| By :
Steve Weber
It's important that canine owners understand the importance of exercising older dogs. In almost every case, a senior dog will develop arthritis to some degree as they age. Exercise can play an important part in how your pet copes with this joint disease over time. First off, let's discuss your dog's weight. As he or she ages, weight gains are almost inevitable. However, it's important to remember that having your dog on the thinner side is far healthier than if they are carrying unneeded pounds. This extra baggage is very stressful to the joints and aggravates their osteoarthritis. Exercise can play an important part in maintaining proper body weight in pets. But, as with some of our older dogs, many of our four legged friends still think they are young puppies even at an advanced age. Our oldest dog is going on 17 now so she is not getting around too well anymore anyway. However, just a few years ago when going on walks and such she was prone to getting too excited with running and jumping around with the other dogs. She would often end up hurting herself and come up limping sometimes for several days afterwards. It's important to moderate your dog's walking routine. Make sure they do not overdo it. All dogs will have their own limits and you will know your's when he or she overdoes it and begins limping afterward. Give your older dog plenty of exercise, but not too much! That is the key. Walking your pet on a regular basis helps keep the muscles toned well. This is important in those animals suffering from arthritis as the toned muscles help keep the bones and joints better supported and thus eliminating some of the pain of dog arthritis. There is no set amount of miles a dog should walk per week. Our 17 year old dog, for example, gets in at least 6 to 9 miles a week still. In her younger days of just a few years ago she would double that amount each week with us. Also, don't forget to include a daily dose of glucosamine supplement for your aging canine. This is probably the single most important supplement one can give their older dog who is suffering the effects of canine arthritis. The glucosamine will help the joints stay properly lubricated with a good layer of cartilage. Health cartilage is vital in the joints to keep the bones from rubbing together causing more severe arthritic symptoms.
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