At least 20% of dogs will develop arthritic pain by the time that they reach seven years of age. Dr. William Fortney, a Veterinarian at Kansas State University says that arthiris is a progressive degeneration of the cartilidge, bones and the lining in a joint. That joint can be elbows, knees, hips or even the spine. If you have an older dog that might be in pain, try to keep his weight down and talk to your Veterinarian about pet medication. There are pain relievers for dogs and cats which will help ease the pain of arthritis. If your dog has trouble going up or down stairs or is sluggish, it is a good idea to get him checked for arthritis. Don’t try to make him walk faster or pull him while he is out on his walk. Remember, you pets cannot tell you when they are in pain. Look for signs and react accordingly.