My 9-year-old Lab won't walk. Why is he refusing his evening walks?

I'm sorry Jay is having trouble walking! In a senior lab, common causes of difficulty walking include arthritis, hip dysplasia, and joint problems. My recommendation is to have Jay seen by a vet in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing his difficulty walking, and can discuss treatment with you. He may benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Joshua! Since Joshua is a senior dog I would start with a Vet exam to rule out a medical reason. He could have arthritis, be painful or have neck or back pain. I would also want to be sure his heart is ok and he isn't anemic. Labs can develop larygneal problems as they age making them more heat intolerant and have trouble breathing. Also neurologic hind leg issues are prevalent in older labs. In the meantime I wouldn't walk him far since he is so large. Significantly cut your walks way shorter than where he is now stopping. I wish you and Joshua the best!

Shat a handsome boy! Usually lipomas do not cause pain so they should not be the reason he doesn't want to go outside. He may be painful or was scared by something outside. I recommend putting him on a short leash and having a treat to lure him outside. Take him for a short walk in the backyard only to start, come in and praise him and reward him again. That should help build his confidence and see if its due to anxiety or pain. Some dogs who hurt don't want to walk like they used to due to discomfort. Often they will be stiff rising, want to go, but only go for a short way before stopping. What you are describing does sound like more like anxiety than pain. You can add the supplement Solliquin which is for anxiety or there are other brands of calming supplements sold at PetCo. You may also want to try having a dog he likes come along when you are taking him out since he may want to walk again if he has a relaxed companion going along with him. I haven't found deafness alone to cause these symptoms. I veterinary exam is always a good idea also, and they may want to do a trial of pain medication to see if that helps the situation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Danny.

At his age and size, arthritis is almost certainly a factor. However he could also have a neurologic issue contributing to the walking changes you're seeing. I would recommend a vet visit for a general exam, to make sure more testing of Joe's neurologic system isn't needed, and then to get started on some antiinflammatory and pain medications to get him more comfortable moving around. It's also important to make sure Joe is an ideal weight (if he's not, decrease his food by 10% every month or two until he is) because that helps a lot with arthritis in big dogs as well. Good luck!

There could be many reasons that he has slowed down and doesn't seem as active. It could be related to arthritis, neck/back pain, endocrine disease, infections, kidney/liver disease, parasites, etc. Have a vet take a look at him to help determine the cause. Your vet can run lab-work and take x-rays to help diagnose and treat. He may need an anti-inflammatory and joint supplements to help.

Since he’s still eating this is most likely from pain not an internal organ problem. There is a good chance he over did it and he has arthritis pain. I recommend giving him a gentle massage, and getting him up for several short walks during the day. Once he’s up and moving a little he should feel better. Bring him in Monday for an exam and a senior work up if he hasn’t had one lately. They may do X-rays to check his joints. They can then tell you whether it’s arthritis or a more serious medical problem. There is prescription medication for his pain and he should be back to his old self in a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Milo.

It sounds like Tia is in pain, which what caused her to be subdued and walk slowly. In a senior lab, there are a couple reasons why this is happening to her. She could have arthritis, she could be suffering from hip dysplasia, or she could be suffering from problems with her joints. I recommend taking Tia into the vet first thing in the morning for an exam. The vet can do a lameness exam and x-rays to diagnose what is causing her pain, and can treat her for it. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.