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Many dog owners believe that the kindest thing to do is to let your senior enjoy the end of its life on the couch. But, in addition to couch surfing being quite boring to a dog, its body will also decay, and – in a worst-case scenario – this may shorten its life. Nothing says that old dogs can’t have just as strong muscles as young ones, but they do take a little more upkeep when it comes to exercise. Regular exercise is important to an old dog.
In our clinic, we do a lot of care for the elderly. Naturally, an old dog will have some age-related aches and ailments, just like an elderly human. The biggest difference is that the dog’s mental age is still geared towards fun and play, although the body can’t always keep up. As mentioned before, dogs don’t know what’s in their own best interests, so we dog owners have to know for them. This doesn’t necessarily mean your dog can no longer have fun, but you may need to change the approach to fun for your dog in order to accommodate any pains or signs of aging.
Some of the most common reasons owners bring their old dogs to us are calcifications and back pains. These are very common ailments, and there is a lot that can be done about them. When the dog first starts showing signs of being pained or bothered, it is often a long time, maybe years, since the first symptoms occurred. This causes relief-based movements over time, which causes weaker muscles in the pained areas, increased load in the parts of the body the dog uses to compensate, and reduced activity. Some dogs are also overweight, and one of the most important things you can do for your elderly, overweight dog is adjust the amount of food and treats they have.
Despite some changes due to wear and tear, old age can be a good time for a dog. One of the most important efforts to make is keeping your dog in regular activity. It’s better to go for a short walk every day than a long walk once in a while. For the oldest dogs, the best option may be several short walks every day. Ten minutes, four times a day adds up to 40 minutes of daily activity. Older dogs may also need a bit more of a warm up and cool down than younger dogs. This is why you should never go straight into high activity with an old dog; start small. You can find specific information on warm ups and cool downs in the chapter about training.
One of the reasons regular exercise is so important is that tired backs and joints require support from strong muscles. Strong muscles take the load off the injured area, and therefore offer relief. In addition, well-trained muscles don’t get stress injuries so easily. Adjusted exercise with coordination and balance training can be great. This could be done with a slow walk in hilly terrain, or by training on – for example – an air mattress.
These are general tips for old dogs. If your dog is limping or has a prolapse, it should usually still be trained, but always with individual adjustments. Seek help from your veterinarian or dog therapist. A veterinarian should always be your first stop if your dog is showing signs of pain or problems.
Consider the elements that usually make up your senior dog’s daily life. Are there some you should do less of or replace with exercises that are less demanding? It’s difficult to give general advice that will suit any old dog, because everything has to be adjusted to the individual, the personality, the type of pain/strains, and so on. Those who have very old dogs may also need to adjust activity levels from day to day. Like people, old dogs will have good days and less-good days. This is fine and natural, as long as it doesn’t affect its welfare. By its welfare, I mean that your dog should have a good enough quality of life that it is okay to keep it alive; the best person to help you evaluate this is your veterinarian.
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