Start with the floors
Hardwood and tile are ice rinks for old dogs. Runners and yoga mats along the routes he actually walks, food bowl to water bowl to couch, do more than any supplement. If he slips at night, block the stairs after bedtime.
Rethink the walk
Three short walks beat one long one. Older joints warm up slowly and cool down stiff, so frequency matters more than distance. Keep the pace conversational: he sets it. If you have access to water, swimming loads the muscles without loading the joints.
Weight is the biggest lever
Every extra pound rides on those hips. Measured meals and swapping half the treats for green beans take weight off without a diet plan. A vet can tell you the target number in one appointment.
Don’t skip the nails
Long nails force the toes sideways and change how the whole leg lands. Trim every few weeks, or have the groomer do it. It’s the cheapest mobility work you’ll ever do.
Gear that helps
A harness instead of a collar on walks, so nothing yanks on an old neck. A ramp for the car. A lift harness for the stairs you can’t avoid. An orthopedic bed so the nights don’t undo the days.
Twice-yearly vet visits
Senior dogs deserve checkups every six months, not once a year. Bloodwork before starting arthritis medication, and a hands-on feel of the hips and knees, catch problems while they’re still cheap problems.
One more thing worth knowing early: insurance gets more expensive as dogs age, and some doors close. A pet insurance comparison is coming that breaks down which companies work best for senior dogs.