How to exercise a dog with arthritis

It’s easy to think of arthritis as only affecting older dogs who may be slowing down and need less exercise. But studies suggest as many as two in five dogs under the age of four have arthritis,¹ showing it can impact dogs of any age.

Whatever their age, regular physical activity is still important for their physical, mental and emotional health. That’s why it’s essential to understand how to exercise a dog with arthritis – so they can continue to live longer, happier and healthier lives despite the condition. It just takes some extra planning to make sure you’re helping them feels the benefits while still protecting their joints. 

Is exercise good for dogs with arthritis?

If your dog has arthritis, it might seem like a good idea to limit their physical activity so that the problem doesn’t get any worse – but sometimes physical activity can be beneficial for arthritis. In fact, the right level and type of exercise can help delay some of the impact by benefitting you dog’s overall health in ways that also support their joints – it’s always best to talk to your vet about this. In some cases, regular exercise can help dogs with arthritis by:

• Strengthening their muscles 
• Retaining joint mobility
• Reducing pain and inflammation
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Maintaining good cardiovascular health

 

In addition, it’s also important to remember that exercising a dog with arthritis is still essential for mental stimulation, emotional bonding and general wellbeing, all of which add to their overall quality of life.
 

What exercises are most suitable for dogs with arthritis?

So, it’s safe to say that the correct exercise is good for dogs with arthritis. But not all exercises are equally safe. Higher-impact movements, such as jumping and bouncing, could put unwanted pressure on their joints.

It’s also important to think about your dog’s particular needs, whether that’s professional therapeutic support or simply a little extra planning from you. If in doubt, consult your vet and they’ll help you understand which exercises are most suitable for dogs with arthritis and create an exercise plan that works for yours.

Where to start? Low-impact walks, swimming, stretching and indoor games

All these simple exercises should be suitable for dogs with arthritis because they focus on mobility, consistency and aerobic fitness over high-impact movements.

If your dog’s arthritis is preventing them from enjoying their daily walk outside, controlled walks on a treadmill could help them keep walking, without the speed and terrain changes that could put their joints at risk.

If your dog likes water, exercise in water can also help take the pressure off their joints, whether they’re swimming or walking on an underwater treadmill. This is because the water takes some of their bodyweight, allowing them to keep on moving their limbs without the full impact being felt in their joints.

If your dog doesn’t need this level of therapeutic intervention, you can still try and protect their mobility by encouraging them to stretch regularly and even helping them with some simple, gentle passive range of motion (PROM) exercises. 

Alongside impact level and mobility, it’s also important to pick activities you can easily control. Swapping out fetch in the park for a slower-paced ‘find the treat’ game indoors, for example, can give them the mental and physical stimulation they need without encouraging them to run and jump across long distances. If you’ve found ways to make your home more arthritis-friendly too, it can easily become a safe, supportive and comfortable space for your dog to play in.

Should you still walk a dog with arthritis?

With all the potential benefits that regular exercise brings, it’s clear that you should still walk a dog with arthritis, if you feel they can manage it and your vet agrees. In fact, one study of Labradors with a similar joint-related condition (hip dysplasia) found those who walked more than 60 minutes a day had lower lameness scores than dogs who walked for under 20 minutes.² So, for most dogs with arthritis, sticking to that daily walking schedule could be the best thing for them, even if you need to plan some changes around their condition.

Creating an exercise plan for dogs with arthritis

Dogs with arthritis won’t necessarily associate the pain they feel after any exercise with the activity that caused it. As loyal animals, they’re also unlikely to want to disappoint you if you want to walk further, or faster, than they can physically. That’s why it’s up to us, as responsible, caring owners, to create exercise plans for dogs with arthritis that take their condition into account.

 

Here are five simple steps that can help you create yours. 

1. Choose the right activities

Encouraging your dog to do activities that are lower-impact and easy to control is a safer way for them to get the exercise they need. As we’ve already seen, swimming, treadmill walking and stretching can be helpful therapeutic exercises if they need a little more support. However, most dogs with arthritis should still be able to stick to their existing daily walk routine with some simple changes.

 

2. Choose the right terrain and climate

There’s no hard and fast rule about what level or type of terrain or weather your dog will be able to handle. But it’s important to consider whether a lot of uneven surfaces, obstacles requiring them to jump or too many slopes and hills will leave them feeling tired and sore later on. If in doubt, a walk on flatter, firmer terrain might be a better fit for dogs with arthritis. Likewise, if it’s too hot or too cold outside it may be better to wait for more suitable temperatures before committing to a walk.

 

3. Plan ahead

Dogs with arthritis are still dogs! They’re likely to keep walking and playing until the pain gets too much for them. That’s why we need to plan for them. If you see them start to tire on a walk, it’s a good idea to turn around sooner rather than later. You’ll already have a good idea of how far they can go, so don’t be swayed by the wagging tail and make sure you stick to the right length of walk for their condition.  

 

4. Stay in control

Making sure your exercise plan focuses on ‘controlled’ rather than ‘uncontrolled’ activities can help you avoid making their arthritis any worse. This might mean swapping out some high-impact throwing and fetching with a slower-paced ‘hide and seek’ game, for example. They’ll still get exercise and stimulation, but you won’t be encouraging them to run and bounce after a ball.

 

5. Be consistent

If you’re used to doing short walks on some days and longer ones on others, you might need to adjust your exercise plan to make things more consistent. Whatever activities you choose, consistent, low-impact exercises will be better for your dog’s arthritis than long periods doing nothing followed by a lot of exercise all at once. 
 

Key takeaways

There’s no doubt that doing some form of exercise is good for some dogs with arthritis. But we also need to pick the right activities and impact level to make sure we keep their joints protected. Here’s a simple checklist that can help you decide which exercise and routines are most suitable for your dog.

1. What are our health goals? 
Exercise can have all sorts of benefits for your dog. Deciding what you need to prioritise can help you shape an exercise plan that helps you safely reach those goals.

 

2. What impact level is right for my dog?
Professional therapies or simply shorter walks? Every dog’s needs are different and change over time. Think about how lower-impact, highly consistent and controlled activities could help you meet them.

 

3. Should I still walk a dog with arthritis?
The short answer is ‘yes’, whenever possible. However, you may need to think about adjusting the terrain, length or impact to make sure it’s not putting too much pressure on their joints. It’s best to chat to your vet when making a plan tailored to your dog.

 

4. Have I made an exercise plan?
There’s no reason that you and your dog can’t still enjoy the physical and mental benefits of exercise; it just takes a little extra planning to build a consistent routine that works alongside their condition.