My 9-year-old dog is reluctant to jump. Is it pain or arthritis?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 9 years and 7 months old | 30 lbs
I am worried that my dog has somehow hurt himself as he seems very reluctant to jump and it seems difficult for him when he does. Is there anything i can do to confirm or deny my theory? For background, he is a 9 year old basset hound/beagle mix who lives a pretty active life and is healthy, he is not overweight and does not have a history with any kind of illness or injury and this all started very recently. I can not see any inflammation and he doesn’t seem to be in pain in any other scenario.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 9th, 2022
Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I suspect Hank may have some arthritis. It is very common for dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes to get arthritis as they age. The only true way to definitely diagnose arthritis would be with x-rays. I suggest you take Hank to your vet for an examination - there may be obvious clues to the vet that arthritis (or something else) is present. In the meantime you can try using a joint supplement that is made for dogs (not humans). I would use one that has the following ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). The MSM is very important as it is a natural anti-inflammatory. I would suggest one of the following products; ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=118402 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=115737 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=116465 ) It usually takes 6-8 weeks before you notice any difference once you start giving it to him so it use for a minimum of 2 months. If after that he does not seem to be doing much better you should really take him in to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 25th, 2018
Poor Princess! At five, she is middle aged, and this could be signs of arthritis. Arthritis is common in middle aged to older dogs. There could also be a problem with her hips or spine. 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 conjunction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 13th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It sounds as though she is starting to suffer from arthritic pain. With her age, it is not surprising that she has developed arthritis. If you are not giving her any supplementation to help support healthy joints, I would recommend doing so. Below is a list of arthritis recommendations. I would also discuss pain management with your veterinarian as you will need prescribed medications to manage her pain. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. SUPPLEMENTS - These are very safe products to help decrease inflammation, heal the joint, and reduce pain in your pet. Side effects are minimal with these supplements and usually involve stomach upset or diarrhea. They work in different mechanisms so one or all of them may be recommended. These are usually started in the early stages of arthritis. Additional medications are added as arthritis progresses. 1. Fish Oil- Wellactin- Omega 3 fatty acids (DHA) is recommended for arthritis. This is especially important with arthritis patients with kidney disease. Very safe, in overdosage may cause acid reflux or diarrhea. If used in very high doses (especially with aspirin products) may cause prolonged bleeding. Dose is generally 100 mg per 10 pounds. 2. Glycoflex- Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM supplements are beneficial for multiple types of arthritis and appear to aid in cartilage health. Generally 100 mg/ 10 pounds of body weight is the recommended dosing for glucosamine. Glucosamine products should be used cautiously with diabetic patients. 3. Cetyl-M- This joint supplement uses Cetyl Myristoleate as the main ingredient. This supplement helps in lubricating the joints. This is highly recommended for hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, and carpus arthritis. This supplement is very effective for arthritis/tendon sheath pain. 4. Duralactin- This product uses milk proteins to reduce inflammation in the body. This product is very safe and has been used in most species of animals with almost no side effects. This is highly recommended for back arthritis/pain. 5. Adequan Injections - This is an injectable product that can help especially with spinal arthritis in many species of animals. This is an injectable form of chondroitin and works much more rapidly than oral forms of chondroitin. Should not be used with bleeding disorders. This injection is given every 1-4 weeks to help with arthritis. NSAIDs - Aspirin, Rimadyl, Metacam, Previcox, and Deramax are anti-inflammatory medications that help with arthritis pain. Only one of these medications can be used at a time to avoid serious side effects, such as liver failure, stomach ulcers, etc. These should not be used with cortisone. These products appear to work better if they are not used on a continuous basis. PAIN MEDICATION - Sometimes the combination of a cartilage-protecting agents and an anti-inflammatory drug is not adequate for pain control. There are several appropriate pain relievers that can be used in pets. These medications are strictly analgesics and do not modify the inflammation in the joint. Medications in this category include Tramadol, Methadone, Gabapentin and Amantadine to name several.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 1st, 2019
Hello. Bianka has pretty significant arthritis & the mainstay of treatment is pain medication along with glucosamine & chondroitin sulfate supplements. Adding Adequan injections can be very useful, too. Going all organic will just not give her the pain relief she really needs. If you want to add some natural supplementation, you can do so with omega 3 fatty acids & a combination of Tumeric, black pepper & coconut oil ( Golden Paste ). There are several recipes available on line, but you should really consider using these in conjunction with real pain relief & the supplements mentioned. It should help her tremendously. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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