Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | 26 lbs
My dog has stopped climbing the stairs. She is 11 years old and a King Charles cavalier. She is happy to be carried up or go up one stair at a time and happily runs down as normal. Could she have injured her leg or is it just old age?
1 Answer
Published on March 23rd, 2018
In senior dogs, arthritis is common and that could be causing Poppy's reluctance to climb the stairs. It may be painful for her. I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if she is suffering from arthritis, and can give her some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving her glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjuction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. Good luck, I hope this helps!
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