Walking an Old Dog
As time passes, both ourselves and our dogs age. Just like how humans usually require more care for their health as we get older, this also applies to our pups. So today, we will be walking through how you can make your senior dog’s walk more enjoyable.
Why you should Walk your Senior Dog Frequently
As your pup ages and approaches the later stages of their life, it is important to keep walking your dog. Doing so will help prevent symptoms of arthritis, dementia, and muscle weakening from developing. This is because walking your pup will improve blood flow to the joints, give your pup mental stimulation, and will ensure that your pup’s muscles are being used. By simply exercising your pup everyday, you will be saving future medical bills and increase both the quantity and quality of not only your dog’s life, but also yours as well.
Preparation
Before taking your senior pup outside for a walk, it is important to check the weather for that day. As dogs age, they tend to become more sensitive to cold and hot weather which can not only cause discomfort for your dog, but can also affect the joints causing pain. If it is cold, you can dress up your dog in appropriate attire to help keep them warm. On hotter days, you can even take your dog outside for a swim. Swimming is easy on the joints and also provides a full body workout. One thing to keep in mind is that not all dog breeds will be good swimmers and will be more prone to drowning. Make sure to check first online if it is okay for your pup to swim as an exercise. It is always a good idea to have your dog wear a life vest at all times during a swimming session. However, if the weather is not in your favor, a good alternative is to turn to dog yoga and other indoor exercises instead. One thing to keep in mind with indoor exercises is to not do it for extended period of times. Dogs love and prefer taking walks outside which can provide more mental stimulation for them which is important for their mental health.
Weakened Joints
If your senior dog suffers from weakened joints in a specific location, the best way to cope with this issue is to strengthen the muscles in the weakened area. This can be done through dog yoga, swimming, and short and frequent walks. It is important to note that because the area is weakened, it is crucial for dog owners to not push or pressure their pup too hard as it can lead to greater health complications.
Making Walks more Comfortable
A great way to make walks more enjoyable and comfortable for your senior dog is to take shorter but more frequent walks throughout the day rather than just one long walk per day. By taking shorter and more frequent walks, this will give your senior pup more time to recover from the walk and to relieve his or her’s joints and muscles. To ease stress, it is also a great idea to keep walking times the same. Dogs tend to get stressed when something is unpredictable such as irregular walking hours. You can help relieve this stress by scheduling regular walking hours. Because elderly dogs tend to become more prone to joint complications, you can help prevent and make the walk less uncomfortable for your dog by picking to take your dog’s walk on even and easy surface. Uneven surfaces can cause unnecessary pain, so by choosing to walk on more easy surfaces, this can save your dog discomfort and also potential medical bills.
Heed to your Pup’s Needs
If you see your pup dragging his or her’s paws, limping, whining, refusing to move, slowing down, and have their tail down while walking, this can mean that your senior dog is tired. When these signs are present, if you have a small dog, you can carry your pup the rest of the way home or if you have a big dog, head home immediately. If you are at a far distance from your destination and have a big dog, make sure to take frequent breaks and offer water to your pup. This will help relieve the stress and discomfort your pup is experiencing.
I hope this blog will be of good use for both you and your senior pup. Make sure to protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus by wearing a mask and by thoroughly washing your hands. I will see you next time.
Citations:
[1] Finlay, Katie. “How to Exercise Your Senior Dog.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 6 Oct. 2020, www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/provide-senior-dog-proper-exercise/.
[2] “Gold Souls, Gray Faces: 8 Tips For Walking Senior Dogs.” DogTime, 9 Sept. 2020, dogtime.com/dog-health/fitness/63647-walking-senior-dogs.