Senior Guidance    
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Senior dogs are so special. You have watched your dog grow from a crazy puppy with tons of energy to a mature adult dog and then all of a sudden you look at them and their face is all gray and they are much slower. You wonder where all that time went. Life seems to be so short and it is no different for your furry four-legged companion. Senior dogs need a little more attention than your mature adult dog. Dogs of all ages need to maintain a good exercise schedule for their age and capabilities but our senior dog needs an extra eye watching over them. Of course take into consideration what is going on with your senior dog. Do they suffer from hip or elbow problems? Do they have hip dysplasia? Do they have spinal problems? Once you fully understand what is going on with your senior dog you will be able to deal with the new daily routine.
But, why is it important for senior dogs to exercise? There are several reasons, and here we present the 3 main ones:
1. Exercise helps senior dogs keep a healthy body weight
Just as in humans, excess weight in senior dogs may bring about several serious health conditions. The excess of weight puts extra stress on older dogs' hearts, and when this organ doesn't function properly, other organs like the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys, will suffer too.
In time, these conditions may become critical, so much that they threaten the lives of senior dogs.
2. Exercise helps delay the manifestation of osteoarthritis in senior dogs
Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the joints, and it may appear in senior dogs, causing them lots of pain and discomfort. If senior dogs are overweight, the excess load over the joints can accelerate the condition.
Moderate exercise can help slow down the degeneration of the joints that have been attacked by osteoarthritis.
3. Exercise helps maintain mental health in senior dogs
As long as senior dogs remain active, the levels of oxygen and nutrients like glucose will remain optimum in the brain. The brain, just as any other organ in the body, needs good nutrition to function at its best.
Senior dogs require lots of special attention and care, and you must know exactly what will benefit them or cause them more harm than good in regards to exercise. Here's what you should and shouldn't do when dealing with senior dog exercise needs:
What you should do
- Talk to the veterinarian about your senior dog's exercise plan. The vet will find out if your pet has a health condition that can be worsened by certain exercises but benefited by others. An exercise routine for senior dogs must be a safe one, with clearly established periods of time and regularity.
- If during the exercise routine, your dog changes its behavior, for example, it gets tired faster, coughs while exercising, or has problems breathing, call the vet immediately.
You will know it better than anyone else when your senior dog is not acting normal; thus, you are the best person to identify a possible serious problem. By detecting and treating it early, you may be saving your best friend's life.
- Be patient with senior dogs. Many will try to keep up with their owners when exercising, since they are unable to identify their limit until it is too late. Slow down to their pace instead.
What you shouldn't do

- Do not allow senior dogs to exercise for long periods of time outside under hot or humid conditions. In a few minutes, they may develop a serious health problem related to this type of weather.
- Do not force senior dogs to exercise. If they look tired or unwilling to move, give them a break.
Exercising with senior dogs can be a lot of fun for you as well as for them; you just have to learn to do it right so that it can be both enjoyable and beneficial for your buddy.
If you are looking for a place with valuable information regarding the care of senior dogs, visit us at SeniorDogs.com, the most complete online source of information about older dogs.
All dogs should maintain a healthy weight and exercise routine. Make sure your senior dog is not overweight because that added weight on aging joints could be quite painful. There are some great senior dog foods out there and also natural supplements that will help to ease the pain and help the fluid in the joints. Make sure you chose a product and food that compliments your dog’s age, size and weight. If you are unsure please consult with your veterinarian.
If you notice your senior dog won’t get into the car, go upstairs, or jump into bed anymore they may be suffering from hip or knee problems. I would help your dog get into the vehicle by using a ramp or lifting them in. Maybe put a dog bed right next to your bed so they can be close to you. Most medium, large and extra-large breeds as they age suffer from a number of issues including but not limited to osteoarthritis, spine and disc problems & being overweight.
Dogs begin to show visible age-related changes at about seven to twelve years of age. There are metabolic, immunologic and body composition changes, too. Some of these are unavoidable. Others can be managed with diet.
1. Since smaller dogs live longer and don't experience age-related changes as early as bigger dogs, size is used to determine when it’s time to feed your canine a senior diet:

Small breeds/dogs weighing less than 20 pounds—7 years of age
Medium breeds/dogs weighing 21 to 50 pounds—7 years of age
Large breeds/dogs weighing 51 to 90 pounds—6 years of age
Giant breeds/dogs weighing 91 pounds or more—5 years of age
2. The main objectives in the feeding an older dog should be to maintain health and optimum body weight, slow or prevent the development of chronic disease, and minimize or improve clinical signs of diseases that may already be present.
3. As a dog ages, health issues may arise, including:
- deterioration of skin and coat
- loss of muscle mass
- more frequent intestinal problems
- arthritis
- obesity
- dental problems
- decreased ability to fight off infection
4. Older dogs have been shown to progressively put on body fat in spite of consuming fewer calories. This change in body composition is inevitable and may be aggravated by either reduced energy expenditure or a change in metabolic rate. Either way, it is important to feed a diet with a lower caloric density to avoid weight gain, but with a normal protein level to help maintain muscle mass.
5. Avoid "senior" diets that have reduced levels of protein. Studies have shown that the protein requirement for older dogs does not decrease with age, and that protein levels do not contribute to the development or progression of renal failure. It is important to feed older dogs diets that contain optimum levels of highly digestible protein to help maintain good muscle mass.
6. Talk to your veterinarian about increasing your senior dogs GLA intake. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that plays a role in the maintenance of healthy skin and coat. Although it is normally produced in a dog's liver, GLA levels may be diminished in older dogs. Does your older dog’s diet contain GLA?
7. Aging can affect a dog’s intestinal bacteria, which can result in symptoms of gastrointestinal disease. Senior diets for dogs should contain FOS (fructooligosaccharides) to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.
8. Antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta-carotene help eliminate free radical particles that can damage body tissues and cause signs of aging. Senior diets for dogs should contain higher levels of these antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants can also increase the effectiveness of the immune system in senior dogs.
9. Routine care for geriatric pets should involve a consistent daily routine and periodic veterinary examination to assess the presence or progress of chronic disease. Stressful situations and abrupt changes in daily routines should be avoided. If a drastic change must be made to an older pet's routine, try to minimize stress and to realize the change in a gradual manner.
Reference: ASPCA

There are many wonderful senior dogs out there for adoption that people seem to overlook because of their age. Senior dogs need to feel the warmth and love of a good family even if for a short time. Some of these dogs end up for adoption because their owner has passed away and nobody else will care for them.

Please visit
Muttville: Rescue, Foster, Adoption, and Hospice for Senior Dogs
Adopt a Senior Pet
Senior Dogs
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