Which Dog Breeds Are More Prone to Joint Problems?

Dogs are remarkably good at adapting.

That can be wonderful, but it also means the first signs of joint discomfort can be surprisingly easy to miss.

A dog doesn’t necessarily start limping as soon as something hurts. You might first notice them taking a little longer to get out of bed, walking more slowly, hesitating at the stairs or deciding that jumping onto the sofa isn’t quite as appealing as it used to be.

Joint problems can affect any dog, including crossbreeds, but some breeds have an increased risk of conditions affecting their hips, elbows, knees or spine.

Knowing that your dog may be at increased risk doesn’t mean worrying about every slightly slower walk. It means knowing what’s normal for your dog and recognising when something begins to change.

Quick summary

Some breeds have a greater genetic predisposition to joint conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, while smaller breeds can be more susceptible to problems such as luxating patellas.

Breed isn’t the whole story. Age, weight, previous injuries, body shape and activity can all affect joint health.

Watch for stiffness, slowing down, difficulty getting up, reluctance to jump or use stairs, changes in gait and reduced enthusiasm for exercise.

Regular appropriate exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can help support joint and muscle health.

If your dog’s movement changes, don’t simply assume they’re getting old. Speak to your vet.

For more advice about helping an older dog stay comfortable, visit my Senior Dog Care Guide.

Why are some dogs more prone to joint problems?

Genetics can influence how a dog’s joints develop.

Two conditions you may have heard of are hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These are developmental conditions in which the joint doesn’t develop normally.

Over time, abnormal joint development can contribute to pain, reduced mobility and osteoarthritis.

This is one reason responsible health screening is important when dogs are bred.

The Royal Kennel Club operates hip and elbow screening schemes with the British Veterinary Association for breeds where these conditions are a concern.

However, genetics aren’t the only factor.

A dog’s joint health can also be influenced by:

• body weight
• age
• previous injuries
• activity and exercise
• muscle condition
• body shape and conformation
• other health conditions

Being genetically predisposed to a joint condition therefore doesn’t mean a dog will definitely develop one.

Equally, owning a breed that isn’t considered particularly susceptible doesn’t make a dog immune to joint problems.

Labrador Retrievers

Labradors are active dogs and often remain enthusiastic about walks, games and adventures well into later life.

Unfortunately, they are also among the breeds associated with hip and elbow dysplasia.

These conditions can eventually contribute to arthritis and mobility problems.

With Labradors, keeping an eye on weight is particularly important. Extra bodyweight means additional load being placed through already vulnerable joints.

Regular sensible exercise is important too.

The answer isn’t necessarily to stop an older Labrador from exercising. Maintaining muscle can help support the joints.

The type, duration, and intensity of exercise may need to be adjusted as the dog gets older.

German Shepherd Dogs

German Shepherd Dogs are another breed for which hip and elbow health deserves particular attention.

Both hip and elbow screening form part of the Royal Kennel Club’s health recommendations for the breed.

Owners should pay attention to changes in movement rather than waiting for an obvious limp.

You might notice difficulty getting up, stiffness after sleeping, changes in the back legs or a reluctance to do something the dog previously enjoyed.

If something changes, speak to your vet.

Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers can also be affected by hip problems, and joint health is worth considering throughout their lives, not only when they become seniors.

Keeping a Golden Retriever lean and maintaining good muscle condition can be helpful foundations for long-term mobility.

As they get older, walks may need to become a little shorter or slower.

That doesn’t mean they can’t still have interesting walks.

Giving an older dog plenty of opportunities to sniff and investigate can make a shorter walk incredibly enriching.

Read my guide to Dog Walks for Older Dogs for more ideas about adapting walks as dogs age.

Rottweilers

Rottweilers are powerful, relatively heavy dogs and are another breed associated with hip and elbow dysplasia.

Joint care is therefore worth considering before old age.

Regular appropriate exercise, maintaining muscle and avoiding excessive weight can all form part of sensible everyday care.

Bernese Mountain Dogs

Large and giant breeds naturally put considerable weight through their joints, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are among the breeds recognised as being susceptible to hip and elbow problems.

Owners may need to adapt their dog’s exercise as their dog gets older or if mobility begins to change.

This doesn’t automatically mean stopping walks.

Depending on veterinary advice, shorter and more frequent outings may be more appropriate than occasional long walks.

Newfoundlands

Newfoundlands are another giant breed associated with hip and elbow dysplasia.

Their size makes maintaining a suitable body condition especially important.

As with other breeds, exercise should be appropriate to the individual dog.

There’s an important difference between protecting a dog’s joints and preventing them from doing anything.

Movement helps maintain muscle, and those muscles help support the dog’s body.

What about smaller dogs?

Joint problems certainly aren’t restricted to Labradors, German Shepherds and giant breeds.

Some smaller dogs are predisposed to a condition called luxating patella.

This occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal position.

Breeds that can be affected include:

• Yorkshire Terriers
• Chihuahuas
• Pomeranians
• Miniature and Toy Poodles
• Pekingese
• Boston Terriers
• Jack Russell Terriers

One sign owners sometimes notice is an occasional skipping movement, in which the dog briefly lifts a back leg before walking normally again.

Don’t attempt to diagnose this yourself. If your dog repeatedly skips, limps, or changes the way they walk, show them to your vet.

Arthritis isn’t just a large-dog problem.

Osteoarthritis causes painful, stiff joints and can eventually make everyday movement more difficult.

It is progressive, so it tends to worsen over time, although veterinary treatment and sensible management can make a considerable difference to a dog’s comfort and quality of life.

The PDSA’s guide to arthritis in dogs is a useful veterinary resource for owners wanting to understand the condition in more detail.

Signs of possible joint discomfort

Some changes are obvious. Others are extremely subtle.

Watch for your dog:

• appearing stiff after sleeping
• taking longer to stand up
• walking more slowly
• laggind on walks
• limping or favouring a leg
• becoming reluctant to use stairs
• hesitating before jumping
• struggling to get into a car
• becoming less interested in playing
• sleeping more
• becoming unusually irritable
• repeatedly licking around a particular joint
• changing the way they sit, stand or lie down

One of the most important things is recognising a change from your dog’s normal.

“He’s just getting old”

This is something I think we need to be careful about.

Dogs certainly slow down as they age, but age itself shouldn’t automatically be used to explain away changes in movement or behaviour.

An older dog suddenly refusing a familiar walk isn’t being stubborn.

A dog who no longer wants to climb the stairs isn’t necessarily lazy.

And a dog that becomes irritable when handled may be uncomfortable rather than simply grumpy with age.

Pain can affect behaviour as well as movement.

If something has changed, particularly if it happens suddenly or continues for more than a short period, contact your vet.

You can also read Signs Your Older Dog May Be Slowing Down as part of my Senior Dog Care series.

Keeping your dog at a healthy weight

One of the simplest things we can do for joint health is also one of the most important: keep dogs at an appropriate weight.

Extra weight means extra load through the joints.

If you’re unsure about your dog’s ideal weight or body condition, ask your veterinary practice for advice.

This becomes particularly important with senior dogs because their calorie requirements and activity levels can change.

I’ve covered this in more detail in my Senior Dog Nutrition Guide.

Keep them moving, but make movement appropriate

A dog with joint problems doesn’t necessarily need to stop exercising.

In fact, appropriate regular movement can be important for maintaining muscle.

What may need to change is how you exercise them.

A pattern of very short walks Monday to Friday followed by a huge weekend hike isn’t necessarily ideal.

For an older dog, I often prefer calm, consistent walks.

That might mean:

• shorter walks
• more frequent outings
• slower walking
• allowing more sniffing
• avoiding repeated high-impact jumping
• choosing flatter routes
• giving the dog time rather than hurrying them

For many of the senior dogs I’ve walked, distance becomes much less important.

A gentle sniff around the neighbourhood can provide physical movement, mental stimulation and an opportunity to explore without turning every walk into an endurance test.

Make the home easier to navigate.

Small changes can make an enormous difference to an older or less mobile dog.

Slippery laminate or wooden flooring can be difficult for a dog to navigate when a dog’s legs aren’t as strong as they once were.

Consider:

• non-slip runners or mats
• comfortable supportive bedding
• keeping food and water easily accessible
• reducing unnecessary stair use
• ramps where appropriate
• avoiding repeated jumping from high furniture

The aim isn’t to remove every bit of movement from their life.

It’s to make necessary movement easier and safer.

My Senior Dog Care Guide contains more practical ideas for adapting life as your dog gets older.

What about joint supplements?

You’ll see a huge range of supplements marketed for canine joints.

Some owners find supplements useful as part of their dog’s wider care. Still, I wouldn’t use a supplement as a substitute for veterinary assessment if a dog is stiff, limping or showing signs of discomfort.

There can also be interactions or reasons why a particular supplement isn’t appropriate for an individual dog.

Speak to your vet before introducing supplements, particularly if your dog has an existing medical condition or takes medication.

When should you contact your vet?

Contact your vet if you notice a significant change in your dog’s mobility, including:

• a sudden limp
• persistent stiffness
• difficulty standing
• reluctance to move
• obvious pain
• repeated changes in gait
• difficulty using stairs
• unexplained behavioural changes associated with movement or handling

Seek veterinary advice promptly for sudden or severe symptoms.

Joint and mobility problems have many possible causes, and diagnosing them isn’t something that should be attempted from a blog post.

It’s about the individual dog, not just the breed.

Breed can give us useful clues about conditions a dog may be predisposed to.

It isn’t a prediction of their future.

I’ve always believed that one of the most useful things we can do is pay attention to the individual dog in front of us.

How are they moving today?

Are they comfortable?

Are they enjoying their walks?

Has something changed?

For senior dogs in particular, adapting their routine doesn’t mean taking away the things they enjoy. Sometimes it simply means slowing down and giving them a different way to enjoy them.

A ten-minute sniffy wander can be more valuable to an older dog than being hurried around a forty-minute route because that’s what they’ve always done.

Let the dog in front of you help set the pace.

Further reading

Continue with:

Senior Dog Care: Helping Older Dogs Stay Comfortable, Active and Happy

Dog Health & First Aid

Solo Dog Walks in Finchley

For veterinary information, see the PDSA and Royal Kennel Club.

Need gentler one-to-one walks for an older dog?

I provide calm, one-to-one dog walks in Finchley and surrounding areas.

There are no group walks and no van full of dogs. I walk one household at a time, starting and finishing at your dog’s own front door.

For older dogs, that gives me the flexibility to slow things down, allow plenty of sniffing and adapt the walk to the dog I’m actually walking that day rather than expecting them to keep pace with a group.

Find out more about my solo dog walks, or get in touch to discuss your older dog’s needs.

Medical disclaimer: This article provides general information for dog owners and isn’t a substitute for veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If your dog is limping, appears painful,l or you notice changes in their mobility or behaviour, contact your veterinary practice.

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• Gentle Brain Games for Senior Dogs and Dogs on Restricted Exercise