What Age Do Dogs Typically Start Showing Signs of Arthritis?

Although it’s natural to think of arthritis as only affecting dogs who are getting on a bit, and have therefore suffered life’s normal ‘wear and tear’ in their joints, that’s not always the case. 

Arthritis - a general term for joint inflammation - and osteoarthritis - more specifically to describe the degeneration of joint cartilage and joint inflammation - can also occur in younger dogs. 

For example, this happens with elbow dysplasia. A puppy, with a genetic predisposition to arthritis, grows too fast which means some of the bones grow faster than others. This results in these bones being aligned in the joint and osteoarthritis developing as a secondary condition. 

So although older dogs are more likely to develop arthritis, if you notice your younger dog limping, licking at a joint, looking stiff when getting up from the floor, or their gait looks changed, take them to the vet to get checked out. Dogs as young as one year old can show signs of arthritis.

Read more about Arthritis in your dog here

Read more about Arthritis in your dog - Causes, Prevention and How to Help here 

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