What are the first signs of arthritis in dogs?

Stiffness after exercise or rest, reluctance to jump or use stairs, lagging behind on walks and changes in behaviour. In a 2022 study, answering yes to any one of six such questions was the point at which a vet check was worthwhile.

How do I know if my cat has arthritis?

Cats rarely limp. Instead they run, jump up, jump down, use stairs and chase toys less, or less smoothly. A 2020 study found that when owners noticed any of these changes, the cat almost always had joint pain.

Slowing down is often pain rather than age, and joint pain is treatable. Arthritis can start in middle age, especially in overweight pets and large dogs, so mention any changes at your next vet visit.

Who funded these studies?

The dog study was carried out by Zoetis researchers with university collaborators, and two of the cat study's authors are paid consultants to Zoetis, which sells arthritis medicines. We use the checklists because their accuracy was measured against vet examinations; we don't recommend any product.

Dog & Cat Arthritis Checker: 6 Questions

Quick answer

If your dog is stiff after exercise, slow to get up, reluctant on stairs or lagging on walks — or your cat runs, jumps or plays less than they used to — book a vet check. Any one of these signs is enough. Joint pain is common, often mistaken for old age, and very treatable.

Where the questions come from

Dogs: the six questions are reproduced from a 2022 study in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (spelling corrected). Vets examined 500 dogs whose owners answered yes to at least one question and confirmed osteoarthritis in 38%. The six-question version caught about 88% of affected dogs.

Cats: the six activities come from a 2020 study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery; the wording here is ours. Changes in any of them were a strong sign of joint pain, but the checklist missed around 44% of affected cats, so a clear result is not an all-clear.

Both studies have links to Zoetis, a company that sells arthritis medicines (see the FAQ). This page recommends no medicine: only your vet can decide on treatment.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first signs of arthritis in dogs?: Stiffness after exercise or rest, reluctance to jump or use stairs, lagging behind on walks and changes in behaviour. In a 2022 study, answering yes to any one of six such questions was the point at which a vet check was worthwhile.
How do I know if my cat has arthritis?: Cats rarely limp. Instead they run, jump up, jump down, use stairs and chase toys less, or less smoothly. A 2020 study found that when owners noticed any of these changes, the cat almost always had joint pain.
Is it just old age?: Slowing down is often pain rather than age, and joint pain is treatable. Arthritis can start in middle age, especially in overweight pets and large dogs, so mention any changes at your next vet visit.
Who funded these studies?: The dog study was carried out by Zoetis researchers with university collaborators, and two of the cat study's authors are paid consultants to Zoetis, which sells arthritis medicines. We use the checklists because their accuracy was measured against vet examinations; we don't recommend any product.