My senior Bernese Mountain Dog: how to keep her healthy and active?

Yes keep up with daily moderate exercise. As Lucy ages the length of the walks and exercise may decrease but should still be done at least twice daily. Many people stop exercising their dogs as they age. This results in muscle loss, and increased joint instability causing pain and arthritis. When you maintain the muscle mass it helps support the joints and keeps the tendons and ligaments strong. Dogs with arthritis actually have less discomfort when they are up and moving. So keep up the regular exercise and listen to Lucy and don’t push her when she’s had enough. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lucy.

Poor Olivia. As they age it can be so difficult as their internal organs are functioning perfectly but their bodies are developing arthirits which can be crippling. I would start her on some joint supplements if you haven't already. I like dasuquin and flexadin. You can actually do both as long as your seaparate each one by 12 hours so you would give dasuquin in the AM and flexadin in the PM. If she has trouble slipping on slick floors I would consider buying some Dr. Buzby's toegrips to help with traction. You can also start her on an omega-3 fatty acid to help with her joints. I would also talk to your vet about an anti-inflammatory to help with pain and inflammation if needed. You don't have to give her this daily but just on the days that she is having a tough time. Although, if every day is tough, then don't hesitate to give it. Finally, I would consider getting her some acupuncture as this can really help relieve pain if you can find one in your area. The goal with geriatrics is to give the a good QUALITY of life over quantity so focus on her pain relief and her mobility to see if you can help her feel better. I hope this helps !

We can always help our four-legged friends age as gracefully as possible by staying on top of their wellness care. This includes regular visits to the veterinarian for physical exams and blood tests, as well as staying active and healthy at home. Keep your dog at a healthy body weight. Overweight dogs have additional strain placed on their joints, which can exacerbate existing arthritis, and are at a higher risk for developing diabetes or heart disease. Feed your dog a high quality diet and avoid offering too many treats or table foods since these can quickly pack on the pounds. A general guideline is that treats should represent less than 10% of your dog’s total food volume. Routine veterinary care is also critical for picking up on small problems before they become larger concerns. Although age is not a disease, our aging dogs are more prone to developing a variety of health conditions. Once your dog reaches “senior” status, it is recommended to increase the frequency of visits to the veterinarian from once a year to every 6 months. For an average-sized dog, this happens at 7 years of age, but for giant breeds like Great Danes and Newfoundlands, this occurs early, at 5 – 6 years of age. During this time, your veterinarian will be able to perform a full physical exam and routine blood tests to assess overall health of the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, mouth, and joints.

Sticking with the current diet, or seeing if there is a weight loss diet from the same brand can help in calorie reduction. You can also speak with your vet about if a prescription weight loss diet is needed at this time. As with any increase in exercise, you will want to start gradually, especially if Angel has any health issues such as arthritis. Starting with a quick walk just around the block, and then gradually increasing over time (to two blocks, or ten minute walks, etc) can help build muscle and strength without overtaxing the body. As with any change in routine or diet, it is always a good idea to schedule a wellness check with your vet first. They can rule out any health issues that may cause problems that you need to watch out for, and can also work with you on tracking weight loss progress over time.

That's a good question. What I find is as long as Bailey wants to go and isn't sore or lame afterwards then let him go. I do recommend limiting jumping and severe rough housing with other dogs as those things are more likely to promote an injury. Keeping senior dogs fit and lean reduces the development and pain of arthritis. When they have strong muscles they support the joints and activity keeps the joints lubricated. Please listen to Bailey and as he ages he will not want to go as long and as far. I still want you to keep him active but don't push him, let him decide on his activity level. Having a day of rest between strenuous days is also helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bailey.

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. Peanut is very handsome! The most common thing that happens as large breed dogs age is arthritis so I would just put him on a good all around supplement that contains joint supplements in it. I love this supplement by Missing Link. http://www.allivet.com/p-1647-missing-link-vet-canine-plus.aspx Some signs he may have arthritis are: * having a hard time getting up from a down position * not jumping up on the couch, bed, etc like he normally does (if he does that) * slowing down on walks (like he doesn't seem like he can go as far as he used to) Even if he is not showing signs of arthritis I would put him on a joint supplement. The other thing I would recommend is yearly blood testing with your vet to check his organ function. Declining organ function is not something you can see from the outside just by looking at your dog. Usually by the time you do see something abnormal it is often too late to do anything about it. It is better to test yearly so you can catch things early. Peanut looks to be in great shape! You are doing a great job! Hope this answers your questions. Please post again if you have more question. Best wishes.

Yes you are correct a harness will help you assist her as needed. I recommend a Help me Up harness. These are well made and although costly are worth every penny. I like that you are keeping her up and walking to maintain her muscles. I prefer several short walks and often just around your yard or close by so if she's too tired to keep going you are close to home. If she's not on arthritis pain medication adding some may improve her mobility and comfort. As for the cognitive dysfunction I use Neutricks a supplement that I find effective. If Elie is overweight losing a few pounds will help also. In addition to walks she may be more interested in life if you work on teaching tricks for treats, doing obedience like heeling, sitting and downs and playing with toys or balls to keep her engaged. Having a senior dog is a blessing so make the most of your time together. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Elie.