That’s good to hear. Most changes start small and arrive one at a time, so knowing what to watch for now puts you a step ahead.

Keep an eye on the change you did notice. Dogs rarely tell you they hurt. They stop doing things instead, one small thing at a time, and each one gets quietly filed under getting older..

In a young dog, any change like this is worth watching, because it’s less likely to be age.

In a dog in their prime, a change like this is worth watching rather than putting down to early aging.

Three or more changes is worth a closer look. Each one is a choice: a dog choosing not to do something they used to enjoy. Dogs don’t make that choice for no reason.

They make it when something has started to cost them. That’s discomfort, even with no limp, no yelp and nothing obvious on an x-ray.

In a younger dog, these changes are less likely to be age. That makes them worth a closer look sooner, not something to wait out. Young dogs often keep going on a strain or an injury without making a fuss.

In a dog in their prime, these changes often get written off as early aging. Whatever the cause, they’re worth a closer look, not something to wait out.

And often it really is age. But age is the reason, not the alternative. “He’s getting old” and “he’s uncomfortable” are usually the same sentence.

• Something aches
• So they move less
• Moving less costs muscle
• Joints carry more
• Which aches more

A loop isn’t a one-way decline. It’s a cycle, and a cycle can be interrupted at any point along it.

Muscle rebuilds at any age, even in an older dog. And discomfort can often be found and eased with drug-free care: warm-water treadmill sessions, laser therapy and gentle hands-on treatment.

Noticing of these changes usually means your dog has been working around discomfort for a while. Nothing dramatic happened, which is why it gets missed. Several things went, one at a time.

In a younger dog, these changes are less likely to be age. That makes them worth a closer look sooner, not something to wait out. Young dogs often keep going on a strain or an injury without making a fuss.

In a dog in their prime, these changes often get written off as early aging. Whatever the cause, they’re worth a closer look, not something to wait out.

And often it really is age. But age is the reason, not the alternative. “He’s getting old” and “he’s uncomfortable” are usually the same sentence.

• Something aches
• So they move less
• Moving less costs muscle
• Joints carry more
• Which aches more

A great deal of what looks like slowing down is this loop, several turns in. The good news: it can be interrupted at any point along it, and none of that needs a diagnosis to begin.

A great deal of what looks like getting old is this loop, several turns in. The good news: it can be interrupted at any point along it, and none of that needs a diagnosis to begin.

Muscle rebuilds at any age, even in an older dog. Most Pet Parents assume lost muscle is gone for good. It isn’t. And discomfort can often be found and eased with drug-free care: warm-water treadmill sessions, where the water carries much of their weight, laser therapy and gentle hands-on treatment.