Helping Canine Patients Maintain Muscle Mass During the Less Active Winter Months

Seasonal reductions in activity are a predictable—but often underestimated—risk factor for muscle loss in canine patients. During the winter months, shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures, and environmental barriers (ice, snow, limited footing) frequently result in decreased voluntary exercise. For many dogs—particularly seniors, patients with osteoarthritis, chronic disease, or those recovering from injury—this seasonal inactivity can accelerate muscle atrophy and functional decline.

For veterinary professionals, winter represents an important opportunity to proactively address muscle health and preserve lean body mass before losses become clinically significant.

Why Winter Inactivity Matters 

Skeletal muscle is highly responsive to mechanical loading. Even short-term reductions in activity can lead to measurable decreases in muscle cross-sectional area, strength, and metabolic capacity. In dogs already at risk—senior patients, those with OA, neurologic disease, endocrine disorders, or chronic kidney disease—winter inactivity can compound pre-existing sarcopenia.

Loss of muscle mass is not merely cosmetic. Clinically relevant consequences include:

• Reduced joint stability and increased fall risk

• Worsening osteoarthritis symptoms

• Decreased metabolic reserve during illness or surgery

• Slower recovery from injury or procedures

• Reduced quality of life and functional independence

Importantly, once muscle is lost, rebuilding it—especially in aging patients—is far more challenging than preserving it.

Identifying At-Risk Patients

Winter muscle preservation strategies should be targeted, not generic. Patients most likely to benefit include:

• Senior dogs (≥7 years, earlier in large and giant breeds)

• Dogs with known osteoarthritis or mobility limitations

• Post-operative or post-injury patients with reduced activity

• Dogs with chronic systemic disease (CKD, cardiac disease, endocrine disorders)

• Working or athletic dogs experiencing seasonal off-time

Routine muscle condition scoring (MCS) alongside body condition scoring (BCS) is particularly valuable during winter wellness visits. Subtle epaxial or hindlimb muscle loss is often missed when only weight or BCS is assessed.

Nutritional Strategies to Support Muscle Maintenance

Protein Quantity and Quality

Adequate dietary protein remains foundational for muscle maintenance, but total protein alone may be insufficient in older or less active dogs due to anabolic resistance. High-quality, bioavailable protein sources are critical, particularly those that effectively stimulate muscle protein synthesis.

Targeting Muscle Protein Synthesis

Emerging research highlights the role of specific nutritional interventions that directly support muscle metabolism rather than relying on activity alone. Ingredients such as Fortetropin have been shown to support muscle protein synthesis and reduce muscle breakdown, even during periods of reduced activity.

This distinction is particularly important during winter months, when increasing physical activity may not be feasible or safe for all patients.

Exercise Recommendations: Practical and Realistic

While activity often declines in winter, complete inactivity should be avoided. Appropriate recommendations may include:

• Shorter, more frequent leash walks rather than prolonged outings

• Controlled indoor exercises (sit-to-stand repetitions, weight shifts, cavaletti poles)

• Referral to rehabilitation or physical therapy when indicated

• Emphasis on consistency rather than intensity

Setting realistic expectations with clients helps improve compliance and reduces the risk of injury in slippery or unsafe conditions.

Supplementation as a Clinical Tool

For dogs unable to maintain sufficient activity during winter, targeted supplementation can play a supportive role in preserving muscle mass. Veterinary-exclusive muscle health products, such as MYOS Canine Muscle Formula, are designed to complement dietary protein and exercise by directly supporting muscle health at the cellular level.

In clinical practice, these products may be particularly useful for:

• Senior dogs experiencing seasonal mobility decline

• Dogs on restricted exercise plans

• Patients recovering from surgery or illness during winter months

Monitoring and Follow-Up

Winter wellness visits are an ideal time to:

• Document baseline MCS and reassess in early spring

• Adjust nutrition plans based on seasonal activity changes

• Re-evaluate mobility, pain control, and functional status

• Educate clients on the importance of muscle health year-round

Proactive monitoring allows veterinarians to intervene early—before muscle loss becomes clinically obvious or functionally limiting.

Takeaway for Veterinary Professionals

Winter does not have to be synonymous with muscle loss. By recognizing seasonal inactivity as a modifiable risk factor, veterinarians can implement targeted nutritional, supplemental, and activity-based strategies to help canine patients maintain muscle mass, strength, and quality of life throughout the colder months.

Preserving muscle during winter is not just preventative care—it is an investment in better outcomes for the year ahead.