We all know exercise is a requirement for happy, healthy pets, but as your furry pal ages, they may develop painful arthritis or degenerative conditions. However, if your pet’s pain is under control, the best thing for them is to participate in daily, low-impact activities. The days may be gone when your pooch could hike tough terrain with you all day, or your cat would impress you with their acrobatic leaps chasing a feather wand, but you can modify your pet’s exercise plan and stick to less strenuous activities. The more a senior pet can move, the more their joints remain lubricated and less stiff and painful. Routine activity will cause synovial joint fluid circulation, decreased inflammation, and increased musculature to help keep limbs and joints strong and healthy. To keep your four-legged friend in tip-top shape throughout their golden years, try the following five low-impact exercises.

#1: Swimming for your senior pet

Although your feline friend may be reluctant to hop in a swimming pool or lake, your dog will likely enjoy this fun activity. Swimming is considered the ultimate low-impact exercise for senior pets, as the water provides buoyancy and removes much of the stress from painful joints. If you don’t have a backyard swimming pool or a lake nearby, search for underwater treadmills at physical rehabilitation facilities. Trained professionals will guide your pet—including your cat—with techniques required for a safe exercise experience, and there’s no risk that your furry pal will head off into the deep end.   

#2: Physical rehabilitation for your senior pet

When visiting the physical rehabilitation center for your pet’s water treadmill session, ask about physical therapy exercises to improve your pet’s muscle mass, circulation, and range of motion. These low-impact exercises provide a great workout with no rigorous activity. Many physical therapy techniques help your pet develop a strong core to maintain balance, and correctly place their feet, both actions which can diminish with age, especially with degenerative conditions. Plus, you can perform some of these exercises at home for daily activities.

#3: Walking for your senior pet

While running is out of the question, walking is a wonderful exercise that your senior pet can still enjoy. However, modify your daily stroll to reduce the impact on stiff or painful joints with the following suggestions:

* Avoid hard surfaces — Hard surfaces, like asphalt and pavement, create a shockwave through your pet’s achy joints with every step. Avoid these hard surfaces and stick to grass, dirt, and sand for more comfortable walking.

* Exercise on soft, uneven surfaces — Mild inclines and slight dips provide additional low-impact exercise, as these uneven surfaces force your pet to maintain their balance.

* Watch for obstacles — When you are out on a trail, look ahead for sharp inclines, boulders, fallen trees, and other obstacles that are too large for your pet to traverse. 

#4: Obedience skills and tricks with your senior pet

Brush up on a lifetime of learned skills and tricks to keep your senior pet active and encourage cognitive function. Although they may not be able to perform leaps and bounds, other skills are well within their limits. One great trick routine for pets with hip dysplasia or arthritis is the sit-stand game. Ask your pet to sit, offer them a tiny treat, take a step back, and then ask your pet to lie down, offering another tiny treat. Continue this process to help keep your pet’s hip joints strong.

#5: Modified games with your senior pet

If your dog’s favorite game is fetching or tugging, you will need to modify this beloved activity. Rather than using a ball launcher to fling a tennis ball across the backyard, lightly toss the ball only a few yards from your pooch. When playing tug of war, control your pet’s activity level by taking frequent breaks when they become too amped up. Change the game by teaching “Drop it” and rewarding your pet for good behavior.

For cats who enjoyed leaping after feather wands and sprinting up climbing towers, choose less-intense exercises. Keep the wand at floor level, rather than waving it in the air. For your cat’s favored lofty resting places, install ramps with a moderate incline instead of the straight up-and-down climb of a scratching post or climbing tower.

As your beloved senior pet grows old and stiff, they may reach a point where their body cannot exercise the same way. Support them with low-impact exercises and turn to our telehospice service when they need additional help.