01/07/2026
Growing Old Doesn't Mean Growing Thin – Why Muscle Matters in Our Senior Dogs 'BETTER BALANCE FOR AN OLDER LIFE'
One of the most common phrases we hear in veterinary medicine is, *"Keep them lean."* It is excellent advice, but sometimes it can be misunderstood.
There is a very important difference between a dog being **lean** and a dog becoming **too thin**.
Throughout adulthood, maintaining a healthy body weight helps protect joints from excessive loading and reduces the risk of obesity-related disease. However, as our dogs enter their senior years, our priorities begin to change.
One of the biggest challenges ageing dogs face is the gradual loss of muscle mass, known as **sarcopenia**. This is a natural part of ageing, but when muscle loss becomes significant it can have a profound effect on mobility, balance, strength and overall quality of life.
Muscle is far more than something that helps a dog run and play. It supports joints, stabilises the spine, absorbs shock during movement and provides the strength needed for everyday activities such as standing, climbing stairs and getting into the car. In many ways, muscle is the body's natural support system.
As a canine physiotherapist, I often see senior dogs that appear a little too thin. Their owners have done exactly what they believed was right by preventing weight gain, but unfortunately some of these dogs have very little fat reserve and are also losing valuable muscle.
When an older dog has limited energy reserves and continues with relatively high levels of exercise, the body may begin breaking down muscle protein to meet its energy demands. This can accelerate weakness and make maintaining mobility increasingly difficult.
This becomes even more important in dogs living with arthritis, neurological disease or conditions affecting balance, such as vestibular syndrome. These dogs rely heavily on strong muscles and good proprioception (the body's awareness of where the limbs are in space) to compensate for changes elsewhere in the body. Quite simply, stronger muscles give them a better chance of remaining confident, stable and independent.
That doesn't mean we should allow our senior dogs to become overweight. Excess body fat still places unnecessary stress on joints and can worsen many conditions. Instead, we should aim for something slightly different:
**A lean body with well-maintained muscle.**
Supporting muscle health isn't complicated. It involves appropriate nutrition with adequate high-quality protein, (but please check with your own veterinarian before switching diets if your dog is on a specialist food) sensible exercise tailored to the individual dog, and activities that encourage controlled movement rather than exhaustion. Physiotherapy also plays an important role through strengthening exercises, proprioceptive work, laser therapy and other techniques designed to help dogs maintain function for as long as possible.
One of the conversations I have most often with owners is about reducing the length of walks rather than stopping them altogether. Two shorter walks are often far kinder to an ageing body than one long walk that leaves muscles fatigued. We want our older dogs to finish exercise feeling comfortable and successful—not exhausted.
Growing old is a privilege, and our goal shouldn't simply be to add years to a dog's life. It should be to add **life to those years**.
So, the next time someone tells you to keep your older dog lean, remember this:
**Lean is healthy. Thin is not the goal.**
For our senior companions, protecting muscle may be one of the greatest gifts we can give them. Strong muscles support movement, confidence, balance and independence—and ultimately help our dogs enjoy the best possible quality of life throughout their golden years.
Every grey muzzle has a story to tell, and I feel incredibly privileged to help our wonderful senior dogs stay active, comfortable and enjoying life for as long as possible. ❤️🐾
