“He’s just getting old” is the most expensive sentence in veterinary medicine, because it stops people booking. Old age is not painful. The things that arrive with old age often are, and most of them respond to treatment.
What ageing actually looks like
Sleeping a bit more, greying around the muzzle, being less interested in a fourth walk. Gradual, symmetrical, and not associated with reluctance or stiffness.
What treatable pain looks like
Hesitating at the stairs, the car, or a jump they used to make without thinking
Stiffness after resting that loosens off once they’re moving
Sitting down partway through a walk, or turning for home early
Licking repeatedly at one joint
A change in temper, particularly snapping when touched in one place
Difficulty getting up from a slippery floor
Why it’s hard to see
It arrives over months, and you adapt with it. Owners often bring a dog in for something unrelated and only realise afterwards how much had changed. A short video of them getting up from a lie-down, or going up stairs, is genuinely more useful to us than a description.
What we can do
An examination and a mobility assessment, imaging if it’s needed, and a plan that usually combines pain relief, weight management and small changes at home like rugs on slippery floors and a ramp into the car. Tomás runs our arthritis clinic on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Not sure whether this needs a visit?
Call us on (555) 018-4400 and describe what you’ve noticed. Our nurses triage these calls all day and there’s no charge for asking. If it’s outside our hours and you’re worried, call [emergency hospital name] on [number].
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Nothing here replaces examining your specific animal.
Related service
Senior pet care