Senior Care
Exercise for Senior Dogs: Slower, Smarter, Still Essential
Motion is lotion
Total rest stiffens arthritic joints and melts the muscle that supports them. The senior formula: shorter, more frequent, consistent — two or three gentle 15–20 minute walks daily beat one long weekend hike that costs three days of limping.
The best activities
Sniff-paced walks (let them read the news), swimming or wading where available (gold for arthritic joints), gentle hill work for hind-end strength, and controlled games — rolled balls instead of leaping catches, no sharp turns on slick grass.
Warm up, cool down
Start every outing slow for the first minutes, and watch the after-effects: next-morning stiffness means yesterday was too much. Keep a simple log; seniors change month to month and the plan should follow.
Brains burn energy too
When bodies limit, minds compensate: scent games, food puzzles, slow-feeder meals, five-minute trick refreshers. A senior dog with a tired brain and gently exercised body sleeps like a puppy — and stays one at heart longer.
If the day is coming
Ease The Paw coordinates in-home pet euthanasia across South Africa — we find and book the vet, arrange the cremation and handle the keepsakes, so you can simply be present. A flat R950 covers the coordination and your keepsake memorial; the vet and cremation are billed separately at their own rates.
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Celebrate your pet every day
A gentle, private community for pet lovers: share photos, track their care with our breed-aware coach, and lean on us when the time comes.
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