Dog - weak back legs - building up

Oddjob

Hello, I don't often post on here but was wondering if any of you could help, particularly if there are any vets around.

My old dog is a bit weak on his back legs. When he stands still for any length of time, he starts to sink.
He's on Vetmedin for a heart murmer and has slowed down a lot so has just had tests for underactive thyroid.
The vet says he's not in any pain and he still goes for walks etc. albeit not as far as we used to and at the moment, very slow!!
She just says the muscles are weak in his back legs, due to age.

Is there anything I can do to help build up the muscles, exercises etc? I don't want him going off his legs as apart from this he is generally healthy.

There_Goes_Trouble

Some people find hydrotherapy helpful. You should only use a Canine Hydrotherapy Association registered pool though, and get a referral/health check from your vet first to ensure they consider it suitable, especially considering your dogs other health conditions.

Sally_A

Which breed is he, how old is he,?

If he's a bit tubby, losing weight may help: he'll need less food as he becomes more inactive.

If his legs splay on hard surfaces, as I posted previously, carpet underlay is cheap and effective for making runners (not if your home is picture perfect).

I'm not aware of any exercises to help, as was looking for those when my old boy started getting hip/leg problems.

It's a horrible thing to see, as it's not really an illness, just general wear, tear and degeneration.

Oddjob

TGT - Thanks, I hadn't thought of hydrotherapy, although it would probably be expensive or push the insurance premiums up even more!!

Sally - He's a crossbreed, about 32 kg. He is a little overweight but on a diet and losing it steadily. He doesn't have anywhere near as much food as it says he should have on the pack. The vet recommended 200grm where the pack said 354 grammes. He's not really missing the food much, seems contented on what he gets and as I say, he's losing a bit of weight steadily which the vet is pleased with.
Don't need runners as the house is carpetted except for the kitchen but he has no problems in there.

Sally_A

My old boy was a Lab/Collie X, approx 19kg, so probably got the bad hips from the Lab side, saying that he was also deaf from the Collie side.

Unfortunately, approx 2 years later from noticing leg probs, and at the ripe old age of 16, we had to make the hardest decision ever .

I sincerely wish you and your boy all the best.

Fire_Fox

Going up stairs or hills will put more emphasis on the strength of the back legs, the dog's weight and gravity will effectively be working against it. Going faster (running on soft ground) will tend to increase both strength and endurance. However please run any changes in activity past your vet because anything more intense puts more strain on the joints and heart, this can be a positive or negative stressor depending on the condition of the dog.

There_Goes_Trouble

Hydro can be expensive, but check your insurance because they may pay for some sessions. Mine did, but it was a good few years ago now.

Oddjob

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Going up stairs or hills will put more emphasis on the strength of the back legs, the dog's weight and gravity will effectively be working against it. Going faster (running on soft ground) will tend to increase both strength and endurance. However please run any changes in activity past your vet because anything more intense puts more strain on the joints and heart, this can be a positive or negative stressor depending on the condition of the dog.

He doesn't go upstairs but are you saying that perhaps walking him uphills might strengthen his legs?
The vet is really pleased with his heart at the moment, the Vetmedin has evened out the heart beat and there is no build up of fluid or anything his heart is beating steady and strong.
He's pulled a ligament in one of his back legs around Easter time, its getting better slowly but that has also accounted for him having less exercise, or rather slower exercise.

Fire_Fox

Oddjob you must run anything past your vet, they are the ones with access to your dog's medical notes and specific results. Being pleased with the results is not the same as being fit to bump up the intensity of the 'fitness regime'. The issue with the standing is a failure of strength-endurance: going upstairs or up hills requires more strength because you are pushing your bodyweight against gravity, and endurance because you do so repeatedly. If you want to add speed the best thing is usually interval training, a good slow warm up then faster-slower-faster-slower then a slow cool down. If there is an issue with the thyroid you may find medicating for this improves strength and apparent fitness very quickly. Type of diet is also relevant in muscle mass/ strength/ fitness, protein encourages maintenance of muscle mass during weight loss.

Oddjob

Thank you Fire Fox. We are awaiting the results of the thyroid test to see if that is causing him to be lethargic and lose his coat. I have had a dog with thyroid problems before which were similar, hopefully if the test comes back that he needs medication, he will improve and be less tired and be able to have more exercise. I'm not trying to get him to speed up, as such, just wanting to build up his muscle strength.
We will have to go back to the vets for the results of his tests so will discuss it again.
He's on dried food at the moment, perhaps I should add more meat to his meals for added protein.

Fire_Fox

Oddjob wrote: »

Thank you Fire Fox. We are awaiting the results of the thyroid test to see if that is causing him to be lethargic and lose his coat. I have had a dog with thyroid problems before which were similar, hopefully if the test comes back that he needs medication, he will improve and be less tired and be able to have more exercise. I'm not trying to get him to speed up, as such, just wanting to build up his muscle strength.
We will have to go back to the vets for the results of his tests so will discuss it again.
He's on dried food at the moment, perhaps I should add more meat to his meals for added protein.

You still need to run anything past your vet, what you are proposing is to increase two measures of fitness: strength and endurance which requires higher intensity activity than the present 'fitness regime'.

What about adding in some raw meaty bones such as skinless chicken wings, chicken drumsticks or larger if the dog is large? Slow to eat compared with commercial dog food so keep the dog busy, and a balance of protein and fat to minerals in the bone, also helps keep teeth clean. Some dry foods are decent, others are jam packed with cereals/ grains which behave as sugar in the body so can contribute to weight gain. It's well worth reading the ingredients on the particular food you are using.