Contributed by Dr Laura Brisbane-Cohen, BVMS(Hons), CVA, CVCH
Pets are masters of disguise when it comes to pain. They don't walk up and tell you their hips hurt. Instead, pain whispers through small changes in how they move, play, sleep and interact with us.
Arthritis doesn't always start in older pets. In one 2024 study of dogs aged 8 months to 4 years, nearly 40% already showed x-ray evidence of joint osteoarthritis, many with no obvious limp.1 And over 90% of cats older than 12 show x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, though the signs are often too subtle for owners to notice.2
As a vet with a special interest in pain management and rehabilitation, I hear a version of the same sentence often:
"I thought they were just slowing down with age."
Often there is some underlying pain causing them to slow down.
The "little things" that could be big clues
Has your dog started taking the stairs one at a time, or hesitating before jumping into the car? Maybe the morning walk has quietly turned into a slow sniff-and-stroll. Cats are even harder to read, yours might stop jumping onto the windowsill, or simply decide the floor is now acceptable to sleep on.
Other signs worth watching for:
Taking longer to get up after resting
Less interest in play or walks
Grumpiness when touched or picked up
Licking or chewing one spot, often over a joint
Sleeping more, or increased restlessness
Grooming less, especially in cats
Stiffness after rest that eases with movement
New reluctance to use stairs or jump onto furniture
No single sign here means pain on its own. But a change from your pet's normal is always worth a second look.
Arthritis and pain isn't just a "getting old" problem
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in dogs and cats, and its effects reach beyond the joint, contributing to weight gain, muscle loss, compensatory injuries, and an overall decline in quality of life.
Pain also feeds on itself: less movement leads to muscle loss, which means weaker support for already-painful joints, leading to even less movement. It's a slow spiral, easier to interrupt early than reverse later. That's why keeping pets appropriately active matters so much.
Move more, but move smarter
For dogs, this often means shorter, more frequent walks. For cats, short bursts of play that tap into their instinct to stalk and pounce do more for a stiff cat than one long session ever will.
At home, small changes help too including non-slip surfaces, ramps or steps to favourite resting spots, and supportive bedding. And don't overlook the basics, maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most powerful ways to reduce stress on painful joints or ligaments. Depending on your pet's needs, nutrition, supplements, rehabilitation, pain modalities like acupuncture or therapeutic laser and appropriate pain medication may also play a role.
Become your pet's pain detective
You know your pet better than anyone. If something has changed, trust that instinct. A short video of your pet walking or climbing stairs at home can be incredibly useful for your vet, pets often "perform normal" in an exam room.
Because pain doesn't always look like limping. Sometimes it's the dog who pauses halfway up the stairs, or the cat who stops jumping. Those small clues may be your pet's only way of saying, "something doesn't feel right." Listen closely and when in doubt, ask your vet.
Dr Laura Brisbane-Cohen
BSc, BVMS(Hons), MVPH-EAD, CVA, CVCH, CCRP (resident), CVNN (resident)
Dr Laura graduated from Murdoch University in 2006 and has spent over 20 years in practice across Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Shanghai and New York. She has a particular interest in pain management and rehabilitation.
Founder and Veterinary Medical Director, VetMotion Animal Wellness
Resident Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Veterinarian at Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital
References
1. Enomoto, M., de Castro, N., Hash, J. et al. (2024). Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs. Scientific Reports, 14, 2827. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52324-9
2. Hardie, E.M., Roe, S.C. & Martin, F.R. (2002). Radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease in geriatric cats: 100 cases (1994 to 1997). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220(5), 628 to 632. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.220.628
From the Woof Living team
What this looks like in a Singapore home
Dr Brisbane-Cohen's article applies anywhere in the world. Here is what we notice about how it plays out here, from talking to customers in our Wheelock Place store.
Almost every floor in Singapore is slippery
Polished tile, marble, parquet and vinyl are the standard across HDB flats, condos and older shophouses. Carpet is rare. For a dog or cat that is already guarding a sore joint, a floor with no grip changes how they move long before an owner notices anything.
The places worth looking at first are the routes your pet uses most: the path from their bed to the water bowl, the landing spot when they get off the sofa, and the stretch by the front door where they turn to greet you. Runners, washable mats or rugs along those lines are inexpensive and make an immediate difference.
Most of us have no garden
In a landed home a dog pottering in and out of a garden accumulates movement all day without anyone planning it. In a flat or a condo unit, almost all of a dog's daily movement is concentrated into their walks.
That matters because of the spiral Dr Brisbane-Cohen describes. If walks get shorter because something hurts, total daily movement can fall much faster here than it would somewhere with a garden. Her suggestion of shorter, more frequent walks fits Singapore living well, and it is easier to do in a flat than one long outing.
Stairs, lift landings and the car
Walk-ups, maisonettes and split-level units all mean stairs, and stairs are usually where owners first notice hesitation. So is the step up into the car. If your pet has started pausing at any of these, it is worth mentioning to your vet even if nothing else seems different.
When movement has to be dialled down
A pet on shorter walks still needs something to do. This is the part owners most often overlook, and it is where we spend most of our time with customers.
Scent work, foraging and problem solving give a dog a genuinely tiring session without asking anything of their joints. A snuffle mat or a puzzle toy on the floor lets a dog work with their nose while lying down or standing still. For cats, short bursts of play a few times a day, as Dr Brisbane-Cohen suggests, suit a stiff cat far better than one long session.
You can browse what we stock for low-impact mental work in our Play collection. We are happy to talk through options in store, and free delivery applies on orders above $49 in Singapore.
None of this replaces a conversation with your vet. If something about your pet has changed, that conversation comes first.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If you are concerned about your pet, please consult your own vet.
