exercise for 10 yr old dog

Question
Hello-My husband and I are in disagreement regarding how much exercise (walking) our 10 yr old lab mix should get.  Since we got her as a puppy, she has accompanied me on my daily walks-at least 5 miles per day.  Now that she has reached 10, I feel we should cut down her walking just to be on the safe side.  I want to continue to give her exercise of course, but I feel 5-7 miles per day may be too much.  She shows no signs of slowing down, but I don't want to tempt fate.  She is in excellent health and does not show any sign of joint or arthritis issues.  She is always willing to go with but I feel she would probably continue just to please us.  We give her a chewable cherry juice supplement (Hip Flex) to be pro-active (it is for hip and joint flexibility).  What do you recommend as far as the amount of exercise we should give her? Also, I think (3) one mile walks throughout the day would be better than the 3 mile walk we do with her every morning. We want her to be with us forever! Am I being too protective? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Gail,

I don't think you're being overly protective, you're just being a good mom! More important than your dog's chronological age, is how well your dog feels. Use that as a guide for how much exercise your dog should receive.  

At 10 years old, your dog isn't considered to be geriatric, she's mature, or "senior". If it helps, your dog's equivalent in human years is 56-60, depending on her weight.  I don't think you're tempting fate by going on these 5-7 mile walks, exercise is considered to be "the fountain of youth" for dogs. You are correct though, daily frequent short walks are often recommended for older dogs, rather than a single long walk.

Exercise is important for your senior dog for many reasons. First of all, exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight may lead to a number of health problems. It places excess stress on your pet's heart. When the heart doesn't function properly, other organs may suffer including the brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. Over time, these problems may become severe enough to cause life-threatening conditions.

Osteoarthritis is degeneration of joints. This problem may develop during a pet's geriatric years causing pain and discomfort. Excess weight on these joints can speed up the disease. Believe it or not, moderate exercise can help to delay the continued degeneration of joints that are affected with osteoarthritis.

Your dog's mental health may also benefit from exercise. Activity keeps oxygen and other nutrients like glucose (blood sugar) at optimum levels in the brain. The brain is like every other organ in the body in that it requires good nutrition.

You don't need to take my word on this, if you're in doubt, ask your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can let you know if your dog has any health problems that might be exacerbated by some types of activity but not others. Your vet can tell you which exercise is safest for your dog; and be the true deciding factor in the disagreement between you and your husband regarding how long the walks should be.

That said, if your dog doesn't act stiff after returning from the long walks you take her on, or have difficultly getting to her feet after she's been laying down for a while after a walk, then I'd say there's no reason to cut back or change your routine at this time. Keep in mind, I'm not a vet, and I've never seen your dog!

Signs that you need to change your dog's exercise routine would be she's tiring more easily, coughing while exercising or having trouble breathing. Signs of pain might not occur until after she's returned home from being on a long walk. You know your dog better than anyone. Even subtle changes in behavior can indicate a serious problem. You may even prevent a serious problem from developing by early detection and treatment.

It sounds like the supplements you give your dog are doing their job, and she's not ready to slow down just yet. It probably isn't much help, but it sounds like it's a coin flip at this time, since your dog is not acting as though the walks are a problem for her.

Being with you "forever" is a tall order, but you're certainly extending your dog's active years by providing such good care.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti