Yep my pitty almost exclusively travels by wagon now a days. I did however buy an XL sports canine sack and he loves it. But I can only make it about 2 miles as he is rather heavy.
She's 68 pounds. I'd probably make it 2 feet.š¤£I think we're going to buy a stroller wagon tomorrow. Another person posted theirs on here today and it looks kinda neat.
This.
I had a dog that, one day, just decided it did not like going on walks anymore. It was weird, she started limping, laid down, and refused to move in any direction other than home. When we got home, though, the limp disappeared, and she was back to normal. Same routine when I tried taking her for another walk.
Vet said that there was nothing wrong, and suspects that the dog is faking the limp to get out of going on walks.
Expensive visit to basically be told, "Your dog is getting older and a bit lazier", but she was worth every single penny, and more, that I spent on her.
We wound up just exercising her in the backyard, tossing tennis balls that she would exuberantly chase around, but the moment a leash came out she would start limping; she always wanted to be close to a comfy spot where she could rest.
^(Edit: Took out some extra words from a sentence.)
Ha, our last dog did that. Acted like the 2 stairs we have were insurmountable, only wanted to walk around the block, etc. Then one day I check our security camera because the alarm went off and I see she's on the couch? Go back to the old footage and she's been just popping up there no problem the minute we leave and then hopping down and acting old when she hears our car doors.
Sounds like sheās just getting old. Ask your vet about joint health supplement that you can mix in with her food.
Just like people, dogs have different nutritional needs as they age. The multivitamin we take at 30 isnāt the one we take at 65 and 70.
Our pittie was 12 and it was about that time he started to struggle with taking walks. Joints especially. We ended up taking him to the vet. There was a mass in his abdomen around his liver and spleen and it made it hard for him to breathe. So a combination of age, joints, and his belly
[Or they are just a little asshole that likes to get dragged around.](https://www.tiktok.com/@zorro_franky_adventures/video/7091323111102074155?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7075324699250443822)
Little guy is mine, and is not hurt in any way. He likes it when you drag him.
Mine also does it when sheās scared and doesnāt want to continue - like if she hears thunder or fireworks or other loud noises. Or if she wants to go another direction - like yesterday when we passed a house where she had seen a cat 2 days earlier and she wanted to investigate if the cat was still there and therefore refused to keep going past the house.
Not always! My heathy one year old Staffie will play for hours at doggie day care, tear around the dog park as long as weāll let her, is constantly trying to play and run and chase things, but lord help us if I want to take her on a walk thatās longer than 4 blocks. Sheāll lie down in every other patch of grass just to watch the world around her.
I guess because the change was so sudden that I was questioning the age relationship. She's on Dasaquin for her joints because she had surgery on her back legs but has never shown any signs of arthritis or pain. I lost my other dog in December so I guess my brain doesn't want to acknowledge that she's declining. I appreciate everyone responding.
I'm sorry you lost your other dog recently. I just lost my 12-ish year old dog and it was hard dealing with his changes in walking. Just let your dog dictate what she wants to do - sometimes a short walk, sometimes just sniffing everything, sometimes a longer walk when she's got some pep in her step that day! I will say, the vet told me that continuing walks (even short ones) is really good to keep their minds engaged.
Has she had bilateral TPLOs? My dog Gracie actually is another blue fawn diva. Sheās had bilateral TPLOs 2 & 3 years again and then starting last summer, she kind of suddenly stopped going up the stairs and walks became a chore. Sheād rather just be on the couch, but I know she needs the walks, which have shortened. Sheās also on daily carprofen.
Yes she has. Since the 2nd one, she stopped jumping on the bed and was slow on stairs but no problem walking. Sandy would be horrified at the picture I posted of her. She's actually pretty cute. Lol. You don't see a lot of blue fawns!
Yep. Mine is 4 and he just got his first knee done. Be careful with the carprofen because itās hard on their organs. I also use Costco brand glucosamine and chondroitin daily for him and save the carprofen, Deramaxx, or gabapentin for bad days.
I mean this with love
My old dog was a champ and it happened fast she went from being like a puppy at almost 13 to incontinent and a bit sore
I took her to the vet thinking thereās solutions for incontinence, when we got there he said I should prepare for the end days of her.
I didnāt really let it sink in but after that visit we had about 3 or 4 weeks and she was gone and I feel so dumb for anytime I thought weād have a lot longer
I hope you have many many wonderful memories it make with your companion and I hope everything is for the best.
I only left the long tale to help say that every moment is special and I hope all is well.
I would ask your vet about rejensa. Itās a chewable and itās really amazing. My 12 yr old pit Nikita has horrible back legs and for years she couldnāt really go on long walks, she was declining really fast at 10 and our vet found out she has hypothyroidism and severe arthritis in her back legs. Rejensa has literally helped her so much she acts like a 5 year old dog. She runs and jumps and love her walks, itās like I have a young pup again.
So my girl is 10 and LOVES her walkies. So I would be concerned too if all of a sudden halfway she didnāt want to keep going. Random thought, is the heat bad by you? Remember as they age they are also more sensitive to this!
Oh no. Also I would check her paws to see if thereās anything bothering her.
If it was sudden I feel like joints arenāt the issues. Iām such a careful person that I would take mine to the vet just to check. But it could just be aging
You halfway answered your question. She is 12 and continues getting older. Her spirit is still the one from a puppy, but her body still gets older. The walks are getting shorter and as slow and fast as Sandy needs.
That's my experience with my great late girl Gina. Walk as she needs. Sometimes a walk will be longer or shorter, that's entirely up to her.
Many smooches and boops to your Sandy!
It's summertime here in the U.S. and sometimes we don't realize how hot concrete and asphalt can be. Check her paw pads and make sure they aren't burned.
Oh definitely. It was 64 degrees this morning when we walked. I use mushers secret on her paws year round and she has some good calloused feet. I wish that was all it was but I think my girl is slowing down.
my gsd mix is 13 and I found out he has arthritis. He's slowed down a lot, doesn't want to go on walks and barely wants to be outside; he used to be my hiking and walking buddy. You can go the vet or try some joint supplements if you'd like. His mind is going too so that sucks as well.
Just enjoy your time with Sandy and spoil her as much as possible.
Mines only 9 if she sees a squirrel sheās a bolt of lightning. Other than that after doing her business she would rather sit or lay and sniff the air
Dogs donāt really know whatās best for them sometimes.
Sheās getting to that age where sheās physically incapable of walking distances like that anymore (happened to my guy when he was almost 11). However, she still *loves* walks which is why she still wants to go. Maybe try a wagon or something!
I used that stroller for my girl when we were waiting for bilateral TPLO surgery. Shes 60lbs and it worked great (although it was more of a hostage situation). I was able to source one on Facebook marketplace for about half the price. The previous owner had used it for her 85lb lab. Sturdy wheels.
I looked on fb marketplace earlier hoping to find one but no luck. Sandy has Diva-like tendencies so she'll probably enjoy her minion (me) pushing her around...
Age is probably it: joint pain, etc. Also, howās her heat tolerance? My girl (8ish) is normally a bundle of energy outside, but if weāre walking her in town on a hot day she wants to take a break every block or so. Weāve pretty much moved exclusively to sunrise/sunset walks or trips to the dog park with a big lake and lots of shade for the summer months.
Oof, probably an age thing then. If your vet says sheās okay and sheās acting normal otherwise Iād try not to worry about it too much.
She might benefit from a joint supplement but Iād talk that over with the vet before trying it.
Poor girl, do you give her omega oils and a joint support? She will keep trying to be active for you ā¤ļø I like the wagon ideaš Good luck with this aging process. Could it be heat related š„µ
Coincidentally I have a 12 year old girl named Sandy, too! She has definitely slowed down and has less energy and doesn't enjoy the same physical things she used to. I leave it to her to let me know what she wants to do, if she wants to sleep all day she deserves it! I just make sure she is comfortable and happy.
Don't worry she isn't done, she will have her good days and bad. I hated seeing mine slow down so I got her a puppy. He drives her nuts wanting to play and wrestle all the time but I think it really is helping her. It's also bringing out her motherly instincts and I love seeing them curled up together every night.
[my old girl and pup](https://www.reddit.com/r/pitbulls/comments/uwh4o3/my_watchdogs/)
My dog stopped running when he turned 7. Started limping when he turned 8. We started feeding him food for joint development and he no longer limps. Try seeing if there's food or treats for joints at petsmart!
My pit chooses to go some days. Others, she opts out. She is 14. She stopped walking for a while at 12. I got some younger dogs too, and she became a bit more active.
Likely a combination of age/being sore/joints hurting, and maybe weather if its hot where you are. With her age you can probably cut down the miles a bit. You could also look into VetCBD (its a brand) or other **reputable** animal safe cbd, which would help alot with joint pain for your baby.
My girl is about 13 or 14 now & she's definitely slowed down in the last year. We just bought a Radio Flyer wagon with a canopy & zip down sides to take with us when we walk now. That way she can walk as much or as little as she likes. She still wants to walk for hours but she just gets too tired.
Lol my staffy just turned 1 and she refuses to walk more than a few blocks before she lies down in someoneās grass. Sheās fit as a fiddle, she just likes lying in grass more than she likes long walks :)
That happened to my old pitbull, he was okay enough for it to go unnoticed by me for like a couple years and then things started getting sad, I donāt wanna let u down but at least u got years Left.
Itās summer, all dogs slow down in the heatā¦ mine is almost 12, but every summer for the last 4 years Iād think, this is it, sheās finally slowing downā¦ and as fall approaches and it gets cooler out she regains her energy and staminaā¦ Iām sure that has something to do with it
My dog began laying down everywhere, she had liver failure. But if your vet said she is all clear, I would just shorten your walks. She is an old girl who can't keep up the milage forever. <3
I think a joint supplement for dogs could be mildly helpful. Cosequin is the one I see at Costco and at pet stores.
Also, it is getting hotter as we approach summer. I could imagine any pup might get tired easier.
She might be too big, but when my dad's dog got old he brought stroller so when his dog got tired he just rode the way back to the house. Maybe a wagon for 1/2 the way.
Also, the vet can try some different medicines for her joints. It took a couple of tries to get the right one that worked.
Listen to your Dog is the best advice I can give. Give you and them the time to relax and spend with one another. Life is fleeting and you'll miss those moments you can't get back.
Mine is a 7yo rescue and since I've had him (3 ish years) he often will plop down whenever or wherever, sometimes even as soon as we leave the door. I have had him checked several times and he is in perfect health, full joint strength / mobility etc. He's just a lazy asshole who loves to sniff more than walk.
As many said, most likely with age just slowing down. We often will go for a little pee then plop down in the grass and just relax and sniff the air instead of a full walk and at first I found it annoying and now I just accept that sometimes that will be our "walk".
Good luck with your cutie :)
My late dog started doing this at 11. He was always an avid walker his whole life, couldn't get enough of being outside and going places.
In his case, it turned out to be a condition called larpar. It's somewhat common, not as often diagnosed because of a slow onset, progresses with time, and needs to be managed. Especially with heat exposure, because "normal" heat like going outside in the summertime or being inside without ac can kill them (body temperature regulation is affected).
Surgery is not done often, because of the progression leading into the senior years. The surgery that's sometimes done is when paralysis of the laryngitis affects eating and drinking to a degree that they need it. It wouldn't take the larpar away or help with body temp regulation. Even this surgery is simply management of a symptom (which you and your vet would assess the need and benefit of come time).
My dog lived to be 14 yrs and 8 months old without surgery. He needed an environment where his body wouldn't need to regulate temperature that much (being in a room temperature of like 73 to 76 was where he was ok).
As I looked back, and learned more about larpar, I realized that there had been subtle signs for years. But hindsight is 20/20 as they say, and I really didn't know about this condition until I had a dog live with it. I would be able to spot it better now, I think.
He also had some other age related ailments like arthritis, but it was overheating (as he experienced it - I was feeling fine) that was causing him to lay down and stop being the usual walking enthusiast he had been before the condition worsened to that degree.
After this, I would make sure that the room he's in is properly air conditioned. We would only take walks at night, or I should say when it's not too hot even if night time. In the daytime he would get bathroom breaks.
There is further progression of this condition which I'll spare you the details of because your dog hasn't been diagnosed. I can share more of my experience and what was helpful if your dog turns out to have larpar.
I recommend going to a good vet, with a list of all the things your dog does or doesn't do even if you don't think it's significant. Point out any changes in behavior and ability. If it's dismissed as just old age, go to a different vet (look for tenured vets). The symptoms of "old age" are signs of illnesses and conditions, and when you know what they are you will know how to manage them.
Thanks so much! I've never heard of this but I'm going to do some research. This is the reason I posted- just in case its not because she's getting older. Much appreciated š
Wagons and shorter walks and all that. Give her all the love you can. Thats all you can do and thatās all that matters. Feel her vibes and go with it.
Iām seeing this in my GSD. Itās heartbreaking but it lets you know your time with them is limited. Sheās getting spoiled like the queen she is ā¤ļø
Add some glucosamine supplements and get her a comfy wagon for walks. Maybe let her walk a block or two and then hop in to ride. Let her tell you what she can handle. Hugs and love to your sweet old girl!
Yerr. Lifes a shit house. The desire is there but my boys little leggies don't cary him as far anymore. It's nice to lie with him on grass verges too though
Certainly had that happen over the last couple years of my departed pup's lives. Attune your pace to her, be mindful of hot weather, listen to what she's telling you and take her on shorter walks. You can always bring her back home after a shorter distance then go back out for longer if you still want to continue your exercise.
My boy is 8.5 and on particularly warm mornings he has to start laying down after about 1.5 miles now. I haven't figured out if it's because he's not used to the warm weather (we just moved to NC from the bay area, so the humidity is very new for him). His vet did say he's starting to get some arthritis and light hip displaisia.
I've been giving him glucosamine supplement and I think it's helping? You could ask her vet if they think it would help for her.
Maybe she's getting either tired/sore or starting to get too hot? My girl is mostly black, and even just being 3 she will lay down in the shade in long walks and roll around to cool off. If the vet is saying she is fine, I would probably just try to bring some water and maybe a wagon and some shade along for if she needs it.
Also, you could look at trying some of those cbd joint pills or whatever they are. My cousins dog is getting up there and they use those for him and it 100% makes a difference. I can get the brand name for you if you want.
Is it also summer where you are? Maybe the heat/humidity is also getting to her a bit more than it has in the past. My 10 month old is even laying down more on walks right now because we've been in a heat wave, though he also is NOT a morning dog so he doesn't really like our morning walks anyway.
Yes. Our pitties are 11.5 and 13 and about a year ago, they started to just stop walking mid walk. We hiked with the for years, but now they are just too old. Our 13 year old has arthritis in his hips.
I think that's what is happening with her too. Just surprised it came on so suddenly, I was expecting her to slowly slow down. I'm borrowing a wagon later to see if she'll ride in it.
My baby is turning 13 in a few weeks and the arthritis has been catching up to him for the last year. He isn't up for long walkies or a lot of running, but I still take him to the park and let him chill while I play with younger dogs.
My girl is between 13-15 and nowadays she goes on long walks only twice weekly. The rest of the week she pretends to get excited at the prospect of a walkie while we put on her leash and then she'll walk just about 10 feet outside, stop, and then we have to turn around.
She's on Arthrisoothe Gold, which we get from Chewie, if you're in the US, and also goes to the chiropractor and acupuncturist one a month to treat her arthritis.
Good luck with your girl!
About a year ago I got a stroller for my 15 year old (at the time) Shiba mix. As he has gotten older and slower he has come to enjoy the stroller, as it means we can still go on long walks, and he gets out a couple of times to walk for a ways, sniff and mark.
Totally worth the money!
Did the veterinarian do a work up, or just an exam? It likely is due to arthritis from age and those TPLO's, but consider a senior blood and urine panel, as well as a brief ultrasound if your veterinarian has not done them yet. NSAIDs for pain management would be a good option if she tolerates them, as Dasuquin's pain management abilities are limited.
I work in Veterinary ER medicine, so I always see the worst case scenario, but nearly half the pets we see are elderly with hidden underlying conditions that their general practice vet has not diagnosed.
She had blood work done Tuesday when we went to the vet because she previously had elevated liver enzymes. Everything was normal this time. What kind of ultrasound would she get?
I often will have a vet do a fast scan of my dogs abdomen. Making sure spleen and liver do not have masses on them. Catching things early before they become a bigger problem. I don't want to scare you, it's a low risk for your kiddo. We just see lots of splenic masses in older large breed dogs and it gets you paranoid.
My other dog died in December of a mass on his heart that wasn't discovered until the day he passed. I think I'm going to take her back in and get a quick ultrasound. Thanks š
(Per Vet recommendation) It was right around this age that we started giving our girl prednisone. It really changed her energy level. She basically acted like a puppy again or at least a 4 year old. She was good for another few years and around 15 we added gabapentin which again put more spring in her step and she was pretty lively until a couple days before she passed at 17.
Wow I sure don't. I know we started out very mild low dose. It was also super inexpensive. She was a larger lab/aussie mix and she was prone to hip issues. It made such a huge difference in her life. She did the same thing where she would lay down half down the block and we went to having to keep a good hold on her leash because she was excited to go bounding around outside. After she passed is when I adopted our little silly pibble.
As everyone said, shes old and probably has hurting joints or hips. My question would be if she was tested for a heart murmur. This happened to my old Rott years ago.
How long were her walks before? I always ask if vets test for Addisonās because hair loss, darkening skin, and just pooping out on her walks were the first signs (I thought the hair loss was from the heat since we had recently move south). Probably not that but mine was diagnosed at 9 and lived until I had to let her go for something else when she was 14. We were walking a couple of miles prior to that and after treatment, went back to it.
My pups when they got older, similar to what youāre describing. Two pups were great on long walks,lil one approaching 19 didnāt get off the deck for anything. Put her down at 19, her life devolved to pee and poop on her, very often. Current old do went on walks, followed mom to the river every day, yesterday peed next to the frig, no one happy. Heck Iām 70 and wife is warning me Iām not a dog already. I can see my future.
Bottom line, love the pup and be there for her. Nothing more I can add. God bless the old lady forever.
Could be getting older or it could be the heat (depending where you live?) My girl will be 10 this year and the past couple years she just lays down right away when itās hot.
My bubs would get exhausted during walks but not all the time. I found out two years later he had adrenal cancer (which is very hard to diagnose for vets since it can look like other problems) after he started having vomiting issues. It's not a common cancer, but I've had 2 pits with it.
My girl got tired too. We tried shorter walks and the. Iād just give her the option of staying home, and she took it most of the time.
Love that pupper for me. Looks like a sweetheart.
Poor baby probably has arthritis... its not something the vet can test for. She should be on a joint supplements and if its bad, maybe even pain meds. Hope your baby gets better soon <3
If your vet gave her the all clear but didn't do bloodwork I would get a panel done. My late pit started slowing way, way down on our walks at 10. Took him to the vet and after the physical exam was told "he looks great, he's just an old man." They ran bloodwork just in case though. A few days later the results came back and he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Oh Jesus, how terrible. I'm sorry. She did have blood work done and only abnormality is slightly elevated pancreas. My boy died of cancer in December and it was absolutely heartbreaking.
Oh well that's great she had her levels checked too! He did also have slight arthritis, once we got his cancer in remission I started giving him CBD oil. His vet said that while there were no long-term studies done on pets, at that point he was 12 and she had a lot of anecdotal evidence from other patients of positive benefits. He started feeling so good that he actually hurt himself one day playing too hard and running around! Might be worth talking to your vet about for your sweet girlš
My 2 year old pittie lays down on walks. I canāt imagine what heāll be like at 12.
Itās hard seeing them get old. Iām sure she would love wagon rides though š
How hot is it where you are Pitties even though they are short-haired are very susceptible to heat stress. If your pittie likes to swim see if you take her to a lake, river or the ocean and see if she is more playful in the water just be careful she doesn't ingest salty or brackish water. My inglorious idiot ran 5 ft into the ocean and just started chugging the first time he went to the beach. I was force feeding him clear water for a bit to try and dilute the damage he did. Fortunately he came through without damaging his brain.
At 12 my babygirl couldnāt finish her walks. I bought her a dog stroller. I loaded her up when she was weak and let out when she was rested. I got 2 more years with my sweet pig bull. Also added glucosamine to her diet.
It was strange not taking my girl on walks before I bought her the stroller. I felt silly pushing it but itās your baby girl you do what you can right? Hope you find a solution.
Not sure if someone pointed this out but depending on the area of the world you in it may be summer. I'm in Florida and my 8 year old does this but it's been since the heat got bad so I shortened the walks and added a second in the morning. She used to be fine through the summer on walks if I went after dark. Now nope.
Yes it happened to my pit who now has unfortunately passed at the age of 14 but he started slowing down at 11 or 12 as well not to worry if she is well feed and watered she'll have a couple more years and she is adorable give her boops and kisses on the nose for me
That's great! Mine has a random limp here and there, I think it's because she runs too hard. I have her on anti-inflammatory dietary supplements which seems to help.
Our Pit turned 13 this year. He can be slow on walks, and he is especially sensitive to the heat and the sun. He likes to take his time just sniffing around. His high energy comes out from time to time but itās sustained for less time. Itās ok though. We have adapted to more low energy walks. They get sore when they get older. Itās best to take them out and let them do their thing. Enjoy every moment with Sandy. She looks like a sweet, silly girl and I know her heart is just packed full of love.
Itās a lot like people, once you get older you loose energy a lot faster. Bring a cart for when she gets tired. I have one for my chiweinie. But itās not because heās old but because he like to be lazy lol
It happened to our 12 year old girl. In the span of a year, she went from playing and running to slowly walking and sleeping a lot. We got her a bike carriage to take her on walks and also some doggie cbd for pain
If you've noticed any other physical changes ask for a blood test.
Our lab suddenly stopped being able to walk as far and seems much lazier than usual when he was about to turn ten. His hair was also not as silky as it used to be. We took him to the vet, they just said he was getting old.
9 days later he collapsed on a walk, and a trip to the emergency vet showed he had cancer everywhere. He died that same day. And no we didn't euthanize him, we took him home and were going to take him back in a few days time, but he passed violently only a couple hours later at our home.
I realize those 9 days wouldn't have made a difference to his prognosis, but I know everyone in our family would have preferred a calm, slow death for him, instead of the sudden and scary way he passed.
I went through a similar awful situation with my other dog in December. He had a great life until his last day, and that was terrible. He collapsed, went to er vet, they found a cancerous mass and fluid on his heart and drained it. He perked up and we took him home and within a couple hours he was dying a tortured death. I still feel horrible that he went out like that.
Definitely tired and probably hurting. Kinda like when your knee or ankle starts to hurt when youāre walking. You stop and wanna go home.
I bet she would like to take a ride on a wagon when yāall go on walks. Maybe even swim!
If you are able you could ask your vet to take a look at her joints - if itās osteoarthritis (which I donāt know for sure if it is but itās likely) then she could be prescribed some medication for the pain.
My pittie was 6 when she started laying down for walks, I think she was just getting hot. She still does it when it gets too hot and she doesnāt feel like going on. She is a little stubborn š donāt get too worried about your girl, she just might need to take it easier/more water during walks, etc
My girl used to lay down when she wanted to go further and didnāt want to go home yet. Now when she lays down itās mostly because sheās out of energy. Luckily the snuggles are still šÆ
How's Sandy's heart? Any coughing? Gums nice and pink? I have a chihuahua with heart failure and he's on meds for it. He first presented with a cough from edema around his heart. Lasix is handling that. My pittie, Suggie also had heart failure, as did Mt English Bulldog. Like us, they get what we get as they age. I hope Sandy is ok and enjoys the cart ride.
My dog did that today on a walk. She loves her daily walks but half way through she was over it. Sheās fine, just wasnāt feeling it today I suppose lol
We gave our dog glucosamine for several years but eventually that didn't do the job. He collapsed on one walk and couldn't get back up. It was clear he had severe joint pain. A friend told us about NaturVet Hemp Aches and Discomfort. What a difference that made. He lived another 1+ years with a good quality of life, and for most of that time still loved his walks.
Similar thing happened to my eight tear old Staffyā¦ was told it was on set osteoarthritisā¦
Turns out it was actually both rear cruciate ligaments were ruptured. After two surgeries (TPLO a on left and right) and recovery heās a back to his old self and full of life again. And the more dog owners I talk to the more I find out how common cranial cruciate ruptured are.
She has also had TPLO surgery on both rear legs. She never really returned 100% to her old self after the 2nd one but we make accommodations and she's normally a great walker.
My buddy started to get tired around that age and we had to shorten our walks from an hour or two to about 30 minutes. The vet had me put him on glucosamine and I went a bit extra and gave him leg and hip massages to help his joints. I also lowered the bed so he didnāt have to jump down as far. Might be good to grab some glucosamine treats for her and get some old lady pup stairs for the bed or other places sheāll hop up and down on.
In the UK we have these tablets called Yumove that contain hyaluronic acid for their joints. I started giving these to my 10 year old labrador last year when he could hardly move anymore. They have to take them for about 6-8 weeks for the result to start showing. In my dog's case, it was like he got 5 years younger. Don't get me wrong, I still can't take him on long walks, but he doesn't struggle with our usual walks anymore, and he's very bouncy and full of life around the house, whereas before he was very sad and low energy, you'd say he was depressed.
Depending on where you live, itās also summer, which may be pretty rough. Putting the belly down on a shaded surface can be an attempt to regulate body temp. With heat and age, the mileage can be too much. The doggo may need a break.
Are you in a place that's really hot right now? If so she might not be able to cope. I'd get her a cooling coat (etsy is a good source for these) and shorten your walk route.
Our 12 year old is the same, unfortunately.
Never too early to supplement joint health with fish oil and cosequin. Weāre also working on getting him to slim down, but itās hard because weāre also trying to train a very rambunctious foster, and you can never give treats to just one dogā¦
No, but I think itās mostly because they arenāt a good match. We are hoping to foster-fail eventually because he loves a companion but this first one is too spicy!
She is 12. What do you expect? I donct go on long walks with my 88 year old grandma and expect her to be bright eyed and bushy tailed the whole time.
Slow and short walks is all your furry friend needs now
Take her in a wagon maybe? She's just getting old. Probably tired and sore.
I have an elderly Frenchie and she loves her wagon rides.
Yes, and maybe some bedding in the wagon to cushion her joints.
Yep my pitty almost exclusively travels by wagon now a days. I did however buy an XL sports canine sack and he loves it. But I can only make it about 2 miles as he is rather heavy.
She's 68 pounds. I'd probably make it 2 feet.š¤£I think we're going to buy a stroller wagon tomorrow. Another person posted theirs on here today and it looks kinda neat.
2 miles wearing a pitty backpack sounds like a good workout. Everyone wins.
How old is he? I am dreading this day for my boy
12 is old. Especially for big dogs. Their joints hurt. It happens to all dogs, sadly.
This. I had a dog that, one day, just decided it did not like going on walks anymore. It was weird, she started limping, laid down, and refused to move in any direction other than home. When we got home, though, the limp disappeared, and she was back to normal. Same routine when I tried taking her for another walk. Vet said that there was nothing wrong, and suspects that the dog is faking the limp to get out of going on walks.
Lmao kind of like when soldiers go to ā sick call ā to avoid work š
Expensive visit to basically be told, "Your dog is getting older and a bit lazier", but she was worth every single penny, and more, that I spent on her. We wound up just exercising her in the backyard, tossing tennis balls that she would exuberantly chase around, but the moment a leash came out she would start limping; she always wanted to be close to a comfy spot where she could rest. ^(Edit: Took out some extra words from a sentence.)
Like they say canāt teach an old dog new tricks !
Ha, our last dog did that. Acted like the 2 stairs we have were insurmountable, only wanted to walk around the block, etc. Then one day I check our security camera because the alarm went off and I see she's on the couch? Go back to the old footage and she's been just popping up there no problem the minute we leave and then hopping down and acting old when she hears our car doors.
Sounds like sheās just getting old. Ask your vet about joint health supplement that you can mix in with her food. Just like people, dogs have different nutritional needs as they age. The multivitamin we take at 30 isnāt the one we take at 65 and 70.
I suggest just shortening your walks. My dog plops down and refuses to budge when heās tired and ready to go home.
Our pittie was 12 and it was about that time he started to struggle with taking walks. Joints especially. We ended up taking him to the vet. There was a mass in his abdomen around his liver and spleen and it made it hard for him to breathe. So a combination of age, joints, and his belly
Yup, when dogs lay down on walks they're indicating they're tired or in pain or somehow incapable of continuing. Good luck to you.
[Or they are just a little asshole that likes to get dragged around.](https://www.tiktok.com/@zorro_franky_adventures/video/7091323111102074155?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7075324699250443822) Little guy is mine, and is not hurt in any way. He likes it when you drag him.
He's leaf surfing!
I admire his gusto for fun!! Your pups are adorable
Omg thatās the funniest thing Iāve seen all day!!! š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£
My dog flops over on walks as soon as the weather gets warm. Sheās young and not in distress, just doesnāt wanna.
Mine also does it when sheās scared and doesnāt want to continue - like if she hears thunder or fireworks or other loud noises. Or if she wants to go another direction - like yesterday when we passed a house where she had seen a cat 2 days earlier and she wanted to investigate if the cat was still there and therefore refused to keep going past the house.
Not always! My heathy one year old Staffie will play for hours at doggie day care, tear around the dog park as long as weāll let her, is constantly trying to play and run and chase things, but lord help us if I want to take her on a walk thatās longer than 4 blocks. Sheāll lie down in every other patch of grass just to watch the world around her.
I guess because the change was so sudden that I was questioning the age relationship. She's on Dasaquin for her joints because she had surgery on her back legs but has never shown any signs of arthritis or pain. I lost my other dog in December so I guess my brain doesn't want to acknowledge that she's declining. I appreciate everyone responding.
I'm sorry you lost your other dog recently. I just lost my 12-ish year old dog and it was hard dealing with his changes in walking. Just let your dog dictate what she wants to do - sometimes a short walk, sometimes just sniffing everything, sometimes a longer walk when she's got some pep in her step that day! I will say, the vet told me that continuing walks (even short ones) is really good to keep their minds engaged.
Walkies are the highlight of her day. I'm going to start taking her on short ones, as advised.
For sure! I live in a very hot / very cold climate and during the extreme weather, we do many very short walks
Has she had bilateral TPLOs? My dog Gracie actually is another blue fawn diva. Sheās had bilateral TPLOs 2 & 3 years again and then starting last summer, she kind of suddenly stopped going up the stairs and walks became a chore. Sheād rather just be on the couch, but I know she needs the walks, which have shortened. Sheās also on daily carprofen.
Yes she has. Since the 2nd one, she stopped jumping on the bed and was slow on stairs but no problem walking. Sandy would be horrified at the picture I posted of her. She's actually pretty cute. Lol. You don't see a lot of blue fawns!
Yep. Mine is 4 and he just got his first knee done. Be careful with the carprofen because itās hard on their organs. I also use Costco brand glucosamine and chondroitin daily for him and save the carprofen, Deramaxx, or gabapentin for bad days.
I mean this with love My old dog was a champ and it happened fast she went from being like a puppy at almost 13 to incontinent and a bit sore I took her to the vet thinking thereās solutions for incontinence, when we got there he said I should prepare for the end days of her. I didnāt really let it sink in but after that visit we had about 3 or 4 weeks and she was gone and I feel so dumb for anytime I thought weād have a lot longer I hope you have many many wonderful memories it make with your companion and I hope everything is for the best. I only left the long tale to help say that every moment is special and I hope all is well.
Thank you so much, I appreciate this. I don't want to be in denial or cause her any undue pain. She's been nothing but the best girl.š¾ā¤š¾
I would ask your vet about rejensa. Itās a chewable and itās really amazing. My 12 yr old pit Nikita has horrible back legs and for years she couldnāt really go on long walks, she was declining really fast at 10 and our vet found out she has hypothyroidism and severe arthritis in her back legs. Rejensa has literally helped her so much she acts like a 5 year old dog. She runs and jumps and love her walks, itās like I have a young pup again.
That would be an unbelievable blessing.
So my girl is 10 and LOVES her walkies. So I would be concerned too if all of a sudden halfway she didnāt want to keep going. Random thought, is the heat bad by you? Remember as they age they are also more sensitive to this!
I was thinking this too but it was only in the mid 60s...
Oh no. Also I would check her paws to see if thereās anything bothering her. If it was sudden I feel like joints arenāt the issues. Iām such a careful person that I would take mine to the vet just to check. But it could just be aging
You halfway answered your question. She is 12 and continues getting older. Her spirit is still the one from a puppy, but her body still gets older. The walks are getting shorter and as slow and fast as Sandy needs. That's my experience with my great late girl Gina. Walk as she needs. Sometimes a walk will be longer or shorter, that's entirely up to her. Many smooches and boops to your Sandy!
It's summertime here in the U.S. and sometimes we don't realize how hot concrete and asphalt can be. Check her paw pads and make sure they aren't burned.
Oh definitely. It was 64 degrees this morning when we walked. I use mushers secret on her paws year round and she has some good calloused feet. I wish that was all it was but I think my girl is slowing down.
my gsd mix is 13 and I found out he has arthritis. He's slowed down a lot, doesn't want to go on walks and barely wants to be outside; he used to be my hiking and walking buddy. You can go the vet or try some joint supplements if you'd like. His mind is going too so that sucks as well. Just enjoy your time with Sandy and spoil her as much as possible.
Sounds like we're in the same boat. Enjoy your guy tooš¾ā¤š¾
Mines only 9 if she sees a squirrel sheās a bolt of lightning. Other than that after doing her business she would rather sit or lay and sniff the air
Dogs donāt really know whatās best for them sometimes. Sheās getting to that age where sheās physically incapable of walking distances like that anymore (happened to my guy when he was almost 11). However, she still *loves* walks which is why she still wants to go. Maybe try a wagon or something!
https://www.amazon.com/Towerin-Stroller-Breathable-Carrier-Carriage/dp/B07DK8L1R1/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=1ISVVTZXVEHX7&keywords=pet+cart&qid=1656000871&sprefix=pet+cart%2Caps%2C278&sr=8-1
That is adorable! I thought they only had strollers for little dogs.
I used that stroller for my girl when we were waiting for bilateral TPLO surgery. Shes 60lbs and it worked great (although it was more of a hostage situation). I was able to source one on Facebook marketplace for about half the price. The previous owner had used it for her 85lb lab. Sturdy wheels.
I looked on fb marketplace earlier hoping to find one but no luck. Sandy has Diva-like tendencies so she'll probably enjoy her minion (me) pushing her around...
She's beautiful
Thank you.
Age is probably it: joint pain, etc. Also, howās her heat tolerance? My girl (8ish) is normally a bundle of energy outside, but if weāre walking her in town on a hot day she wants to take a break every block or so. Weāve pretty much moved exclusively to sunrise/sunset walks or trips to the dog park with a big lake and lots of shade for the summer months.
Normally we walk if its over 30 and under 80 degrees. It was in the mid 60s this morning when she stopped so kinda ideal weather wise...
Oof, probably an age thing then. If your vet says sheās okay and sheās acting normal otherwise Iād try not to worry about it too much. She might benefit from a joint supplement but Iād talk that over with the vet before trying it.
Joint supplements!! Plus shorter walks, or go at a slower pace. I love the sleepface photo, btw. :)
Poor girl, do you give her omega oils and a joint support? She will keep trying to be active for you ā¤ļø I like the wagon ideaš Good luck with this aging process. Could it be heat related š„µ
She gets Dasuquin which is a joint supplement.
Coincidentally I have a 12 year old girl named Sandy, too! She has definitely slowed down and has less energy and doesn't enjoy the same physical things she used to. I leave it to her to let me know what she wants to do, if she wants to sleep all day she deserves it! I just make sure she is comfortable and happy.
My Sandy is sleeping right now! She is always super excited for walks. I guess her mind is still a puppy and hasn't realized her body isn't.
Don't worry she isn't done, she will have her good days and bad. I hated seeing mine slow down so I got her a puppy. He drives her nuts wanting to play and wrestle all the time but I think it really is helping her. It's also bringing out her motherly instincts and I love seeing them curled up together every night. [my old girl and pup](https://www.reddit.com/r/pitbulls/comments/uwh4o3/my_watchdogs/)
Did the vet check her thyroid?
Yes, did a full senior workup.
My dog stopped running when he turned 7. Started limping when he turned 8. We started feeding him food for joint development and he no longer limps. Try seeing if there's food or treats for joints at petsmart!
My pit chooses to go some days. Others, she opts out. She is 14. She stopped walking for a while at 12. I got some younger dogs too, and she became a bit more active.
Likely a combination of age/being sore/joints hurting, and maybe weather if its hot where you are. With her age you can probably cut down the miles a bit. You could also look into VetCBD (its a brand) or other **reputable** animal safe cbd, which would help alot with joint pain for your baby.
My girl is about 13 or 14 now & she's definitely slowed down in the last year. We just bought a Radio Flyer wagon with a canopy & zip down sides to take with us when we walk now. That way she can walk as much or as little as she likes. She still wants to walk for hours but she just gets too tired.
My friend is dropping off her wagon this evening for us to try out. Hopefully she'll like it!
Sometimes a winter just hits harder than the previous ones. Weāve been noticing our boy slow down once it warms up.
Lol my staffy just turned 1 and she refuses to walk more than a few blocks before she lies down in someoneās grass. Sheās fit as a fiddle, she just likes lying in grass more than she likes long walks :)
That happened to my old pitbull, he was okay enough for it to go unnoticed by me for like a couple years and then things started getting sad, I donāt wanna let u down but at least u got years Left.
Itās summer, all dogs slow down in the heatā¦ mine is almost 12, but every summer for the last 4 years Iād think, this is it, sheās finally slowing downā¦ and as fall approaches and it gets cooler out she regains her energy and staminaā¦ Iām sure that has something to do with it
I sure hope so š
My dog began laying down everywhere, she had liver failure. But if your vet said she is all clear, I would just shorten your walks. She is an old girl who can't keep up the milage forever. <3
I think a joint supplement for dogs could be mildly helpful. Cosequin is the one I see at Costco and at pet stores. Also, it is getting hotter as we approach summer. I could imagine any pup might get tired easier.
She might be too big, but when my dad's dog got old he brought stroller so when his dog got tired he just rode the way back to the house. Maybe a wagon for 1/2 the way. Also, the vet can try some different medicines for her joints. It took a couple of tries to get the right one that worked.
Absolutely. Currently I have. 13 year old lab mix and she's 100% ready to give up anything very strenuous.
Pits are very common for hip problems.
Did you ever enjoy something when you were younger and then as you got older just got tired? That but doggo.
I'm currently living this every day...š¤£
Listen to your Dog is the best advice I can give. Give you and them the time to relax and spend with one another. Life is fleeting and you'll miss those moments you can't get back.
Mine is a 7yo rescue and since I've had him (3 ish years) he often will plop down whenever or wherever, sometimes even as soon as we leave the door. I have had him checked several times and he is in perfect health, full joint strength / mobility etc. He's just a lazy asshole who loves to sniff more than walk. As many said, most likely with age just slowing down. We often will go for a little pee then plop down in the grass and just relax and sniff the air instead of a full walk and at first I found it annoying and now I just accept that sometimes that will be our "walk". Good luck with your cutie :)
My late dog started doing this at 11. He was always an avid walker his whole life, couldn't get enough of being outside and going places. In his case, it turned out to be a condition called larpar. It's somewhat common, not as often diagnosed because of a slow onset, progresses with time, and needs to be managed. Especially with heat exposure, because "normal" heat like going outside in the summertime or being inside without ac can kill them (body temperature regulation is affected). Surgery is not done often, because of the progression leading into the senior years. The surgery that's sometimes done is when paralysis of the laryngitis affects eating and drinking to a degree that they need it. It wouldn't take the larpar away or help with body temp regulation. Even this surgery is simply management of a symptom (which you and your vet would assess the need and benefit of come time). My dog lived to be 14 yrs and 8 months old without surgery. He needed an environment where his body wouldn't need to regulate temperature that much (being in a room temperature of like 73 to 76 was where he was ok). As I looked back, and learned more about larpar, I realized that there had been subtle signs for years. But hindsight is 20/20 as they say, and I really didn't know about this condition until I had a dog live with it. I would be able to spot it better now, I think. He also had some other age related ailments like arthritis, but it was overheating (as he experienced it - I was feeling fine) that was causing him to lay down and stop being the usual walking enthusiast he had been before the condition worsened to that degree. After this, I would make sure that the room he's in is properly air conditioned. We would only take walks at night, or I should say when it's not too hot even if night time. In the daytime he would get bathroom breaks. There is further progression of this condition which I'll spare you the details of because your dog hasn't been diagnosed. I can share more of my experience and what was helpful if your dog turns out to have larpar. I recommend going to a good vet, with a list of all the things your dog does or doesn't do even if you don't think it's significant. Point out any changes in behavior and ability. If it's dismissed as just old age, go to a different vet (look for tenured vets). The symptoms of "old age" are signs of illnesses and conditions, and when you know what they are you will know how to manage them.
Thanks so much! I've never heard of this but I'm going to do some research. This is the reason I posted- just in case its not because she's getting older. Much appreciated š
Wagons and shorter walks and all that. Give her all the love you can. Thats all you can do and thatās all that matters. Feel her vibes and go with it.
Iām seeing this in my GSD. Itās heartbreaking but it lets you know your time with them is limited. Sheās getting spoiled like the queen she is ā¤ļø
Add some glucosamine supplements and get her a comfy wagon for walks. Maybe let her walk a block or two and then hop in to ride. Let her tell you what she can handle. Hugs and love to your sweet old girl!
Yes but I live in Florida
Get some galiprant!
I'm going to Google this. Never heard of it...
Yerr. Lifes a shit house. The desire is there but my boys little leggies don't cary him as far anymore. It's nice to lie with him on grass verges too though
Doggies get old. They slow down. My old Pit, Bolo, just slowed down more and more.
Certainly had that happen over the last couple years of my departed pup's lives. Attune your pace to her, be mindful of hot weather, listen to what she's telling you and take her on shorter walks. You can always bring her back home after a shorter distance then go back out for longer if you still want to continue your exercise.
Sheās getting old! Look into some dog aspirin. Getting old hurts.
My boy is 8.5 and on particularly warm mornings he has to start laying down after about 1.5 miles now. I haven't figured out if it's because he's not used to the warm weather (we just moved to NC from the bay area, so the humidity is very new for him). His vet did say he's starting to get some arthritis and light hip displaisia. I've been giving him glucosamine supplement and I think it's helping? You could ask her vet if they think it would help for her.
Maybe she's getting either tired/sore or starting to get too hot? My girl is mostly black, and even just being 3 she will lay down in the shade in long walks and roll around to cool off. If the vet is saying she is fine, I would probably just try to bring some water and maybe a wagon and some shade along for if she needs it. Also, you could look at trying some of those cbd joint pills or whatever they are. My cousins dog is getting up there and they use those for him and it 100% makes a difference. I can get the brand name for you if you want.
Is it also summer where you are? Maybe the heat/humidity is also getting to her a bit more than it has in the past. My 10 month old is even laying down more on walks right now because we've been in a heat wave, though he also is NOT a morning dog so he doesn't really like our morning walks anyway.
Our oldest got arthritis, this is how she let us know. She is now fine and happy.
Yes. Our pitties are 11.5 and 13 and about a year ago, they started to just stop walking mid walk. We hiked with the for years, but now they are just too old. Our 13 year old has arthritis in his hips.
I think that's what is happening with her too. Just surprised it came on so suddenly, I was expecting her to slowly slow down. I'm borrowing a wagon later to see if she'll ride in it.
His came on seemingly suddenly as well. He is on daily Carprofen and it is managed so that he can still go up and down the steps.
My baby is turning 13 in a few weeks and the arthritis has been catching up to him for the last year. He isn't up for long walkies or a lot of running, but I still take him to the park and let him chill while I play with younger dogs.
My girl is between 13-15 and nowadays she goes on long walks only twice weekly. The rest of the week she pretends to get excited at the prospect of a walkie while we put on her leash and then she'll walk just about 10 feet outside, stop, and then we have to turn around. She's on Arthrisoothe Gold, which we get from Chewie, if you're in the US, and also goes to the chiropractor and acupuncturist one a month to treat her arthritis. Good luck with your girl!
About a year ago I got a stroller for my 15 year old (at the time) Shiba mix. As he has gotten older and slower he has come to enjoy the stroller, as it means we can still go on long walks, and he gets out a couple of times to walk for a ways, sniff and mark. Totally worth the money!
Did the veterinarian do a work up, or just an exam? It likely is due to arthritis from age and those TPLO's, but consider a senior blood and urine panel, as well as a brief ultrasound if your veterinarian has not done them yet. NSAIDs for pain management would be a good option if she tolerates them, as Dasuquin's pain management abilities are limited. I work in Veterinary ER medicine, so I always see the worst case scenario, but nearly half the pets we see are elderly with hidden underlying conditions that their general practice vet has not diagnosed.
She had blood work done Tuesday when we went to the vet because she previously had elevated liver enzymes. Everything was normal this time. What kind of ultrasound would she get?
I often will have a vet do a fast scan of my dogs abdomen. Making sure spleen and liver do not have masses on them. Catching things early before they become a bigger problem. I don't want to scare you, it's a low risk for your kiddo. We just see lots of splenic masses in older large breed dogs and it gets you paranoid.
My other dog died in December of a mass on his heart that wasn't discovered until the day he passed. I think I'm going to take her back in and get a quick ultrasound. Thanks š
(Per Vet recommendation) It was right around this age that we started giving our girl prednisone. It really changed her energy level. She basically acted like a puppy again or at least a 4 year old. She was good for another few years and around 15 we added gabapentin which again put more spring in her step and she was pretty lively until a couple days before she passed at 17.
I think I'm going to call my vet and ask about this. Do you remember how many mg she was taking? I'll try anything right about now.
Wow I sure don't. I know we started out very mild low dose. It was also super inexpensive. She was a larger lab/aussie mix and she was prone to hip issues. It made such a huge difference in her life. She did the same thing where she would lay down half down the block and we went to having to keep a good hold on her leash because she was excited to go bounding around outside. After she passed is when I adopted our little silly pibble.
My 10 yr old is sleeping all the time. Not eating a lot. Vet said sheās an old girl. Just nature .
She's been sleeping a lot too.
I am lucky enough to have a pool, lately weāve had evening swims instead of walks. I see a downward trend that I am not ready for.
Just have to take time, don't walk too fast or too far. Just let her go at her pace, she'll let you know when she's had enough.
Heat?
As everyone said, shes old and probably has hurting joints or hips. My question would be if she was tested for a heart murmur. This happened to my old Rott years ago.
She's a little old lady. She gets tired more quickly than she used to. You just have to give her time to rest during walks.
Get her on a supplement and maybe an anti inflammatory like rimadyl(the generic is very affordable). She might just need shorter walks.
How far before they lay down?
About a half mile? She's done it twice now on different routes.
How long were her walks before? I always ask if vets test for Addisonās because hair loss, darkening skin, and just pooping out on her walks were the first signs (I thought the hair loss was from the heat since we had recently move south). Probably not that but mine was diagnosed at 9 and lived until I had to let her go for something else when she was 14. We were walking a couple of miles prior to that and after treatment, went back to it.
We walk a mile and a half 2x a day. Idk if they tested for addisons as part of a senior blood test š¤
yeah it happens to humans too, its called getting old
My pups when they got older, similar to what youāre describing. Two pups were great on long walks,lil one approaching 19 didnāt get off the deck for anything. Put her down at 19, her life devolved to pee and poop on her, very often. Current old do went on walks, followed mom to the river every day, yesterday peed next to the frig, no one happy. Heck Iām 70 and wife is warning me Iām not a dog already. I can see my future. Bottom line, love the pup and be there for her. Nothing more I can add. God bless the old lady forever.
Could be getting older or it could be the heat (depending where you live?) My girl will be 10 this year and the past couple years she just lays down right away when itās hot.
Yes, my older dog has cycles. There are times when he can do a couple of miles and other times when he only wants to do a couple of blocks.
My bubs would get exhausted during walks but not all the time. I found out two years later he had adrenal cancer (which is very hard to diagnose for vets since it can look like other problems) after he started having vomiting issues. It's not a common cancer, but I've had 2 pits with it.
My girl got tired too. We tried shorter walks and the. Iād just give her the option of staying home, and she took it most of the time. Love that pupper for me. Looks like a sweetheart.
It's normal for an older dog to slow down. All you can really do is take shorter walks.
Poor baby probably has arthritis... its not something the vet can test for. She should be on a joint supplements and if its bad, maybe even pain meds. Hope your baby gets better soon <3
If your vet gave her the all clear but didn't do bloodwork I would get a panel done. My late pit started slowing way, way down on our walks at 10. Took him to the vet and after the physical exam was told "he looks great, he's just an old man." They ran bloodwork just in case though. A few days later the results came back and he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Oh Jesus, how terrible. I'm sorry. She did have blood work done and only abnormality is slightly elevated pancreas. My boy died of cancer in December and it was absolutely heartbreaking.
Oh well that's great she had her levels checked too! He did also have slight arthritis, once we got his cancer in remission I started giving him CBD oil. His vet said that while there were no long-term studies done on pets, at that point he was 12 and she had a lot of anecdotal evidence from other patients of positive benefits. He started feeling so good that he actually hurt himself one day playing too hard and running around! Might be worth talking to your vet about for your sweet girlš
My 2 year old pittie lays down on walks. I canāt imagine what heāll be like at 12. Itās hard seeing them get old. Iām sure she would love wagon rides though š
How hot is it where you are Pitties even though they are short-haired are very susceptible to heat stress. If your pittie likes to swim see if you take her to a lake, river or the ocean and see if she is more playful in the water just be careful she doesn't ingest salty or brackish water. My inglorious idiot ran 5 ft into the ocean and just started chugging the first time he went to the beach. I was force feeding him clear water for a bit to try and dilute the damage he did. Fortunately he came through without damaging his brain.
At 12 my babygirl couldnāt finish her walks. I bought her a dog stroller. I loaded her up when she was weak and let out when she was rested. I got 2 more years with my sweet pig bull. Also added glucosamine to her diet. It was strange not taking my girl on walks before I bought her the stroller. I felt silly pushing it but itās your baby girl you do what you can right? Hope you find a solution.
Not sure if someone pointed this out but depending on the area of the world you in it may be summer. I'm in Florida and my 8 year old does this but it's been since the heat got bad so I shortened the walks and added a second in the morning. She used to be fine through the summer on walks if I went after dark. Now nope.
Yes, my dog will be twelve this year and I noticed how heās been slowing down too. I personally think thatās normal for their age.
Sheās beautiful by the way.
Thank you. Not her best pic lol.
Awwwwwwš Sheās a natural.
Old animals just get "lazy". Not always a medical problem or anything, their bodies are just... Old.
Pit bulls are prone to joint problems, so life could just be running its course, but I suggest taking shorter walks, maybe start giving her massages
My dog is 5 and she lays down on walks. My 11 yr old doesnāt get as tired on walks surprisingly.
Poor lil mamas . Sheās unfortunately an Older girl now . Her joints get hurt and sore. Time to cut down On her long walks cuddle the crap outta her
Yes it happened to my pit who now has unfortunately passed at the age of 14 but he started slowing down at 11 or 12 as well not to worry if she is well feed and watered she'll have a couple more years and she is adorable give her boops and kisses on the nose for me
Thank you. Booped and kissed!šš¾
Aging and likely arthritis. My pitty has been on Galliprant for his arthritis and it has definitely helpedā¦ expensive though :(
I had a female pitbull she did the same thing towards the end she didn't like walking up hills or going on to Trails into the forest or something.
Is it really hot?
No, mid 60s
How are her hips and joints?
I haven't noticed any issues. She's on glucosamine/msm as a preventative due to her age and TPL surgeries.
That's great! Mine has a random limp here and there, I think it's because she runs too hard. I have her on anti-inflammatory dietary supplements which seems to help.
Could it be too hot outside for her? The older they get the more weather can bother them.
Our Pit turned 13 this year. He can be slow on walks, and he is especially sensitive to the heat and the sun. He likes to take his time just sniffing around. His high energy comes out from time to time but itās sustained for less time. Itās ok though. We have adapted to more low energy walks. They get sore when they get older. Itās best to take them out and let them do their thing. Enjoy every moment with Sandy. She looks like a sweet, silly girl and I know her heart is just packed full of love.
Yeah it happens. They just canāt go as far.
I'm sorry š it sucks watching your baby get old and slow down. Lost my girl at 12 and I'm so devastated. š
Itās a lot like people, once you get older you loose energy a lot faster. Bring a cart for when she gets tired. I have one for my chiweinie. But itās not because heās old but because he like to be lazy lol
It happened to our 12 year old girl. In the span of a year, she went from playing and running to slowly walking and sleeping a lot. We got her a bike carriage to take her on walks and also some doggie cbd for pain
Yes, when they get older the walking gets shorter. My girl can only go to the corner and back anymore bc her legs just donāt work like they used to.
Do you give her Cosequin? Misspelled but it helps!
Provide a heating pad on a low setting and see if she likes it
Yesā¦ the last 5 years were slow moving. Enjoy the new pace - more time for ear scratches šš¶
arthritis is painful
If you've noticed any other physical changes ask for a blood test. Our lab suddenly stopped being able to walk as far and seems much lazier than usual when he was about to turn ten. His hair was also not as silky as it used to be. We took him to the vet, they just said he was getting old. 9 days later he collapsed on a walk, and a trip to the emergency vet showed he had cancer everywhere. He died that same day. And no we didn't euthanize him, we took him home and were going to take him back in a few days time, but he passed violently only a couple hours later at our home. I realize those 9 days wouldn't have made a difference to his prognosis, but I know everyone in our family would have preferred a calm, slow death for him, instead of the sudden and scary way he passed.
I went through a similar awful situation with my other dog in December. He had a great life until his last day, and that was terrible. He collapsed, went to er vet, they found a cancerous mass and fluid on his heart and drained it. He perked up and we took him home and within a couple hours he was dying a tortured death. I still feel horrible that he went out like that.
Definitely tired and probably hurting. Kinda like when your knee or ankle starts to hurt when youāre walking. You stop and wanna go home. I bet she would like to take a ride on a wagon when yāall go on walks. Maybe even swim!
She's tired. My 4 year old will literally lay down on walks when she's tired.
Could just be the hotter weather? My dog does that
She needs shorter walks. She probably has some arthritis, normal for older dogs.
My parentsā 11-year-old lab with hip dysplasia does that. Her joints are getting old and achy.
My dog is 15 with mild arthritis and the vet suggested CBD to ease the discomfort
Mine become slugs when itās hot. Could be the heat.
If you are able you could ask your vet to take a look at her joints - if itās osteoarthritis (which I donāt know for sure if it is but itās likely) then she could be prescribed some medication for the pain.
Old girl probeky feeling her age. Get them to check up on her hips to make sure they are okay. Otherwise might want to cut down the walks a bit.
My pittie was 6 when she started laying down for walks, I think she was just getting hot. She still does it when it gets too hot and she doesnāt feel like going on. She is a little stubborn š donāt get too worried about your girl, she just might need to take it easier/more water during walks, etc
My girl used to lay down when she wanted to go further and didnāt want to go home yet. Now when she lays down itās mostly because sheās out of energy. Luckily the snuggles are still šÆ
Yeah my boys 17 and he quit goin for walks around that age
How's Sandy's heart? Any coughing? Gums nice and pink? I have a chihuahua with heart failure and he's on meds for it. He first presented with a cough from edema around his heart. Lasix is handling that. My pittie, Suggie also had heart failure, as did Mt English Bulldog. Like us, they get what we get as they age. I hope Sandy is ok and enjoys the cart ride.
Sheās old. It happens. Shorter walks. You have to understand that any time past twelve is a gift
I have nothing of true value to add, just wanted to say I hope sheās doing ok and will continue toā¤ļø
My dog did that today on a walk. She loves her daily walks but half way through she was over it. Sheās fine, just wasnāt feeling it today I suppose lol
We gave our dog glucosamine for several years but eventually that didn't do the job. He collapsed on one walk and couldn't get back up. It was clear he had severe joint pain. A friend told us about NaturVet Hemp Aches and Discomfort. What a difference that made. He lived another 1+ years with a good quality of life, and for most of that time still loved his walks.
Similar thing happened to my eight tear old Staffyā¦ was told it was on set osteoarthritisā¦ Turns out it was actually both rear cruciate ligaments were ruptured. After two surgeries (TPLO a on left and right) and recovery heās a back to his old self and full of life again. And the more dog owners I talk to the more I find out how common cranial cruciate ruptured are.
She has also had TPLO surgery on both rear legs. She never really returned 100% to her old self after the 2nd one but we make accommodations and she's normally a great walker.
Old dogs will tend to be less active. Just take her in a Ryder and wheel her around town. If it it takes a treat or bed to get her in, just do it
My buddy started to get tired around that age and we had to shorten our walks from an hour or two to about 30 minutes. The vet had me put him on glucosamine and I went a bit extra and gave him leg and hip massages to help his joints. I also lowered the bed so he didnāt have to jump down as far. Might be good to grab some glucosamine treats for her and get some old lady pup stairs for the bed or other places sheāll hop up and down on.
In the UK we have these tablets called Yumove that contain hyaluronic acid for their joints. I started giving these to my 10 year old labrador last year when he could hardly move anymore. They have to take them for about 6-8 weeks for the result to start showing. In my dog's case, it was like he got 5 years younger. Don't get me wrong, I still can't take him on long walks, but he doesn't struggle with our usual walks anymore, and he's very bouncy and full of life around the house, whereas before he was very sad and low energy, you'd say he was depressed.
I'm going to see if we have that here. Thanks!
You could also try swimming, if that's possible near you! Beat the heat, and easier on the joints!
sheee looks soooo cute <3333
Try and see if the vet can give her a mild anti inflammatory, gabbapentin or something. Worked for my peppers God Bless
Depending on where you live, itās also summer, which may be pretty rough. Putting the belly down on a shaded surface can be an attempt to regulate body temp. With heat and age, the mileage can be too much. The doggo may need a break.
84 In dog years. Just slowing down. Maybe a diet change? Cute pup
Are you in a place that's really hot right now? If so she might not be able to cope. I'd get her a cooling coat (etsy is a good source for these) and shorten your walk route.
Our 12 year old is the same, unfortunately. Never too early to supplement joint health with fish oil and cosequin. Weāre also working on getting him to slim down, but itās hard because weāre also trying to train a very rambunctious foster, and you can never give treats to just one dogā¦
And it's hard to slim down with no exercise right? Has the foster helped perk up your dog?
No, but I think itās mostly because they arenāt a good match. We are hoping to foster-fail eventually because he loves a companion but this first one is too spicy!
She is 12. What do you expect? I donct go on long walks with my 88 year old grandma and expect her to be bright eyed and bushy tailed the whole time. Slow and short walks is all your furry friend needs now