At what age did your dog start to slow down?

[CavvieQ]

I have an 8-year-old Cavalier, who's in good health - mild-moderate heart murmur that hasn't worsened since he was diagnosed 18 months ago. I've noticed that he's started finding the stairs a challenge (we live on the top floor with 4 flights of stairs - he used to bound up them but takes them more slowly, one paw at a time now, and I carry him if he's reluctant) and has a very deep sleep after an off-lead walk. He's just generally become a bit more sedate when I let him off the lead over the years, but does still run fast at least once each time.

I'm finding it really hard to see my boy getting older :( I didn't realise it would start this young. I will also ask the vet about it as it could be his heart - although he was scanned recently and there was no change.

I want to do everything I can to give him a comfortable older age - what are your older dog tips? When did you notice the slowing down?

How recently is 'recently'? I would definitely ask the vet. I wouldn't expect a healthy dog of 8 to be slowing down all that much - he should certainly be able to get up four flights of stairs.

Cavs are such delightful little dogs and make excellent pets for a lot of people, but sadly heart issues are almost a given with them.

I hope he's okay.

Thank you - I've just called the vet to book an appointment. His heart scan was a few months ago. He hasn't needed medication for it yet but maybe that's now changed.

14

Eight is very young to be slowing down - have you had him checked over in case he's in any pain? I walk dogs for a living and I'd say most don't slow down until about 12-13.

I think this is very much breed dependent- our late greyhound started to slow at about 8, and we had to have pts age 10. Our current dachshundX is 8/9 now (rescue) and hasn’t slowed down at all and is actually a lot more energetic than when we got him due to losing almost half his body weight! I imagine he will still be going in his late teens despite terrible breeding and start to life!

At 8 he stopped chasing the ball but that was the younger one at 4 was much much quicker. He’s now 13 and loves his walks and still happy happy happy and not other differences (Labradors) the younger one is 9 and still chasing the ball and bonkers but he has no younger competitor so he always wins.

Our lab was like a big puppy right up to a couple of months before we pts aged 10 when he went downhill very fast (untreatable stomach cancer)

Mine have all been terriers none of them have really slowed down until the last year or so of their lives so around 14/15.

My large malamute/gsd started to slow down around 10/11.