As dogs age, they often become weak – especially in the rear legs. There can be a number of causes of this and it is important to have your dog examined by your veterinarian, but it is often not dissimilar to what occurs in elderly humans.  Sarcopenia is a condition that affects humans and animals alike and is the loss of muscle tissue that occurs as part of the aging process.  Sarcopenia can be prevented and to some extent reversed with regular exercise.

As dogs weaken, they often need assist for activities that they used to be able to do on their own: jump into the car, jump onto the bed, going up or down stairs, and sometimes even getting up from lying down.

There are many assistive devices out in the market to assist dogs and their humans. Harnesses can be a great asset and one harness I particularly like for older dogs is the Ruffwear Web Master Harness.  It is well made, sturdy, and provides a handle on the back for easy assist. The support it provides is also comfortable for the dog.

My dog Scout is sporting her Ruffwear harness in the photo. I use it to help her get into and out of the car as well as to help her get up from lying down when she is on slippery surfaces.

If your aging dog is needing some assistance, I would recommend checking out the Ruffwear Web Master Harness.

I often counsel pet owners on an appropriate body weight for their pets and then devise a plan to achieve that ideal body weight.  Pet obesity was one of the driving forces that led me to make the jump to veterinary medicine.   People often equate food and treats with love.  I mean, who can resist those eyes, that look??

Although it can be difficult to resist, the cost is high in terms of health.  In a landmark study by Purina performed over 14 years looking at the lifetime effect of free-fed versus lean-fed Labrador retrievers, it was found that lean-fed dogs lived 15% longer than free-fed dogs.  That’s 1.8 years longer that you can love your dog!!

The researchers found that the lean-fed dogs not only had a lower body fat content, but also had a delay in loss of lean body mass (read: muscle!) by two years.  Visible signs of aging such as reduced activity and lameness as well as greying muzzles were also delayed.  The age when 50% of the dogs required treatment for a chronic condition was 12 years for the lean-fed dogs, compared to 9.9 years for the free-fed dogs.  Blood levels of triglycerides, triiodothyronine, insulin, and glucose were lower in the lean-fed dogs as well.

Diabetes and osteoarthritis are two diseases that your overweight pet is predisposed to. The good news is that weight loss can actually improve both of these conditions!

So the next time you reach for the treats or extra food and can’t resist those eyes… Consider the long term costs…  and reach for a hug or even better, grab the leash and go for a walk!