How to Keep Your Senior Pet Active and Engaged

While they might be slowing down a bit, senior pets still need regular exercise. Maintaining flexibility, mobility, and strength is crucial to long-term wellness, and a daily approach to senior exercise can prevent all sorts of injuries and health problems. Plus, regular low-impact exercises can improve pain levels, increase comfort, and influence longevity. 

Ways to Adjust

There are many different age-related health problems that impact even the healthiest pets. Arthritis is a common condition in senior pets, and can become worse in overweight or obese pets, or those with previous injuries. Certainly, arthritis symptoms can make it harder for pets to move around without pain. But the more arthritic pets do move around, the more their symptoms improve. 

Let’s Get Moving

In addition to the soothing symptoms of arthritis with regular and gentle movement, low-impact exercise has the potential to positively impact senior pet health in these ways:

• Maintains peak functioning of the body’s musculoskeletal system
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Reduces pain
• Prevents injury 
• Keeps weight gain at bay
• Promotes mental health and physical strength

Getting and Staying Motivated

We know how hard it can be to establish a new routine for an aging pet, especially since they are pretty committed to their regular schedule. The best place to start is by assessing their current fitness levels. If they have any limitations or mitigating factors that would make certain movements difficult, take an inventory of these and pivot toward their strengths.

We can help you create the fullest possible picture of their health and ability levels. Please schedule a senior pet wellness exam to discuss the best course of action. Certain veterinary diagnostics can help us understand possible underlying medical conditions that can affect pain and activity levels. A full understanding can develop the best possible senior fitness plan to include any of the following:

• Swimming in safe water
• Gentle walks
• Feeding toys like an activity ball or maze
• Passive range of motion exercises

How to Help Senior Pets

Increase your pet’s grip strength or stability by laying down textured flooring (like yoga mat products), ramps, or traction strips. Trim nails and the hairs between the paw pads. Introduce either new activities slowly, increasing length and frequency over time. If you notice any limping, dragging, lethargy, inability to get up or move, please call us. 

Senior Cats and Dogs

With careful planning and support, aging cats and dogs can continue to enjoy many years with their owners. By establishing new senior pet fitness routines we can promote overall wellness and increase quality of life.

If you have any questions about senior pet health and low-impact exercises, our veterinarians at Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital can be reached at (916) 349-2755.