Your Dog Isn’t “Just Getting Older” — The Red Flags Most Owners Miss

One day your dog is launching onto the bed like it’s nothing. The next, they hesitate—then stop trying altogether. It’s easy to brush it off as “aging”… until you realize pain doesn’t announce itself with sirens. It whispers, it creeps, and it changes behavior long before it changes X-rays.

In this episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, Dr. Sonja Friedbauer returns to cut through the noise—especially the AI-generated, influencer-fueled “miracle cures” flooding pet health feeds—and gives a grounded, real-world framework for mobility, arthritis, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), rehab, pain control, supplements, and smarter decision-making.

Meet the Guest: Dr. Sonja Friedbauer (The Vet Who’s Not Afraid to Challenge the Internet)

Dr. Sonja Friedbauer is the kind of veterinarian you want in your corner when the algorithm starts shouting louder than common sense. She blends clinical experience with integrative tools—think acupuncture, laser, massage, careful medication strategy, and practical prevention—and she’s not interested in selling hype.

She’s also honest about what pet owners are facing right now:
 

• Too many “miracle” products

• Too much misinformation

• Too many dogs suffering quietly

• And a veterinary landscape being reshaped by corporate buyouts, price hikes, and time-crunched care
   

Her message is simple: your pet deserves a plan—not a scroll.

The Real Early Warning Signs: Pain Shows Up as Behavior First

One of the most important themes Dr. Friedbauer hits is that mobility decline is often gradual, which is why families miss it.

Watch for:
 

• Suddenly can’t do stairs or won’t jump on the bed

• Rear leg weakness, stumbling, slipping, falling

• A “bunny hop” gait (common with hip dysplasia)

• Flinching or guarding when touched in the back/hips

• Becoming mopey, withdrawn, less playful

• Lower appetite (often when pain is worsening)
   

Her point lands hard: if a human started stumbling or couldn’t do stairs, we’d investigate immediately. But for dogs, we normalize it—until it’s severe.

The Big Myth: “I Don’t Want My Dog on Meds”

Dr. Friedbauer gets it. She doesn’t love meds either. But she says something that every owner needs to hear:

Untreated pain changes everything.
It changes movement. It changes mood. It changes appetite. It can speed decline. And it can trap your pet in a smaller and smaller life.

Her approach is layered:
 

• Use the least medication necessary

• Combine it with supportive modalities (rehab, acupuncture, laser, PEMF, massage)

• Reassess often—don’t just refill forever

• Understand the difference between “arthritis pain” and “disc pain” (they’re not the same problem)
   

This is where internet advice often fails: one-size-fits-all “natural” routines don’t match real-world cases.

PEMF Mats: Miracle Cure or Legit Tool?

Here’s where the episode gets practical and refreshing.

Dr. Friedbauer shares a story of a three-legged rescue shepherd—hit by a car as a puppy, one leg amputated, now dealing with heavy load on the remaining limbs, arthritis at only six years old. The owner did everything: acupuncture, laser, NSAIDs, supplements.

Still struggling.

Then she tried a PEMF mat.

Dr. Friedbauer hadn’t seen the dog in a while—until the owner came in and said:
“You wouldn’t believe it… he’s been amazing.”

She’s careful not to overpromise. But she’s clear: for some dogs, PEMF can be a real difference-maker. She bought one for her own 11-year-old dog. Her brother-in-law used it for post-surgical neck discomfort—and felt relief within minutes.

Bottom line: not every dog responds the same way. But PEMF isn’t “woo” by default—it’s a tool, and in the right situation it may help.

The Hard Truth About Trendy Treatments

Dr. Friedbauer speaks candidly about Librela (an arthritis-focused injection some describe like a “vaccine against arthritis”). She’s seen it work incredibly well for certain dogs—life-changing—while also acknowledging reports of rare but severe adverse reactions.

Her framework is what owners need:
 

• Some dogs do amazing

• Some dogs don’t respond

• Rare severe reactions are real—and should be respected

• It’s not “good” or “evil”—it’s a clinical tool to use thoughtfully
   

She also talks about pain layers: NSAIDs, occasional gabapentin (with the tradeoff of sedation), and when to escalate care.

And she makes a crucial distinction:
Librela may help arthritis pain. It won’t necessarily solve IVDD—a different injury pattern with different needs.

The Rehab Angle Most People Don’t Know Exists

A huge takeaway: there are rehab veterinarians, and they can be game-changers.

Targeted rehab can:
 

• Strengthen supporting muscles

• Offload painful joints

• Improve gait mechanics

• Build stability after injury

• Reduce future flare-ups
   

She also highlights supportive care options many owners overlook:
 

• Acupuncture

• Laser therapy

• Massage and stretching

• Veterinary chiropractic care

• Adequan (especially for hip dysplasia)

• Galliprant (arthritis-targeted pain control)
   

Not every owner has the time or budget for every tool—so Dr. Friedbauer emphasizes building a plan that fits real life.

5 Key Insights From This Episode
 

1. Mobility changes are medical signals, not personality changes.
   Stairs, jumping, rear-leg weakness, “bunny hop,” and touch sensitivity often point to pain or structural issues.

2. Pain control isn’t optional—pain shrinks your pet’s world.
   Even if you prefer holistic care, responsible treatment sometimes includes medication to get them “over the hump.”

3. Arthritis isn’t the same as IVDD.
   Tools like Librela may help arthritis, while disc disease may require a different strategy: acupuncture, laser, PEMF, careful meds, and sometimes surgery.

4. Supplements can help—but “more” can backfire.
   Owners bring bags of products; sometimes the dog’s symptoms are reactions to what’s in them. Labels aren’t always transparent.

5. Your veterinarian should be your filter—not Instagram.
   If a product looks promising, ask your vet before you spend hundreds chasing hype.
    

Why This Conversation Matters Now

Because pet health has become a digital battlefield.

Owners are being targeted with:
 

• AI-generated videos of dogs “barely moving”

• endless “miracle cure” ads

• influencer opinions with zero clinical context

• supplement stacks that look impressive but may worsen allergies or gut issues
   

Meanwhile, veterinary care is also changing:
 

• corporate buyouts reshaping hospitals

• rising costs of staffing, equipment, labs, and imaging

• more pressure on owners to make big decisions fast—often without a roadmap
   

This episode gives something rare: calm clarity. It helps owners make decisions based on signal, science, and strategy—not fear-based marketing.

What You’ll Learn
 

• The early signs your dog’s mobility is declining (and what they usually mean)

• How to think about arthritis vs. disc injuries vs. hip dysplasia

• The truth about pain meds: what’s safer, what requires monitoring, and why “no meds ever” can be harmful

• Where PEMF mats may fit, and why results vary

• The real-world value of acupuncture, laser, massage, stretching, and rehab vets

• How to approach supplements wisely (joints, eyes, teeth, skin) without overloading your pet

• Why pet insurance can change outcomes for emergencies like IVDD surgery

• How to spot misinformation and build a trusted decision filter
   

The Bottom Line

Your pet’s health doesn’t need more noise. It needs a smarter lens.

If your dog is slowing down, stumbling, hesitating on stairs, or “acting different,” don’t wait until the pain becomes their personality. There are real tools—from rehab and acupuncture to thoughtful medication, supplements, and devices like PEMF—that can change quality of life dramatically when used correctly.

And if you’re overwhelmed by the internet’s confident chaos, Dr. Friedbauer’s voice is exactly what pet owners need right now.

For the full story and unfiltered conversation, listen/watch the Crackin’ Backs Podcast.