Already a Verified Vet Partner?

Login

Keeping Your Senior Pet Strong

Understanding and Managing Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia)

As dogs and cats age, many experience a gradual loss of muscle and strength called sarcopenia. This is a normal part of aging. It is not simply “harder to build muscle as you age”; aged muscle is less strong. Sarcopenia occurs even if your dog or cat is overweight, healthy, eating well, and staying active. If you have a senior pet, they are losing muscle.

While common, muscle loss is not harmless. Gradual muscle loss can lead to frailty, which makes it harder to jump, go upstairs, and get up from a sit. Frailty can contribute to a poor quality of life and is a common reason for euthanasia in older dogs.

The good news is that your veterinary team can help your pet stay strong, mobile, and comfortable well into their golden years.

Top Signs of Decreased Strength in Dogs

  • Difficulty getting up from a sit
  • Trouble climbing stairs or jumping up
  • Slower and shorter walks

Top Signs of Decreased Strength in Cats

  • No longer jumping
  • Less active play
  • Trouble going up or down the stairs

When Does Muscle Loss Start?

Muscle loss often begins subtly and progresses over time. It usually sets in around these ages:

  • Small Breed Dogs: 7 to 10 years old
  • Large Breed Dogs: 6 to 8 years old
  • Cats: around 11 years old

Because muscle loss is hard to see, starting before weakness develops is the best way to prevent or even reverse weakness and frailty and keep your dog or cat active.

Strength Exercises: The Most Effective Tool to Slow Muscle Loss

Recommended activities for senior dogs:

  • Walks on soft surfaces like grass and packed dirt paths
  • Strength exercises that target the back leg and core muscle groups
Easy At-Home Exercise: Dog Squat

Use a sturdy, non-slip box. The height should be based on your dog’s size:

  • Dogs under 10 lbs: 1/2 inch tall
  • Dogs 11–49 lbs: 1 inch tall
  • Dogs over 50 lbs: 2 inches tall

How to perform: Ask your dog to place their front feet on the box. Ask for a sit, then stand. Make sure the front feet stay on the box during the entire exercise. Repeat 5 times. Perform twice daily, every other day.

Skip this exercise if your dog has back, knee, or hip pain or any known orthopedic conditions. If your dog seems reluctant or lacks the strength to perform the squats, stop right away and talk with your veterinarian.

Nutrition: Support Muscle with Diet

Senior pets need more protein than younger dogs. Look for diets that include:

  • Highly digestible, animal-based protein
  • Appropriate calories for senior pets, since many senior pets need fewer calories
  • Healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish

Check with your veterinarian for more information about your pet’s specific diet needs.

Muscle Support Supplements

In addition to exercises that build muscle, you can support muscle with supplements. Fortetropin®, which powers MYOS’s exclusive veterinary muscle formulas, has been shown to help reduce muscle loss and increase lean muscle.

These products help maintain healthy muscle and help reduce muscle loss due to aging.

Home Changes for Your Senior Dog

  • Raised food and water bowls, about elbow height
  • Non-slip mats or rugs on slick floors
  • Pet stairs or ramps to reduce jumping down
  • Low-entry, orthopedic supportive beds
  • Anti-fatigue mats in areas where your dog jumps down or stands to eat

Keeping Your Senior Dog’s Mind Active: Gentle Mental Stimulation Activities

Mental stimulation activities such as nose work, food puzzles, snuffle mats, and simple scent games like “find it” are excellent ways to support dogs with aging brains or canine dementia. These gentle brain exercises help keep them mentally engaged and happy.

References / Further Reading

  1. Repac, J. A., Alvarez, L. X., & Amstutz, K. L. (Eds.). (2026). Handbook of Canine Exercise Therapy. Wiley-Blackwell.
  2. Hetrick, Katie, et al. “Evaluation of Fortetropin in Geriatric and Senior Dogs with Reduced Mobility.” The Canadian Veterinary Journal, vol. 63, no. 10, Oct. 2022, pp. 1057–1060. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36185794/
  3. Freeman, L. M. “Cachexia and Sarcopenia: Emerging Syndromes of Importance in Dogs and Cats.” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, vol. 26, no. 1, 2012, pp. 3–17. Wiley Online Library: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00838.x