For dogs · Guides for older dogs
Slower on walks: what's normal and when to call the vet
Many older dogs slow down on walks. VCA lists “decreased stamina on walks” among the signs of discomfort that people often put down to age, so it is worth a look rather than a shrug.
Call your vet if he
- Limps for more than a day or two.
- Drinks, pees or eats differently from usual.
Mention it at the next visit if he
- Is slow to get up after a rest.
- Hesitates at stairs, the sofa or the car.
- Tires sooner than he used to.
- Is restless at night.
Notes that help
- How far he walks now, compared with a year ago.
- When he slows down: at the start, the middle or the end.
- Whether he's stiff after resting.
Sources: VCA, behaviour changes and pain in ageing dogs · VCA, senior dog care
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