Losing Mobility in Dogs and Cats: The Later Stages

For many older pets, losing mobility happens slowly. A dog takes the stairs more carefully, then starts waiting at the bottom. A cat stops jumping onto the bed and starts sleeping on the floor beside it. Changes like these often come and go at first, and they’re easy to put down to age. When researchers interviewed owners of dogs with arthritis, many described small changes that came and went, and few had thought of arthritis at first¹.

Over time, though, the changes add up. This article is about older dogs and cats who are losing the ability to get around, whether from arthritis and hip problems, degenerative myelopathy, spinal disc disease, or back legs that are simply wearing out with age. It covers what the later stages of each usually look like, the signs that things are getting harder, and what families weigh as they think about the decision ahead. It’s part of our series on common end-of-life conditions.

For the everyday side of things, like better footing, slings, ramps and easier paths for cats, our article on keeping your pet comfortable at home has a whole section on helping them get around. And since medical advice isn’t something you should get from the internet, questions about pain relief and treatment are best taken to your regular veterinarian. We’ll start with the conditions themselves, because each one tends to follow its own path.

Losing mobility isn’t one disease. Several different conditions can take away a pet’s ability to get around, and an older pet may have more than one at the same time. Here’s how the most common ones tend to progress.

Arthritis is one of the most common reasons an older dog slows down. In a UK study of more than 450,000 dogs, it was most likely in larger, heavier dogs, in breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers, and in dogs over 8, and it tended to be a long-lasting condition rather than a short illness². In big dogs especially, arthritis in the hips, often from hip dysplasia, is a common part of the picture.

In the later stages, the change is usually from stiffness to struggling. A dog who was slow to get up after a nap starts needing several tries to stand, and eventually needs help to get up at all. Walks get shorter, and stairs and smooth floors become harder to manage. In interviews, owners of dogs with arthritis described a growing need to physically help their dog as time went on³.

Arthritis itself rarely ends a pet’s life directly. What changes over time is how much pain there is and how much a pet can still do. So “end stage” arthritis usually describes a pet whose pain can no longer be well controlled, or who can no longer get up and move around without help. When the end does come, it’s usually due to a decision a family makes, rather than the disease running its course.

Arthritis in cats is common, and it very often goes unnoticed. In one study of 100 cats aged 6 or older, 61% had arthritis on X-rays in at least one joint⁴. The hips and knees are among the joints most often affected⁵, which is why it so often shows up in the back legs. Yet when researchers reviewed 502 cat records at general practices, joint problems had been noted in just 1% of them. When the same practices started asking owners a short checklist of questions, 39% of the cats showed at least one behavior that fits arthritis⁶.

In cats, arthritis tends to show up as moving less, jumping less, grooming less, and having more accidents outside the litter box⁴. Those are easy changes to blame on age. In a small study of cats with long-term joint and muscle pain, owners saw their cats become more active, groom more and be better tempered after a month of pain treatment from their veterinarian⁷. So if your older cat has slowed down, it’s worth asking your regular veterinarian whether pain is part of it. Our article on recognizing pain in cats and dogs lists more of the signs. While arthritis affects cats and dogs alike, the next condition is one only dogs get.

Degenerative myelopathy, often shortened to DM, is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. It usually begins with weakness and a wobble in the back legs, and over time it spreads forward until it affects all four legs. There’s currently no treatment that stops it⁸. For cats, the sections on arthritis and on weakening back legs are the ones that apply.

How DM usually progresses:

• Early – A wobble or weakness in the back legs. A dog may sway, scuff their back paws, or cross their back legs as they walk.
• Middle – The back legs weaken until the dog can no longer stand or walk on them without help⁹.
• Later – The weakness reaches the front legs^8,​9, and bladder and bowel control can be lost¹⁰.
• If it runs its full course – Breathing becomes affected near the end¹⁰.

In a study that followed 21 Corgis with DM, every dog could no longer walk on their back legs by the time their family chose euthanasia, and most had weakness in their front legs too⁹. In a group of Corgis whose families chose to let the disease run its course, most eventually lost bladder control, many lost bowel control as well, and breathing problems were common near the end¹⁰. That’s a big part of why most families choose a goodbye before DM reaches that point.

How long each stage lasts varies a great deal from dog to dog. In a study of mostly medium and large dogs, half were euthanized within about 13 months of their first signs. Diagnosis often came months after those first signs, and half of the dogs were euthanized within 6 months of being diagnosed¹¹. Corgis tend to progress more slowly. In the Corgi study, half the dogs reached that point within about 19 months of their first signs⁹. So for many larger dogs, the time after a DM diagnosis is measured in months rather than years.

Through all of this, a dog with DM usually stays bright and alert, which is one of the hardest parts for families. Whether DM itself is painful is a good question for your regular veterinarian, and many older dogs with DM have sore joints or other aches alongside it. We’ll come back to that bright mind, because it shapes the decision.

Not every dog gets a clear diagnosis like DM, though. Sometimes a dog’s back legs simply get weaker with age, and part of that is muscle. Older dogs and cats lose muscle as they age, even without a specific disease, and that loss often comes on top of the muscle lost to chronic illness. Both are linked with poorer health¹². Sore joints and changes in the nerves and spine can add to it at the same time. Cats follow a similar path: in a study that followed aging cats for seven years, most developed joint problems on their veterinary exams, and most had two or more health conditions¹³. So in an older pet, weakness is often several things happening at once.

Many families describe this simply as old age. In a US study of dogs at the end of life, owners named old age as the cause of death for almost three in ten of them¹⁴. Even without a clear diagnosis, a visit to your regular veterinarian can sometimes turn up pain or another problem that can be treated, and it can help you understand where things are heading. Most of these changes happen over months, but a few happen almost overnight.

Spinal disc disease, often called IVDD, happens when one of the cushioning discs between the bones of the spine bulges or ruptures and presses on the spinal cord. It’s mostly seen in dogs. It can cause back or neck pain, wobbly or weak legs, or, sometimes almost overnight, a dog who can no longer walk. The options range from strict rest to surgery, depending on how severe it is, and that’s a conversation for your regular veterinarian or a specialist, often urgently.

Spinal problems weigh heavily in end-of-life decisions. In a UK study of nearly 30,000 dogs who died, the odds of a dog being euthanized rather than dying on their own were about six times higher with a spinal cord disorder than with cancer¹⁵.

Whatever the cause, sudden changes in how a pet moves need a veterinarian the same day.

Call your regular veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away if:

• They suddenly can’t stand or walk – Or they’re dragging their legs.
• They seem to be in a lot of pain – They cry out, or stay hunched and reluctant to move.
• They lose bladder or bowel control – Especially if it comes on along with weakness.
• Your cat’s back legs suddenly stop working – A cat who suddenly can’t use their back legs, especially if they’re crying or their legs feel cold, may have a blood clot from heart disease. That’s an emergency¹⁶, and our article on heart failure in dogs and cats explains more.

Not every sudden wobble comes from the legs or spine, though. An older dog who suddenly falls over, tilts their head or seems dizzy may have a problem with their sense of balance instead. It can look frightening, and it often improves, but it still needs a veterinarian to check. For the slower conditions, there’s usually time to make your pet’s days easier.

Much of the day-to-day care for a pet who’s losing mobility is the same whatever the cause: good footing, a supportive bed, help getting up, and ramps or easier paths. Our article on keeping your pet comfortable at home covers all of those. A few things are especially worth knowing when mobility is the main problem.

Things to consider:

• Keep pain under control – Veterinary pain guidelines for dogs and cats urge treating long-term pain early rather than waiting, and they put a lot of weight on what families notice at home¹⁷. There are many options, with and without medication, and your regular veterinarian can talk through which ones fit your pet.
• Take short videos – A video of your pet getting up, walking or using the stairs shows your veterinarian things that are hard to see in an exam room. Veterinary guidelines for senior cats recommend home videos for this reason¹⁸.
• Ask about rehab – Physical therapy, from simple exercises at home to sessions with a rehab therapist, may help some pets keep moving for longer. In a small study of dogs thought to have DM, those who had regular physical therapy kept walking longer than those who didn’t¹⁹. Your regular veterinarian can tell you whether it might help your pet.
• Ask about a cart or sling – A cart, sometimes called a dog wheelchair, supports the back end so a dog can keep moving on their front legs. A sling or lifting harness makes it easier to help them up and outside. Your veterinarian or a rehab therapist can help you decide whether either one fits your pet.

These aids help most while a pet still has strength to work with and still enjoys getting around. A cart relies on strong front legs, so as DM reaches the front legs⁹, a cart can no longer do the work. For any pet, there comes a point when getting up is a struggle even with help, or when the equipment itself becomes a source of stress. That’s usually a sign the aids have done what they can.

Once a pet can’t get up on their own, new problems tend to follow. Lying in one position puts pressure on the bony spots and can cause pressure sores. A pet who can’t get up to go outside, or can’t hold the right posture, may soil themselves and their bed, and urine left on the skin can cause scalding and infections. In dogs with DM, losing bladder control is common as the disease progresses¹⁰. Keeping a pet clean and dry, and changing their position regularly, takes a lot of work, day and night, and it tends to get harder as they weaken. Our comfort care article covers bedding, pressure sores and keeping them clean in more detail. Even with good care, these conditions keep moving, so it helps to know what to watch for.

Because mobility usually fades gradually, it’s easy to adjust a little at a time and lose track of how far things have moved. These are some signs that things are getting harder:

• Can’t get up, even with help – Your dog needs lifting to stand, or can no longer stand long enough to eat, drink or go outside.
• More falls and slips – Falling more often, or seeming afraid to move on smooth floors or stairs.
• Accidents they can’t help – Losing bladder or bowel control, or soiling themselves because they can’t get up or hold the right posture¹⁰.
• Skin problems that keep coming back – Pressure sores or scalded skin, despite your best care.
• Pain that isn’t controlled – Signs of pain that continue even with the treatment your veterinarian has offered.
• Weakness spreading – In DM, the front legs starting to weaken⁹.
• For cats, not reaching what they need – No longer getting into the litter box, reaching their food and water or getting to their favorite spots, or no longer grooming themselves⁴.
• Less of who they were – No longer enjoying the walks, games or company that made them who they are.

No single sign decides it. What matters is the overall picture and how it changes over weeks and months. The quality of life scale in our article on tracking your pet’s quality of life scores movement as one of its categories, and our free Hospet app lets you record good days and bad days so you can see the trend. The section of our comfort care article on when comfort isn’t enough anymore describes more of the general signs.

If you’d like a second set of eyes, our veterinarians offer an in-home quality of life consultation. In a full, unrushed hour in your home, we can watch how your pet really gets up, walks and lies down, since pets often hide pain at a clinic, and you’ll leave with comfort ideas and clear next steps. Tracking shows you what’s changing, but with mobility, deciding what it means involves your pet, and you as well.

When a pet is losing the ability to get around, it’s natural to hold on to the parts that are still going well. A dog with DM may still greet you with bright eyes and a wagging tail. A cat with sore hips may still purr in your lap. Those moments are real, and they matter. But it is important that, when considering quality of life, we consider the whole animal. A bright, alert mind is part of the picture, and so is a body that can no longer stand, move comfortably or stay clean.

Pain matters too. In a US study of dogs at the end of life, the most common reasons families gave for euthanasia were pain or suffering and a poor quality of life¹⁴. And when the body is what’s failing, a planned goodbye is the path most families take. In the UK study of nearly 30,000 dogs, about nine in ten were euthanized, and bigger and older dogs were more likely to be¹⁵. Choosing a goodbye for a pet whose body is wearing out is a common and loving decision, and our article on the euthanasia window describes timing as a window rather than a single perfect moment, a way of thinking that fits a slow decline well.

With mobility, the decision also depends on what your own body and home can manage, and that’s worth saying plainly. Helping a big dog up several times a day, carrying them outside or getting them into the car takes real strength, and it gets harder as they get weaker. In our webinar “When Is It Time? Understanding the Euthanasia Window”, we put it this way: “Your physical capacity does affect what kind of care that you’re able to provide. If you’re struggling because of mobility or strength issues or age, if you’re struggling to lift your pet to get them to the vet, that’s going to play into the decision-making process.” Stairs, icy steps and a Wisconsin winter add to the risk of a fall for both of you, and the euthanasia window article talks about how those can fairly shape the timing.

The research says the same. In a study of people caring for dogs that had been weak or paralyzed for more than six months, caregiver strain was higher than for owners of healthy dogs, and it was tied to the owner’s own health, the mess at home and how much support they had²⁰. Owners of dogs with arthritis describe the strain building slowly, with a growing need to physically help their dog and less freedom in their own lives³. In another study of owners of dogs with arthritis, the more a dog’s pain and movement suffered, the more strain their owner carried and the more they thought about euthanasia, and owners who felt well supported by their veterinary team felt that pull less²¹. So if caring for your pet is wearing you down, you’re far from alone, and it’s worth leaning on your veterinary team and the people around you.

Many families feel guilty that their own limits are part of the decision, as if it should only be about their pet. In the same webinar, we said: “Acknowledging those factors doesn’t make you selfish. It just allows you to be prepared and honest about the situation that you find yourself in.” Even the quality of life scale in our tracking article includes a category for the impact on family and caregivers. Your limits are real, and planning around them honestly is part of caring for your pet well.

That planning can include the goodbye itself, whenever it comes. If you’re considering a goodbye at home, What Happens During In-Home Euthanasia walks through the visit step by step, and our guide to preparing for an in-home euthanasia covers the practical side.

Losing mobility usually happens a little at a time, so it can be hard to see how far things have come. Knowing how your pet’s condition tends to progress, keeping pain under control with your regular veterinarian, and tracking the changes over time can all make that picture clearer.

And please be gentle with yourself. Caring for a pet who can’t get around asks a lot of your body as well as your heart, and it’s OK to need help along the way.

→ Keeping Your Pet Comfortable at Home
Practical comfort care for a sick or aging pet, from footing and bedding to eating, breathing and medications.

→ Recognizing Pain in Cats & Dogs
Learn the subtle signs of discomfort that pets often hide, and how to tell if your pet is suffering.

→ The Euthanasia Window: Understanding When It’s Time
Why there’s no single “perfect moment,” and how to think about timing as a window rather than a moment.

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