My 13-year-old dog is weak, aggressive, and can't climb stairs. Help!

As a 16 year old dog it is almost a given that Nokie has some serious arthritis and that while she probably has been having pain for a few years now but did not show it, the pain now is so bad that she is afraid to jump up on the bed or climb stairs. In severe arthritis cases like that the quality of life can be significantly improved by giving NSAIDs which take inflammation away and therefore pain. Make an appointment with your vet for an exam and a blood test to verify that her kidneys and liver are working properly and then your vet can prescribe NSAIDs or pain medicine for Nokie. At the same time the vet can rule out other causes of weakness.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oreo. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian soon. It sounds like she is experiencing multiple issues. If she is painful, she will experience difficulty with her mobility. This can also affect her appetite. The veterinarian will examine her and determine the source of her mobility issues. Laboratory work may be recommended to determine if there is another cause of her decreased appetite and if she is healthy enough for pain medications. In the meantime, carry her as much as possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Poor Luna! Because she is 8 or 9, my first thought is that she may be suffering from arthritis. That would cause her pain, and from your description, it sounds like she is painful. It could also be that she injured herself. Arthritis is common in older dogs. I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if she is suffering from arthritis, and can give her some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving her glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjunction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. Give her vet a call today to make an appointment. Best of luck!

It could be that Missy is in pain. As an older dog, arthritis is common and it would cause her to be lethargic, struggle to walk up and down stairs, and to be slow when walking. I would have her seen by a vet today if possible for a physical exam, lameness exam, and possibly x-rays. If she does have arthritis, the vet can prescribe pain medications to help her with the pain. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry that Teddy is painful. There are many reasons he might be painful. If he is normally a very active little guy, he could have fallen or run into something to cause some kind of injury. He could have pain in his legs or his neck or back as spinal pain will also cause dogs to not want to be too active. Disk disease is a very common condition that can cause pain, although he is a little young for that. There could be an abscess or other type of infection starting to form. If he seems very painful now, I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for an examination to determine where he is painful. They may recommend x-rays of the painful area to look for fractures or other type of injuries. You can also restrict his activity to a kennel so that he can rest. Please do not give him any over-the-counter human pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol as these can have serious side effects in animals.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Snowball. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. I suspect that he is experiencing some joint pain such as arthritis. Based on his exam findings, x-rays may be needed as well. From there, treatment recommendations can be made to get him more comfortable. I hope this information helps!

In senior dogs, arthritis is common and that could be causing Poppy's reluctance to climb the stairs. It may be painful for her. I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if she is suffering from arthritis, and can give her some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving her glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjuction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from her symptoms. Good luck, I hope this helps!