Many pet parents recognize pain when a dog yelps or can’t climb stairs, but chronic pain often shows up first as subtle behavior changes, from avoiding family time to seeming grumpy or reactive. In this sponsored Atlantic article, Zoetis’ Dr. Courtney Pierce, Senior Medical Lead, Pain Portfolio, recounts what she noticed when her own dog Ernest became unusually standoffish and how that shift pointed to a diagnosis of canine osteoarthritis (OA). 

Through Ernest’s story and another family’s experience with their dog Zeus, the piece explores why OA is a common, painful, lifelong disease that can affect dogs of many ages, how it can strain the human–animal bond, and what signs pet parents can watch for, like stiffness, lagging on walks, difficulty rising, or trouble with stairs and jumping. Dr. Pierce emphasizes a takeaway for every household: if your dog’s personality or routines change, it may be worth asking your veterinarian whether pain could be part of the picture.