Preventing arthritis in dogs: protection starts early
Arthritis is often framed as an inevitable part of ageing, something that happens to “old dogs.” The reality is more confronting: around 80% of dogs over the age of eight will suffer from osteoarthritis.
What’s often missed is that the disease doesn’t start with a limp. It begins years earlier as a slow, progressive degeneration of joint cartilage, long before pain is obvious. Meaningful protection doesn’t start when mobility is already compromised; it starts early, by managing the biological and mechanical forces acting on joints throughout life.
Weight is the primary lever
The single most powerful modifiable factor in arthritis risk is body weight. Fat tissue isn’t passive storage, it’s biologically active, releasing inflammatory signalling molecules (adipokines) that increase systemic inflammation and worsen joint disease.
At the same time, excess weight increases the mechanical load through joints with every step. Keeping a dog at a lean body condition score, where ribs are easily felt but not visible, is one of the most effective ways to reduce arthritis risk. This matters most when established early, as overweight puppies are significantly more likely to develop joint problems later in life.
Inputs: movement, load, and future optionality
Protecting joints isn’t about avoiding movement, it’s about managing load intelligently. During growth, this means limiting repetitive high-impact activity, like excessive ball throwing or jumping on hard surfaces, while growth plates are still open. Controlled exercise builds muscle that stabilises joints without accelerating wear.
But even with perfect management, arthritis can still develop due to genetics, conformation, or injury. That’s where long-term optionality matters. Preserving access to a dog’s own healthy stem cells earlier in life creates future treatment pathways if joint disease develops later. Rather than reacting once cartilage is already damaged, stem cell banking acts as a form of biological insurance, protecting options while joints are still relatively healthy.
We hold the mobility data
Because arthritis progresses gradually, it’s easy to miss the early signals. Elita Blueprint stores your dog’s health information over years, including clinical measurements and mobility-related observations recorded during routine care.
When viewed together, this history reveals patterns that aren’t visible in single appointments, helping flag early joint stress before damage is well established.
Catch the signs early
Arthritis is progressive, but it’s not sudden. By tracking weight, mobility, and behaviour over time, you can spot risk early, reduce joint stress, and preserve both comfort and future treatment options long before the limp appears.
