Improving Mobility in the Aging Patient: Why Joints & Muscles Demand Equal Attention

This content is provided by Virbac. Clinician's Brief does not inherently endorse any product or organization advertised across its properties. The appearance of an advertisement on Clinician's Brief properties is neither a guarantee nor an endorsement of the product or advertising claims. Clinician's Brief is not responsible for the content promoted in this article or the referenced sources. Questions about the accuracy of the information presented or sources cited may be directed to the listed sponsor.

Aging is an inevitable, multifactorial, biological phenomenon that begins at birth and is characterized by a decline in physiological functions and adaptability.¹ For senior dogs and cats, the musculoskeletal system is among the body systems most commonly affected by age-related changes, which can significantly impact overall quality of life.²

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive condition that extends beyond the joint, affecting surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Sarcopenia, an age-related loss of lean body mass unrelated to disease, exacerbates mobility impairment in senior patients.² Together, these conditions create a cycle of pain, weakness, and diminished quality of life that requires a multimodal treatment strategy.

Sarcopenia in Aging Dogs & Cats

Sarcopenia is a slow-developing process driven by decreased protein synthesis, increased protein catabolism, chronic inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased oxidative stress.^2,3 Given that human studies have demonstrated a direct link between sarcopenia and a shorter lifespan, it is critical for clinicians to intervene early in senior dogs and cats to mitigate similar risks to the longevity of these patients.⁴

Sarcopenia can be inadvertently overlooked when evaluating scale weight alone, as lean body mass loss can be masked by increased body fat.^4,5 Clinicians should assess body condition score (BCS) and muscle condition score (MCS) at every senior visit, palpate key landmarks—the skull, scapula, spine, and wings of the ilium—and document findings consistently.

Recognizing Mobility Impairment

According to the 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines, senior dogs are those in the last 25% of their estimated lifespan, and the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines and the 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines say cats ≥10 years of age are considered senior.^6-8 Comprehensive evaluation should follow a Fear Free approach, with particular attention to pain, nutrition (including BCS and MCS), cognitive function, and the musculoskeletal system.⁹

Behavioral changes are important clinical signs that may indicate underlying chronic disease or musculoskeletal impairment in senior pets.⁹ In dogs, key history questions include whether the patient is slow to rise, stiff after rest or activity, lagging on walks, avoiding stairs or jumping, and showing decreased social interaction. Abnormal posture can also indicate impairment, which can be visualized in the examination room prior to the physical examination.

Cats with degenerative joint disease (DJD) tend to be presented with a stiff gait rather than a limp. They may avoid high perches, hesitate when jumping, alter litter box habits, or change grooming behavior.⁸

Multimodal Mobility Therapy

Because OA is progressive and multifactorial, a multimodal approach should incorporate 5 categories:

• Nutrition and weight management: Weight loss, even only 6%, can decrease lameness severity and alleviate arthritic joints.¹⁰

• Pain management: Options for pain management range from NSAIDs for inflammatory pain to adjunctive analgesics for more advanced pain states.

• Health supplements: Provide targeted nutritional support to joint and muscle tissues

• Controlled exercise: Low-to-moderate impact activity supports mobility and weight management without overloading compromised joints.

• Lifestyle modifications: Understanding the home environment allows clinicians to advise practical changes.

Although each of these pillars of multimodal therapy contribute to the overall plan, targeted supplementation offers an opportunity to provide nutritional support to the cartilage, synovial fluid, and connective tissues most affected by mobility decline.

MOVOFLEX® Advanced Soft Chews: Comprehensive Joint Support

MOVOFLEX® Advanced Soft Chews are a joint supplement combining 7 active ingredients designed to work synergistically in and around canine joints.¹¹

• BiovaFlex® Eggshell Membrane: Rich in elastin and collagen; components of the extracellular matrix that degrade as articular cartilage breaks down in OA¹¹

• Boswellia serrata Extract: An herbal resin that helps decrease normal inflammatory pathways within the joint¹¹

• Vitamin D3: Supports bone health and growth¹¹

• Krill: Sustainably sourced; contains omega-3 fatty acids (contains the highest level of evidence-based support among supplements studied in dogs and cats); improves absorption of astaxanthin and hyaluronic acid¹¹

• Zanthin® Natural Astaxanthin: A potent antioxidant derived from algae that scavenges free radicals and combats oxidative stress¹¹

• Hyaluronic Acid (low molecular weight): Chondroprotective; initiates the restorative process within articular cartilage¹¹

• Hyaluronic Acid (high molecular weight): A component of synovial fluid that functions as a shock absorber¹¹

MOVOFLEX® Advanced Soft Chews can also be used proactively to support joint health in younger patients predisposed to orthopedic disease.

Addressing Muscle Health in Senior Patients: URSOLYX® Soft Chews

Sarcopenia affects senior dogs regardless of whether OA is present. For patients experiencing age-related muscle atrophy, URSOLYX® Soft Chews offers direct muscle support and contains ursolic acid, a natural compound extracted from sage that targets mRNAs expression in skeletal muscle.¹¹ It upregulates genes that protect normal muscle function while downregulating genes that contribute to muscle atrophy and weakness.

In a 60-day study of 20 senior dogs with age-related atrophy, muscle biopsies revealed that ursolic acid downregulated >50 mRNAs encoding for muscle atrophy and upregulated >50 mRNAs encoding for muscle health.¹² Functionally, 100% of dogs that were given URSOLYX® Soft Chews improved in their ability and willingness to exercise. No adverse effects were attributed to the supplement.¹²

URSOLYX® Soft Chews is also now available for cats. In a pioneer program across US clinics involving 72 cat owners over 60 days, 81% reported improved quality of life, 81% reported improved interaction with family members, and 82% reported improved overall mobility. Eighty-eight percent of participating veterinarians would recommend continued use.¹¹

Building a Complete Mobility Plan

MOVOFLEX® Advanced Soft Chews supports cartilage, synovial fluid, and connective tissue, and URSOLYX® Soft Chews targets skeletal muscle health at the gene expression level. Using both products together provides an integrated multimodal approach to nutritional supplementation.

When selecting any supplement, clinicians should prioritize evidence-based, National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal products from reputable companies to ensure aging patients move better, feel better, and stay connected to their families.

To learn more about MOVOFLEX® Advanced Soft Chews and URSOLYX® Soft Chews, visit vet-us.virbac.com or contact your Virbac representative.

©2026 Virbac Corporation. All rights reserved. C.E.T., MOVOFLEX, URSOLYX, VEGGIEDENT and VETERINARY HPM are registered trademarks of the Virbac Group of Companies. 06/26