Mobility in Senior Dogs

• Posted on 7 March 2022
• Posted in arthritis, canine, glucosamine, hip and joint, joint health, MSM, senior, supplement
• 0

You may often hear adult humans complain about aches and pains as they go about their days, and senior dogs would probably complain too, if they could. Because they cannot speak, physical signs, including limping, decreased activity and mobility issues, are near-universal indicators of the aging process in our companion animals.

As humans, we can mitigate our symptoms with supplements, exercise and lifestyle changes. But what can you give a dog for pain? Well, we can do many of the same things for mobility issues and lameness in dogs, but we need to know what is causing the problem, like arthritis, hip dysplasia, subluxations or even too-long toenails, before implementing lifestyle or dietary changes. Your first step should be a visit to your veterinarian for a professional assessment, diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.

Once your veterinarian has determined that your pet’s mobility issues are normal age-related changes (as opposed to something caused by an injury), you’ll be presented with a range of treatment options depending on the level of severity and other criteria such as breed, weight, medical history and your lifestyle and budget. 

Some of the most common treatment options for senior dog mobility issues include:

Supplements

Many pet joint supplements on the market are human-grade, which means they are produced with higher quality ingredients under more stringent manufacturing controls. These high-quality supplements, like glucosamine, can come from large companies as well as small, so don’t automatically assume that items made by boutique businesses will be inherently superior in their component parts. Always read the labels and the reviews, and do your due diligence with regard to ingredient sources, production facilities and recall notices. Your veterinarian should also be consulted about possible supplement and prescription medication interactions.

Dietary Changes

Every life stage of your dog has different dietary requirements. If you’ve noticed that the same amount of food that you gave your dog when he was 4 years old is causing him to gain weight as an 8 year old, it’s time to think about changing formulas and amounts. Senior dog food may be a great option for you.  Be sure to follow guidelines about suggested formulas and protocols for switching from one type of food to another. 

Lifestyle Modifications

The activity requirements of most pets will start to drop off fairly quickly as they move into late adulthood. If you notice your senior dog limping at the end of your regular one-mile sidewalk loop, try reducing the walk length or move to more yielding surfaces such as grass or firm dirt. You may also have to provide a ramp or sling to help your dog get into the car. Although your dog may still be able to jump on or off the furniture, the strain of launching and landing can take a greater toll on aging joints and ligaments and cause more dog arthritis symptoms down the road. 

SOURCE: How to Treat Mobility Issues in Senior Dogs - FetchFind Blog