Step 0: Targeted Nutraceuticals

Goal

Provide additional input during a temporary increase in physical demand

Habit: Temporarily Increase Nutraceuticals During Flare-Ups

When a dog experiences a flare-up, overload, or recovery period, the body may benefit from more nutraceuticals than during everyday maintenance.

How supplements may be used

• Used daily at a higher amount than the standard maintenance routine during a flare-up or recovery phase
• Commonly used at up to twice the usual maintenance amount for a limited period, following product guidance
• Reduced back to the regular maintenance amount once movement and comfort return to baseline
  

BSAVA principle: Adaptive physiological input during increased demand.


Discover Mobility Supplements

Step 1: Temporarily Reduce Physical Load

Goal

Give joints and muscles time to settle by lowering physical demand during a short-term flare-up or recovery period.

Habit: Scale Back Activity Without Stopping Movement

During acute phases, reducing strain is more important than maintaining normal activity levels. The aim is not complete rest, but a temporary reduction that allows the body to recover while keeping gentle movement in place.

Helpful habits

• Choose shorter, slower walks instead of usual distances
• Increase the number of gentle outings rather than doing one longer walk
• Avoid running, jumping, rough play, or fast direction changes
• Allow extra rest time between activities
• Keep daily routines calm and predictable
  

Reducing load helps joints and muscles recover more comfortably without the stiffness that can come from full inactivity.

BSAVA principle: Temporary load reduction during recovery.

During periods of increased discomfort or overload, reducing physical demand allows tissues to recover while maintaining basic movement and circulation.

Step 2: Prioritise Controlled Movement

Goal

Maintain gentle movement that supports circulation and recovery without adding unnecessary strain.

Habit: Choose Calm, Controlled Movement Instead of Full Rest

Complete rest is rarely helpful during short-term flare-ups. Gentle, controlled movement helps the body stay mobile while avoiding forces that can delay recovery. The focus is on how your dog moves, not how much.

Helpful habits

• Choose calm leash walks on flat, non-slip ground
• Allow slow, steady pacing with natural pauses
• Encourage smooth turns and relaxed posture
• Keep movement predictable and unhurried
• Walk on a loose or low-tension lead where possible to allow natural head and body position
• Encourage calm step-ups and controlled descents rather than fast or explosive jumps
  

Controlled movement supports recovery while limiting sudden or uneven forces on joints and muscles.

BSAVA principle: Controlled activity during recovery.

Step 3: Reduce Strain From the Environment

Goal

Limit physical strain caused by everyday surroundings and routines during a short-term recovery period.

Habit: Adjust the Environment to Reduce Impact and Effort

During acute phases, even normal household activities can place extra demand on joints and muscles. Making temporary environmental adjustments helps reduce unnecessary effort while your dog recovers.

Helpful habits

• Use ramps or steps for cars, sofas, or beds when possible
• Limit access to stairs, or support slow, calm use when unavoidable
• Provide non-slip surfaces in areas where your dog walks or turns often
• Keep play calm, short, and ground-based
• Reduce excitement-driven movement in confined spaces
  

These adjustments reduce strain without restricting your dog’s ability to move.

BSAVA principle: Environmental load reduction.

Managing the physical environment helps minimise unnecessary forces on joints and muscles during short-term recovery.

Step 4: Monitor Progress Day by Day

Goal

Ensure recovery is moving in the right direction and identify when adjustments are needed.

Habit: Check Movement and Comfort Daily

During acute phases, changes often happen gradually. Brief daily observation helps you notice improvement, plateaus, or setbacks, allowing you to adjust activity or seek guidance when appropriate.

Helpful habits

• Notice how your dog moves after rest compared to the previous day
• Watch for changes in stiffness, ease of standing up, or willingness to walk
• Observe whether movement becomes smoother or more hesitant over time
• Compare today’s comfort level to yesterday rather than to “normal”
• Keep expectations realistic and focus on gradual progress
  

Monitoring helps guide safe recovery without overreacting to small, normal fluctuations.

BSAVA principle: Ongoing assessment during recovery.

Regular observation supports timely adjustments and helps ensure recovery strategies remain appropriate as comfort and movement change.

Step 5: Gradually Return to the Maintenance Routine

Goal

Reintroduce normal activity in a controlled way once comfort and movement begin to stabilise.

Habit: Increase Activity Slowly and Deliberately

As your dog starts to feel more comfortable, activity should be increased in small, manageable steps. The aim is to return to the usual maintenance routine without rushing, which helps reduce the risk of setbacks.

Helpful habits

• Increase walk length or duration gradually over several days
• Reintroduce normal routines one change at a time rather than all at once
• Keep intensity moderate before adding distance or speed
• Continue calm warm-up and cool-down habits during this transition
  

Return to the Maintenance Mobility guide once movement feels stable again

BSAVA principle: Progressive reloading after recovery.

Gradual, structured increases in activity help tissues adapt safely following a short-term reduction in load, supporting a stable return to everyday movement.

When to Seek Veterinary Guidance

Acute mobility support is intended for short-term situations that improve with reduced load and gentle adjustments. Veterinary guidance is recommended if:

• Discomfort or stiffness does not improve after several days
• Movement becomes worse rather than better
• Your dog becomes lame, reluctant to bear weight, or unusually quiet
• Swelling, heat, or clear pain appears in a limb or joint
• Your dog is already receiving medication and comfort does not improve as expected
  

Seeking veterinary input helps ensure that the cause of the flare-up is understood and that appropriate care is in place before returning to normal activity.

This guide is designed to support recovery alongside professional care, not to replace it.