Is my dog just getting old, or is this pain?

Many changes blamed on old age, like slowness getting up, avoiding stairs, and shorter walks, are signs of pain that can be treated, most often from arthritis. This plain-language guide from Tether helps dog owners tell normal aging apart from pain. Its central idea is simple: aging is a slow, even fade, while pain is uneven. Pain is worse at certain times, during certain movements, or on certain days. The guide covers: Five signs that point to pain rather than age: stiffness that warms out, uneven movement, skipping specific activities, good days and bad days, and mood changes Arthritis in young dogs: a 2024 radiographic study found arthritis in nearly 40% of dogs aged 8 months to 4 years, mostly unrecognized by their owners Why “wait and see” carries risk: maladaptive pain, the weak link between X-ray findings and how much pain a dog feels, and the AAHA’s warning about missed chronic pain Conditions that can pass for old age: canine cognitive dysfunction and degenerative myelopathy What to film at home and a three-tier guide to when to act: wait and watch, call your vet tomorrow, or go now The caregiver placebo effect, and why objective, long-term data matters An overview of The Ruff, Tether’s collar-mounted monitor, which tracks rising, movement symmetry, sleep, and resting breathing against each dog’s individualized baseline This guide is educational. It does not diagnose pain, recommend medication, or replace a veterinary examination.