Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

good muscles provide quality of lifeA happy dog is a healthy dogIt is easy with a young dog

The older dog requires more attention, to maintain a reasonable muscle mass

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

 Muscle atrophy (reduction of muscles)Muscle atrophy in itself is no disease - but a symptom.Atrophy can be caused by many things:

• Disease• Damage• Improper feeding• Too little exercise• Breeding

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

good muscles provide quality of life

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

The "dangerous" about muscle reduction is that when muscle mass shrinks, bones and ligaments will be strained too much. It can cause damage - and arthritis pain, so it can become a vicious circle. It is most often the hindquarters to be hit. Almost all older dogs will have a kind of atrophy, but OES is a little harder hit than the average dog, even of the same size.

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

My theory is that an older OES is " lazy " I think everyone can recognize that the adult dog has become clever enough to avoid going a futile step - and still achieve what it want.

An older OES rarely runs running back and forth on a walk, unless it is a new place where everything is very interesting. On the other hand it can go on and on if it finds something is funny.  

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

What we can do is to give the adult dog offers of exercise in various terrain . Despite being lazy, it will like to have fun. So what we as owners need to find out is exactly what our dog likes . Agility, search jobs and playing with a ball most dogs find funny. If for example agility is not available, the daily walk is fine

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

• Search between fallen branches• Search / play on the air mattress• Balance exercises on logs / railings• Walking up and down hills• Walking on rough terrain

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

It's always a really good idea to let your dog swim - and today there are so many good dog swimming pools, that it should be accessible.(Remember that the dog must use swim west until you are sure that it uses all 4 legs properly - otherwise it has no positive effect - it can be very hard to see ! ) Water walker is also a super idea - but expensive

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

It's a good idea to build some small exercises into everyday life. They are not time consuming , but really effective, because they are working with proprioreceptorerne ( isometric strength ) Small rousing " shock " can very quickly help to rebuild muscle mass. Watch the video . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gin95qeS6qU ( Strength Exercises for HD dogs)

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

Tilting board and spring boards are simple to make.

It is important that the dog is securely so it does not slide

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

Bean chairs are also good to train on

And to enjoy themselves on afterwards

Grizzly Dream – Your dogs masseur / by Anette Englykke

Massage is good for all dogs

Older dogs especially, massage increases blood flow to muscles and joints and reduce arthritis pain.

Read more at www.grizzly-dream.dk