needs to circle multiple times before lying down to get comfortable is telling you something.
• Behavior changes matter too. A dog that used to greet you at the door and now stays in their bed. A dog that has gotten shorter with other animals in the house. Less interest in walks or toys. These are not always just personality, they can be pain.
  
• Reluctance to climb stairs or get in the car is another one we see a lot. If your dog always jumped into your truck and now needs help, something changed.
  
• Muscle loss over the back end of the dog is something we look for physically. Dogs that are compensating for hip or joint pain will load weight differently and lose muscle in the hindquarters over time.
  
  We assess joint health at every senior visit, but you are the one who sees your dog every day. You know what normal looks like better than we do. If something feels off, bring it up. There are real treatment options for arthritis in older dogs and they work well when we start them at the right time.
  
  Senior dogs from the Toledo area, Sylvania, Maumee, anywhere, are welcome here. Call us at (419) 475-3456.