Are you one of those people who treat their pets just like a family member? And, since you’re reading this article, I believe your fur baby has aged now. So, I believe you are trying to explore ways to strengthen an old dog’s hind legs. Yes, just like humans, a dog’s legs weaken too with age and It is painful to watch them suffer helplessly.
Their legs undergo degenerative myelopathy, that causes weakening of their hind legs and the muscles surrounding them. And, if this is not taken care of initially, it might lead to paralysis later.
No! I don’t mean to scare you. Instead, I am here to help you by listing the best ways to strengthen an old dog’s hind legs.
Encourage Walking Via Playful Activities
You must already know that once your dog starts ageing, they tend to become lazier. Consequently, lying at one place for long and avoiding physical activities makes their muscles weaker. So, the best way to strengthen an old dog’s hind legs is by encouraging him/her to walk.
This will not only help him/her physically but will also keep his/her spirits up. For this, you must come up with ideas as per your dog’s likes and dislikes and include playful activities involving small areas. You don’t want them to get overly tired, remember they are ageing.
Call For Diet
Yes, your dog needs a proper diet plan too. Remember that an increase in his/her weight calls for increased laziness and greater efforts to handle the body. Consequently, you might find your buddy lying here and there drowsy.
We understand that food is love and you definitely want to see your pet happy, but that happiness shouldn’t cost them their health. It is advisable to feed them in proper proportions and the right food. It is advisable to consult a vet for a tailor-made diet chart.
Help Him Have A Better Grip
An indirect way to strengthen an old dog’s hind legs is laying out rugs or carpet runners in the areas where he/she often walks. You can also add non-slip stair treads to your hardwood staircases. It will help to strengthen his/her grip by activating the target muscles.
Exercise To Train Muscles
It is essential to get your dog working on his/her hind legs. You can opt for squatting exercises or can make your dog do series of sit-stands. This will help to strengthen the muscles faster. A treadmill is also a choice if you can arrange it. Overall, our prime concern is to activate the target muscles early on so that they don’t go into pain and weaken further over time.
Professional Help In Case of Severity
If your dog is facing severe weakness, you can seek professional help like a pet chiropractor, acupuncturist etc. They are very experienced and can get him back to his near-normal lifestyle.
Final Words
These were some of the best solutions on how you can modify the daily life of your pet so that your aging dog feels stronger. You can opt for any of the ways mentioned above to strengthen an old dog’s hind legs, after taking into consideration the lifestyle of your pet.
