Senior Dog Walking?

[Weily4Life]

Fozzy is 8-1/2 years old. I am wondering what is a reasonable expectation of walk distance.

Our usual route is 6/10 mile. Sometimes we take a 1 mile route. We were walking 2 times daily with an additional walk twice a week before Greta's surgery two weeks ago, if the shorter distance was used. Since Greta's surgery we walk once a day, with twice a week two walks.

Yesterday we took two walks (6/10 mile distance). She usually starts out trotting down the drive with excitement. During the walks, whether it is just one or the two, she is panting (not heavily) and stops more frequently to sniff and explore. This seemed to start a week ago.

Today, we got ready for her walk, seemed enthusiastic when I got the lead and called her to me. But, when we got outside there was not the same enthusiasm of trotting down the drive. Instead she turned to walk on the grass and around the house, peed, and then proceeded on to return to the door.

Also, she has had less interest in roaming around in our yard (5 acres) during potty outings.

So, am I walking her appropriately? Am I expecting too much/not enough?

[Laura]

I have a senior at home and I go at his pace. When I see him slowing down or getting tired I know to turn around and go home. Also she might not be feeling well.

[jazzking1971]

our last rottie at 9-10yrs ran 2-3 miles with my wife at least three days per week until cancer developed in her toe (the dog not my wife).

We discovered the cancer after the her last run when she was out running for less than a few block and my wife stopped because the dog was limping. We didn't do anything with her for several days and then she started walking like she was drunk and would fall over as the texture of the ground would change ie; carpet to tile.

We brought her to the vet and he said there was a tumour pushing up against her spine. Prednisone took the wobble away and the dog wanted to run again. My wife would do short runs 3-5blocks. Shortly after her toe nail fell off and her toe started getting eaten away by the cancer. 6mo after that I put her to sleep. She was 11.

[bliss7373]

Each dog is different. Especially as dogs age, it's important to let them tell you what pace/amount of exercise is appropriate. Equally important - especially if you expect an older dog to endure strenuous exercise like running - is to get frequent check ups at the vet to make sure that hips, elbows, and heart are doing okay. These dogs are so stoic - they will often try their best to please us even when it hurts.

If there is a sudden or fairly rapid decrease in the dog's willingness to walk, I would certainly schedule a check-up with the vet. It can't hurt and could help you diagnose a problem early.

[jazzking1971]

Bliss is right and I should have mentioned that. The running with my previous rottie was something that she'd been doing since she was about 14mo. It just became a habit, the dog was in shape and loved doing it. Your mileage may vary. For us it was easy to tell if there was something up with the dog.

[Elswick]

Fozzy should let you know when too much is too much. Is Fozzy lagging behind when you walk? Is Fozzy limping after the walk or too tired the next day? Walking is important to keep up health but a few miles a day may be asking too much.

[Weily4Life]

I appreciate the responses, she doesn't appear ill or anything, and I have not detected any lumps or anything of that nature. Maybe the two walks on Saturday was too much and she just needed the rest yesterday. It makes absolute sense that I need to be sensitive to her signals.

I am having a little difficulty emotionally right now thinking about her age and wanting to do what is best for her and keep her around as long as possible. I don't want her to become lazy, but I don't want to do her harm either.

This is all new to me. I did not own dogs before Fozzy and Greta, so the senior years is totally foreign territory. She is do for her annual vet visit soon.

[observer]

I know exactly how you feel. I suspect that Missy (who just turned 12) will now do better with shorter walks-- she starts out like gangbusters, but tires sooner than she used to. I know she is arthtritic, but I also know that walking, within their limitations, is good for arthritic dogs. When she was evaluated by a PT and was doing the hydrotherapy, he wanted her walked twice a day. It wasn't and isn't always possible, especially in warm weather.

I'm thinking that two short walks in a day might be better for her than one slightly longer one. I'm just going to pay close attention to how she reacts and go from there. I'd suggest the same approach with Fozzy.

[StephanieandToby]

Toby let me know when he'd had enough. He started taking short-cuts !!

If I knew then what I know now I would have cut his walks shorter about a year earlier. He would have been happy with 3 x 20 minute walks per day.

I have guilt now that I pushed him too far when he was a senior.....

[Weily4Life]

Originally Posted by observer

I know exactly how you feel. I suspect that Missy (who just turned 12) will now do better with shorter walks-- she starts out like gangbusters, but tires sooner than she used to. I know she is arthtritic, but I also know that walking, within their limitations, is good for arthritic dogs.

I'm thinking that two short walks in a day might be better for her than one slightly longer one. I'm just going to pay close attention to how she reacts and go from there. I'd suggest the same approach with Fozzy.

Wow, you sure have Missy a long time. Fozzy has some arthritis so the more frequent short walks sounds like a good approach.

Originally Posted by StephanieandToby

Toby let me know when he'd had enough. He started taking short-cuts !!

If I knew then what I know now I would have cut his walks shorter about a year earlier. He would have been happy with 3 x 20 minute walks per day.

I have guilt now that I pushed him too far when he was a senior.....

Yeah, I have to be sensitive to Fozzy's signals. She is sleeping a lot more these days, and shorter more frequent walks is a good idea.

I can understand the conflict you must feel, but how can we ever know for sure if we are pushing too much when they can't talk...

[observer]

With the seniors, I'd err on the side of when in doubt, do less. It's one thing if you are walking in a neighborhood, where you can do shorter or longer loops around blocks. It's harder if you set out on a more linear route and don't turn back soon enough to keep them from getting really tired.

I actually haven't had Missy all her 12 years.. I got her when she was Fozzy's age!

[hcelsa]

I do agree that every dog is different, and it's most important to do what's best for your dog. That said, it's extremely important for dogs to stay active regardless of age (it's a health thing). My vet friend is convinced that dogs that are mentally and physically active show fewer signs of aging in general, and have stronger immune systems.

I have two dogs that will be 9 in June and they'd drive me nuts without a good workout on a regular basis(generally they herd sheep, work on their obedience, and/or do agility at least 4-5 days out of the week). I also try to get them swimming at least a couple times a month to help maintain flexibility and get a really serious low-impact work-out in (they're both happy to take it easy the day after a good swim). I'd definitely be getting them in for bloodwork if they suddenly didn't feel like going and doing.

How is your girls weight? If she's become a bit more sedentary she may have put on a few pounds and that will definitely affect her exercise tolerance (even an extra pound or two isn't good). If that's the case reducing her food a bit will help get her back in shape and feeling more chipper.

[Weily4Life]

Originally Posted by hcelsa

How is your girls weight? If she's become a bit more sedentary she may have put on a few pounds and that will definitely affect her exercise tolerance (even an extra pound or two isn't good). If that's the case reducing her food a bit will help get her back in shape and feeling more chipper.

We take Fozzy for nail trims at the vet so will weigh her there from time to time.
Last time we weighed her (March 17) she was 104, 21 days prior to that she was 108, (I thougth she was looking a little chunky so wanted to check). I couldn't believe the vet when he said she was okay at 108. She did have a tummy tuck and all the other signs of an ideal weight, but 108 just seemed to be too much. Anyway, I reduced her food quantity a little bit, and like I said earlier, her last weigh in was 104. I want to get her down to 100.

[observer]

She does sound a little heavy. If she's able to lose weight steadily, then her thyroid is probably OK.... but she's at the age where that can switch off seemingly overnight (Missy's did), so if she starts having trouble losing weight, have that checked. In the meantime, more frequent shorter walks should be helpful (and they are good for people, too!)

[CleasMommy]

Originally Posted by Weily4Life

We take Fozzy for nail trims at the vet so will weigh her there from time to time.
Last time we weighed her (March 17) she was 104, 21 days prior to that she was 108, (I thougth she was looking a little chunky so wanted to check). I couldn't believe the vet when he said she was okay at 108. She did have a tummy tuck and all the other signs of an ideal weight, but 108 just seemed to be too much. Anyway, I reduced her food quantity a little bit, and like I said earlier, her last weigh in was 104. I want to get her down to 100.

Hi Weily,

We just had the same thing with my girl, She is from a rescue and we're not too sure of her age. Probably 7-8 years old, well she had seemed to be slowing down and gained some weight. I took her into the Vet and weighed her in Feb before we boarded her for a couple days and she was 108!! I was shocked.
So since then we've been working really hard to get her weight down, more frequent walks and we changed her to a higher quality food and cut back a little bit and I'm happy to report she's back down to 100! I think when we got her 4 years ago she was around 90-95 pounds, so she has a little more room to go, but she's been doing so much better.
As her "mom" it did make me feel awful that I had let her gain the weight. So I'm going to make sure we keep her healthy and do everything we can for our new pup too, to keep him growing at a good rate and to be as healthy as possible.

Katie

p.s. I do just have to say that this forum has been a life saver, and is teaching me so much!