Five ways to help your senior dog

A dog’s senior years can be very challenging, but incredibly rewarding at the same time if they are managed well. As dogs age, so do their bones, ligaments and muscles, and their minds. There are a good many ways to manage the changes that start to show up, and to help your senior dog stay comfortable and moving.

1. Acupuncture and dry needling

Acupuncture and dry needling can help decrease pain, support nervous system function, decrease myofascial trigger points and spasms, and help the body cope with the compensations that come with old age.

2. Shorter, more frequent walks

We need to keep moving, or we stop moving permanently. It is important to keep your senior moving, but it is just as important not to overdo it.

For seniors, shorter and more frequent walks are often a better way to keep them limber without overloading the skeletal and neurological system. If a dog is asked to do more than their body can cope with, things become inflamed, and they can pay for it for up to seventy-two hours afterwards.

If you used to manage one thirty-minute walk, try breaking it into fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen in the evening. If even that proves to be too much, or they are having a bad day, take them to a spot close to home where every dog in the neighborhood stops to pee, and let them sniff around for ten minutes. That is how they stimulate their brain, it is a party with all their friends, without the exertion.

3. Daily massage

Gentle daily massage can help reduce stiffness and improve circulation.

Start at the paws and use gentle sweeping motions towards the heart. Then move to the base of the spine by the tail and massage the muscles along the spine in circular motions. The same technique works on the neck and shoulders.

Keep an eye on how your dog responds. They should be relaxing and enjoying it. If they seem worried or irritated, you may be pressing too hard, or something may be sore. If they keep showing discomfort, it is worth having them looked at by your own veterinarian to rule out an injury.

4. Ramps and pet steps

Use stairs and ramps to help your senior get on and off the bed or the couch, and in and out of the car. Reducing how much they jump can meaningfully reduce the risk of injury, and the aches that follow it.

5. Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care can help reduce aches, pains and inflammation, and improve overall mobility for a senior pet. Using gentle techniques, we can ease discomfort, improve joint motion and alignment, support neurological flow, and help with the muscular compensations that build up over the years.

When to help your senior dog with more than home care

Home care goes a long way, but some changes are worth having looked at rather than managed quietly:

• Struggling to get up, or slipping more than before
• Stopping halfway through walks they used to finish
• Restlessness, panting or pacing at night
• Avoiding stairs, the couch or the car
• Licking at one joint, or a change in how they sit

These are often treatable, and earlier is easier. Our page on why your dog may be slowing down explains what can be behind it and how rehabilitation can help.

Related reading: How do I know if my dog is in pain? · Why does my dog struggle with stairs?

Questions Pet Parents ask

How much exercise does a senior dog need?

Usually less in one go, but still every day. Shorter, more frequent walks keep joints moving without overloading them. Your dog's energy the next day is a good guide to whether you got it right.

Is massage safe for older dogs?

Gentle massage is safe for most senior dogs. Avoid any lumps, wounds or areas that seem sore, and stop if your dog seems uncomfortable. If something is consistently sore, ask your veterinarian.

When should I get my senior dog checked?

If you notice a change in how they move, sleep or behave that lasts more than a few days, it is worth getting them looked at. Many of the changes we put down to age are treatable.