Mobility impairment

Mobility impairment in a companion animal is a reduced ability to walk, rise, climb or move comfortably compared with what is normal for its age and breed.

Owners often notice the change as hesitation on stairs, slowness getting up after rest, a shortened stride, reluctance to jump onto furniture or into a vehicle, or stiffness that eases with gentle movement. Common causes include osteoarthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, spinal disease, ligament injury and the muscle loss that accompanies aging. Overweight animals and large breeds are at higher risk.

A veterinarian assesses mobility through observation of gait, joint palpation and range-of-motion testing, sometimes supported by X-rays or other imaging. Validated owner questionnaires are used to track changes over time in both practice and research. Some small clinical studies in dogs with osteoarthritis have measured mobility as an outcome for cannabinoids, and the findings are preliminary; a veterinarian is the right source of guidance on any change in an animal's movement.