dvm360 podcast urges earlier mobility screening for aging pets

dvm360 used Pet Mobility Awareness Month to spotlight a familiar but often underdetected problem in practice: declining mobility in aging dogs and cats. In a May 7, 2026, Vet Blast podcast sponsored by Virbac, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and rehabilitation specialist Kara Amstutz, DVM, DACVSMR (Canine), CVA, CVPP, CCRT, urged veterinary teams to move beyond asking whether a pet is “limping” and instead use targeted history-taking, in-room observation, and a multimodal care plan that combines pain management, nutrition, and exercise. Amstutz emphasized asking pet parents about changes in function, like trouble rising, climbing stairs, or getting into the car, as well as what a dog’s “job” is, from household activity to sport or working roles. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the message aligns with broader guidance that chronic pain and osteoarthritis are best managed as ongoing conditions, not one-off complaints. AAHA’s pain management and senior care guidance supports structured pain assessment, rehabilitation, and individualized plans that may include exercise, environmental modification, and nutritional support. That’s especially relevant because pet parents often miss early mobility changes, particularly in cats and senior dogs, making the exam-room observation and specific questioning highlighted in the podcast clinically useful. (aaha.org)

What to watch: Expect continued education and sponsor-backed awareness efforts around earlier osteoarthritis screening, rehabilitation, and multimodal mobility support during May’s Mobility Awareness Month and beyond. (dvm360.com)