Exercise and older dogs

[snooksbc]

I have adopted a 12 yr old rottie that is in pretty good health. He has some arthritis (sp) so he limps quite a bit early in the day and you can tell it takes him longer to get up than it used to. My question has to do with his exercise. At least once a week we take him to the doggie beach where he loves to swim/wade and play fetch. He has such a good time there but we don't let him stay too long because I am scared it will tire him out too much. It is very plain to see that after 1/2 hr he has had enough and all he wants to do for the rest of the days is sleep. If this was your dog, would you continue letting him do his thing or would you stop. My hubby says we shouldn't take him anymore because it is too hard on him. I say let him go for it. He's an old man and if thats what he wants then let him. Neither one of us are really experienced dog owners, we just happen to love them.:)
Thanks
Bev

[Miabella]

First of all, let me thank and congratulate you for adopting this old man. You are truly an angel for making his last years so happy, and you will be rewarded in turn. :)

While my Rottie is only 4 years old, she has hip dysplasia and other orthopedic problems that make her exercise situation similar to your dog's. It is very easy for her to overdo it while playing or running and then pay for it with pain and discomfort later. So we play a balancing act between her being able to live a full, active lifestyle and remaining pain-free. That means that you have to learn what your dog's limits are. It might mean that 30 minutes of playing on the beach leaves him sore and uncomfortable the next day, but if he just get 20 minutes of romping he is no worse for the wear. But keep taking him to the beach, to the park, to visit friends-- in short, take him everywhere! Make your time with him as fulfilling as possible, just learn what the right amount of activity is. :)

[Miabella]

I just wanted to add that swimming is great low-impact exercise for dogs with joint pain. And if he just seems tired but not in pain, there is nothing wrong with that.

[Carina43]

I agree with Miabella - I've had several older dogs, and *some* exercise is best for arthritis - my vet agrees. My current old lady can make it a half mile at most, and I encourage her to get up even if it's just a short walk around the front yard...I think a combination of at least a little exercise, acupuncture/meds and lots of love are enabling her to live quite a long time. (A raw diet might be helping too - she looks remarkably better than most older dogs, overall.)

I find if I give her a couple of coated aspirin along with her supplements, after about an hour it kicks in and she almost trots!
Aspirin in moderation helps - check with your vet, because it can also thin blood and you want to be aware of any side effects with your old guy. I've also had her on Rimadyl off & on for the last year. It's a controversial medication, but at her advanced age (14 or 15) something else will surely kill her before liver damage does, and her bloodwork in January indicated she was healthy & functioning well, given her age. At her age I'm prepared to do anything reasonable to keep her comfortable.

I also have not had her vaccinated for three years, or on heartworm meds for the last two years. My last vet and my current one agree this makes sense for a geriatric pet.

[Judi W]

The difference between and old dog and a youngster is that the old dog recognizes when they've done enough and quits to rest. Youngsters, even though they might have physical problems, have minds and hearts that over-ride their body's capabilities. I have always allowed my old dogs (I've had several Rottweilers make it to 13 or more) decide for themselves.

[roadweed]

These outings sound really fun.
I really believe that stuff like this is very important for a dogs mental well being, and helps the bonding process as well. Have you ever gone on a long hike or some other physical activity and been a little sore and tired, but still had a great time and glad you did it? I think that's how it is with Luke probably. I took my old guy on outings up until a few day before he passed. Granted, they were not always long but he always enjoyed them. Towards the end we would drive to Cambell creek and walk along the creek(so he could drink when he was thirsty) until he wanted to stop, then I would set up my lawn chair I was carrying and we would stay for hours sometimes listening to the wind rustle the leaves and watching the bugs, water, and occasional passer by. I also think that regular exercise will slow down the arthritis. It sounds to me like you are giving this elderly guy a wonderful home! :)

[Liz]

Some older dogs don't recognize when they've had enough. Janni is 11 years old, and if someone forgets to put away the boomer ball, she'll play with it till she tips over - which doesn't take long as her rear end is going. She loves her walks and would literally walk till she dropped if I didn't limit distance and watch her breathing. She also gets it into her head sometimes that she's young enough to play the chest butting games with her children :)

I try to keep her exercise to 10-15 minute stretches 3-4 times a day, not enough to wipe her out for the whole day, but enough to keep her happy and satisfied for a few hours. If she does get the boomer ball, I let her have a couple swipes at it, then put it away - she was always horribly obsessive about that thing <g> If this is a once a week outing, I'm sure it's just fine for him - Janni still goes to training occasionally and that wipes her out for the day, but she loves it.

Liz