What to Notice and What to Ask Your Vet About Senior Dog Mobility

By the Kollavia editorial team. Updated October 2026.

Most owners notice senior dog mobility changes in small moments. A pause at the bottom of the stairs, a longer wait before getting out of bed, a walk that ends earlier than it used to. Because the change is gradual, it is easy to shrug it off as age. The vet charity PDSA points out that many owners assume their dog is simply slowing down with age, and that a vet should still check for an underlying condition that could be treated (PDSA on limping and stiffness in dogs).

What is worth noticing

PDSA lists the signs it associates with arthritis, which is common in older dogs, including stiffness, especially after rest or a walk; limping; slowing down on walks; reluctance to jump or use stairs; swollen joints; and a dog that seems quieter or sleepier than usual (PDSA on arthritis in dogs). Other things can look similar, which is why the cause is a job for your vet and not for guesswork at home.

Contact your vet straight away if your dog is in severe pain, cannot put a leg down or has a serious wound. Some dogs hide pain well, so even a change that looks minor is worth mentioning.

Keep notes your vet can use

A short written record beats memory in the consulting room. For two weeks, jot down:

• The date, and what your dog was doing when you noticed the change (stairs, getting up, getting into the car, a long walk).
• Whether it is worse in the morning, after rest or at the end of a walk.
• Which leg or side, if it looks like one side.
• Anything else that changed at the same time, such as appetite, sleep, mood, a new floor surface, a recent fall.

A short phone video of your dog walking and climbing stairs often tells a vet more than a description does. We made a printable sheet to go with this. The dog joint supplement checklist has a notes page you can fill in.

Small changes at home

Keeping your dog at a healthy weight matters, because extra weight puts more pressure on the joints (PDSA, same arthritis page). Non-slip rugs on smooth floors, a ramp or steps for the sofa and car, and a warm bed away from draughts are simple things many owners try while they wait for an appointment. None of them replaces a check-up.

Where supplements fit

PDSA says joint supplements are not a replacement for medication and do not work for every dog, and that quality varies, so it suggests asking your vet to recommend a product. We agree with that. If you are looking at labels, learn to read them first. Our serving guide shows how.

For reference, this is what is printed on the Kollavia Liquid Collagen for Dogs label. The bottle holds 60 ml. Each 2 ml serving contains 400 mg hydrolyzed collagen types I, II and III, 20 mg glucosamine HCl and 10 mg hyaluronic acid. The daily amount is 1 to 4 ml depending on body weight, poured over food once a day. Orders ship within 24 hours on business days, with a money-back guarantee.

If you want to see the formula and the weight chart together, open the product page. If your dog shows pain, limping or a sudden change, see your veterinarian first.

About this guide

Written by the Kollavia editorial team. We sell a supplement, so we have kept this guide to what dog charities and the label say. It is general information and not veterinary advice.