CANINE MOBILITY

INTRODUCTION

Mobility can be defined as the ability to move without restriction or pain.¹

Animals may alter the way they move to avoid pain or discomfort. Owners may notice that their pet has been struggling to climb stairs, is unable to climb into the car, showing occasional stiffness, reluctant to exercise or is taking longer to get up when lying down.

Changes to an animal’s mobility capabilities may be an indication of injury or disease.²

Diseases affecting the mechanical function of joints and the musculoskeletal system are common reasons for this. A common cause of stiffness and reduced mobility is osteoarthritis, especially in senior dogs. Obesity is a major contributing factor for reduced mobility and also exacerbates underlying joint disease through inflammatory mechanisms, increasing the risk for osteoarthritis.³  Similarly, pets with painful joint problems will have reduced activity levels and expend fewer calories, perpetuating a cycle of exercise avoidance and weight gain.

Impaired mobility negatively impacts quality of life in several different ways:

• affects ability to access food and water

• affects ability to posture for toileting activities, which may lead to urine retention and constipation

• prevents them from expressing normal behaviour through interaction with other animals and their environment

• prevents play activities which foster their relationship with their owner.

The psychological impact on the dog itself when it is not able to perform normal activities to relieve stress and provide mental stimulation may lead to boredom and frustration.

RECOGNISING CHANGES IN MOBILITY

Pet owners should be vigilant to any changes in their pet’s activity levels and perceived mobility. Owners should be empowered to recognise the tell-tale signs of pain and discomfort, such as changes in posture, hiding away or lip licking. Various resources exist for both clients and veterinary professionals to help identify pain-related behaviours.

Questionnaires can be provided to clients to raise awareness of any pain-related behaviours. 

A veterinary examination is the first step in investigating possible causes for reduced mobility. Lameness and painful joints can be detected through gait analysis and thorough palpation. Vets may be able to offer insight into a pet’s mobility on a given day, but won’t be able to appreciate day-to-day changes in mobility, ² so it is important to have regular follow-up appointments to monitor any trends and to gauge response to treatment. 

Using technology, pet owners can gain insight into their pet’s activity levels and mobility. Step tracker devices attached to the pet’s collar may be used to perform an objective assessment of a pet’s mobility. This technology also provides an opportunity to record the response to any treatment interventions, such as recording an increase in the pet’s step count after starting anti-inflammatory pain relief. Other technologies exist, such as force-plate analysis, but these are not practical to be used for daily monitoring.

INTERVENTIONS TO HELP IMPROVE MOBILITY

Practical interventions in the home for less mobile pets include providing non-slip flooring for those pets who are less steady on their feet, and ramps for pets that struggle to climb up stairs. Soft, comfortable bedding should be provided for old stiff pets to relax on. Owners can bring food and water to their pets if they struggle to access the food and water bowls. Many owners will even carry or support their pets to go outside for toileting activities, for example using a sling to assist ambulation. But this degree of dependence presents a significant emotional, physical and financial burden on the owner.² 

Regular exercise is essential for health, to maintain muscle condition and achieve an ideal body weight. Walking outside for a duration and at an intensity suitable for the individual pet is a great form of exercise and mental stimulation. Hydrotherapy and physiotherapy are very effective treatment modalities for pets with impaired mobility, or for those recovering from injury.

DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS FOR MOBILITY

A balanced and nutritious diet tailored to support joint health and optimal weight is recommended. Early dietary intervention in pets with suboptimal mobility will delay progression of joint disease and improve the pet’s quality of life. Dietary interventions have been proven to improve radiographic signs of osteoarthritis and gait.^6-13

Nutrients of relevance include high quality protein, antioxidants and omega-3-fatty acids.

The diet should contain sufficient protein to maintain lean muscle mass and sufficient energy to support the pet’s activity levels. Overweight pets should be placed on an appropriate weight loss diet that provides enough protein to maintain lean muscle mass, whilst being lower in calories to facilitate weight loss. Familarising clients with the Purina validated 9-point body condition scoring (BCS) system will help improve their perception of the ideal body condition score, as many owners may not be aware that their pet is overweight. Maintaining a healthy body condition throughout the dog’s life is vital for their mobility. Small reductions in bodyweight (<10%) have been shown to significantly improve mobility in overweight dogs with osteoarthritis and maintaining a lean BCS in young dogs can help to minimise future problems  - [read more about obesity management here-WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN DOGS AND CATS ].

Omega-3-essential fatty acids - The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have anti-inflammatory activity, which can reduce cartilage degradation and lameness. Research has shown that feeding osteoarthritic dogs a diet high in EPA and DHA can help improve mobility. Providing enhanced levels of omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) provides an alternative substrate for the action of the COX enzymes and results in production of less inflammatory or anti-inflammatory eicosanoids. Both objective and subjective measures of lameness significantly improved in dogs fed a diet rich in EPA and DHA.⁴  Increased levels of DHA and EPA improve biomarkers of Canine OA ,⁵ and significantly improve objective force plate gait analysis in dogs with osteoarthritis within 10 days.  

PURINA® PRO PLAN® JM Joint Mobility™ is a complete dry pet food for dogs of all life stages formulated to support joint health and mobility 

PURINA® PRO PLAN® JM Joint Mobility™ provides: 

• Increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids to help support the natural anti-inflammatory processes in the joints  

• High protein to calorie ratio and moderate fat levels

• Helps achieve and maintain a lean body condition and reduce joint stress. 

• Feeding guidelines for weight loss and maintenance are provided. Weight control is vitally important and has been proven to improve the gait in dogs with OA⁵ as well as help reduce and delay radiographic evidence of OA in predisposed breeds.^8-13

• Increased levels of vitamin E and C to help reduce oxidative stress

• Canine JM Joint Mobility™ is clinically proven to support dogs' mobility and quality of life. In a study of 146 dogs, 88% of owners observed improvements in mobility of their dog and 87% of veterinarians noted there to be a significant improvement in quality of life after feeding JM Joint Mobility for 2 months.¹³

Written by Jessica-Anne Berlyn BVSc MRCVS, Technical Veterinarian at Purina

®Reg. Trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A

© Nestlé Purina Petcare 2025

REFERENCES

1. Ramos, M. T., & Otto, C. M. (2022). Canine mobility maintenance and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 52(4), 907-924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.03.001

2. Wells, G. M., Young, K., Haskell, M. J., Carter, A. J., & Clements, D. N. (2024). Mobility, functionality, and functional mobility: A review and application for canine veterinary patients. The Veterinary Journal, 305, 106123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106123

3. Mehler, S. J., May, L. R., King, C., et al. (2016). A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on the clinical signs and erythrocyte membrane polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in dogs with osteoarthritis. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 109, 1-7.

4. Moreau, M., Troncy, E., Del Castillo, J. R., Bédard, C., Gauvin, D., & Lussier, B. (2013). Effects of feeding a high omega-3 fatty acid diet in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 97(5), 830–837. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01325

5. Moreau, M., et al. (2010). Effects of feeding a high omega-3 fatty acid diet on the pain-related disability in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 18(Suppl. 2), S9-S44.

6. Hansen, R. A., et al. (2004). Long chain n-3 PUFA improve biochemical parameters associated with canine osteoarthritis. In Proceedings of the American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting, Cincinnati, May 9-12.

7. Burkholder, W. J., et al. (2000). Weight loss to optimal body condition increases ground reactive force in dogs with osteoarthritis. In Proceedings of the Purina Nutrition Forum, 74.

8. Lawler, D. F., et al. (2008). Diet restriction and aging in the dog: Major observations over two decades. British Journal of Nutrition, 99, 793-805.

9. Kealy, R. D., et al. (2000). Evaluation of the effect of limited food consumption on radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 217, 1678-1680.

10. Kealy, R. D., et al. (1992). Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 201, 857-863.

11. Smith, G. K., et al. (2006). Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 226, 690-693.

12. Jaswal, S., et al. (2003). Antioxidant status in rheumatoid arthritis and role of antioxidant therapy. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 338, 123-129.

13. Nestlé Purina. (2004). Study on 146 osteoarthritic dogs.