{"id":271,"date":"2026-03-09T19:24:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T00:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xroadsanimalhospital.com\/blog\/?p=271"},"modified":"2026-03-17T18:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:34:48","slug":"joint-pain-in-pets-after-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xroadsanimalhospital.com\/blog\/joint-pain-in-pets-after-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Pain in Pets After Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As winter melts away and spring joyfully dances in, you might notice something different about your pet. Perhaps your kitty isn\u2019t joining in the spring dance with the glee you remember from her earlier years. Or maybe your doggo is struggling to get up off his bed for a springtime romp through the fresh new greenery outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many pets, joint pain can flare up in the spring, particularly after a winter spent doing more resting than running around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what the team at Crossroads Animal Hospital<\/a> wants pet parents to know about pet arthritis in March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Spring Can Make Joint Discomfort Worse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cold weather can make your pet\u2014and you\u2014disinclined to romp around and play outside. This means by the time springtime arrives, your pet\u2019s joints may be stiff and their muscles tight from the decrease in use. Motion is lotion, after all, and this adage applies to pets just as it does to humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seasonal changes in barometric pressure and temperature can also play a role, particularly when it comes to inflaming or otherwise affecting sensitive joints. If your pet already struggles with arthritis, cold weather is likely to make it worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs and Post-Winter Arthritis Flare-Ups <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs tend to show their pain a little more, ah, openly <\/em>than our feline friends do. This makes a dog’s arthritis flare-up in March easier to spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might notice your pup limping while out on a walk or taking his time standing up from his bed in the morning. Jumping up onto that favorite spot on the couch might be harder, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your dog is struggling with movement\u2014especially if she\u2019s older<\/a> or is of a breed susceptible to arthritis\u2014ease back into movement gently. Your pup may need veterinary support to feel his best, including supplements, pain relievers, and targeted therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Arthritis Shows Up in Cats During Spring Flare-Ups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cats tend to be a little bit quieter about their pain than dogs, which means it\u2019s important to pay attention to the signs that something\u2019s wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might notice that your kitty spends less time climbing up her favorite cat tree. Or, she might avoid scratching a beloved spot on the couch. Maybe she eats less, grooms less, or simply hesitates when she enters the litter box<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of these symptoms of spring arthritis in cats often get mistaken for aging\u2014and while they could <\/em>simply mean your kitty is slowing things down, they could also mean he\u2019s in pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a visit to your veterinarian, you can find out the answer and give your cat the right tools for comfort and health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing Seasonal Arthritis in Pets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To help your kitty or pup stay limber and strong, seasonal arthritis and all, try these tips: <\/p>\n\n\n\n