Tips for Walking an Overweight Dog

Are you ready to get outside and help your dog shed some excess pounds? Here’s a quick guide to starting a new exercise routine for a mostly sedentary pet.


It’s extremely important for dogs to stay physically active. Even a small amount of extra weight can be detrimental to the health of certain breeds. If your dog is overweight but not obese, simply dedicating more time to going on walks can be beneficial.

Before beginning a new exercise program with your pet, consult your veterinarian. They’ll help ensure your pet is physically capable of the exercise and does not have any underlying health issues. They can also work with you on a plan that is tailored to your pet’s condition and needs if something more structured is required. If you’re concerned about your pet’s limited mobility, there are alternatives you can discuss with your vet, like physical therapy or special low impact exercises.

Getting started with a walking routine

Begin gradually. You probably couldn’t run a full 5k the very first time you go out for a jog, and your dog is the same! They need some time to build muscle and endurance. Consider setting a starting goal of 30 minutes of walking five days per week. If that’s too challenging for your pup, break it into shorter increments throughout the day, and start a slower pace that’s comfortable. From there, increase the duration and intensity of walks until you’ve reached the goal.

Once your dog becomes a pro at the original goal, set a new one! Pick up the pace and the length as long as your dog is up for the challenge. Your dog may even graduate to loyal running partner!

Be mindful of terrain, especially with a dog that isn’t accustomed to exercise. Hills or rough walking surfaces will make walks more difficult. You also must consider the weather – small dogs or dogs with thin coats could benefit from booties or clothing in cold temperatures, and dogs with heavy coats may require more stops for water, especially if it’s hot outside.

If you’re committed to a regular walking routine, it may be time to upgrade to a harness, which is more comfortable for your dog and easier on your muscles as you maintain control of the leash.


Here a few more creative tips for increasing your dog’s activity level:

  • Instead of rewarding good behavior with treats, use walks or playtime.
  • Encourage movement around the house by changing to location of your dog’s food, such as up or downstairs.
  • Playing fetch is also a great way to get your dog moving. Find a ball or squeaky toy they can’t resist!
  • Add play sessions into your daily schedule to make sure you set aside 20-30 minutes a day for engaging your pup.

What is “Elective” Pet Surgery?

Our team at On the Spot specializes in elective orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. If you’re curious about the difference between elective and non-elective procedures, read on for a brief explanation.

Elective

Elective surgeries correct injuries or impairments that impede your pet’s health and/or mobility. If this course of treatment is advised, you have time to research your options and the operation itself, and can select the optimal care facility and timing.

Surgeries that are not a medical emergency but are likely to become life-threatening with time are sometimes referred to as semi-elective. You still schedule such operations, but with more urgency.

In short, with elective (and semi-elective) procedures you maintain control over the surgical care process and have time to weigh options.

Common elective surgeries for pets include:

  • TPLO (tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy)
  • Lateral Suture Correction
  • Luxating kneecap correction
  • Hernia removal
  • Splenectomy
  • Amputations
  • Mass/tumor removal
  • Cystotomy
  • Cherry Eye Tucks
  • Spay/Neuter
  • Much more!

Elective procedures help your pup get back to a healthy, active lifestyle!⁣

Non-elective

On the opposite end of the spectrum is emergency surgery – procedures that must be performed immediately to stabilize a patient that is critically ill or injured. These surgeries are not scheduled in advance, and proximity of the hospital is often the priority.⁣ As the pet owner you have little control over the situation aside from the initial decision to seek immediate care, and acting quickly to save your pet.

Incidents like being hit by a car or ingesting something dangerous are the types of situations that call for non-elective, emergency surgery. We advise you to contact a nearby animal hospital rather than a veterinary clinic if your pet is experiencing sudden or serious injury or illness. Hospitals are often open during non-business hours, and you can call ahead to let them know what to expect when you arrive.


In a perfect world your pets would never need surgical care beyond the traditional spay or neuter procedure. Unfortunately, though, they aren’t invulnerable to physical ailments; we can only hope they don’t require emergency surgery.

For any elective needs that may arise, our skilled and compassionate surgical team will be there every step of the way!


4 Signs Your Dog is in Pain

One of the first things we do when we’re feeling under the weather is tell someone, either to inform them that we can’t perform regular activities, or to request their aid. When we see a doctor we tell them what symptoms we’re experiencing and we answer their questions to help them choose the best care plan. Because we can easily communicate with others how we feel and what we need, our ailments are generally quickly addressed and we’re on the mend in no time.

Animals, however, are not so fortunate. Our pets can’t tell us where it hurts. They can’t let us know they’re feeling sick. If we don’t witness the accident, we may not know that an injury is causing discomfort. That’s why it’s so important as a pet owner to familiarize yourself with your pet’s behavior and habits, and always keep an eye out for deviations.

Here are four types of changes you may see if your dog is experiencing pain or sickness.


Changes in basic activity/needs. Loss of appetite, difficulty eating, or drinking less water may be among the first red flags you notice. A dog that is in pain may also sleep more than usual – they are either trying to heal or fatigued from an underlying problem, or it is too difficult to go about regular activity. You should also watch for excessive self-grooming. Dogs lick their paws or wounds to soothe themselves and help healing, sometimes even when the injury is internal.

Changes in demeanor/behavior. Any dog that is usually friendly can become aggressive when feeling pain. Outgoing, happy dogs that are hurt or sick may exhibit antisocial behavior and hide away from owners. Increased vocalization, such as more yelping, snarling, or howling, is cause for concern. If your normally sweet pet is growling or snapping at you, or stops greeting you at the door, it could be a sign of a health problem.

Changes in movement. If your dog is normally active but has lost interest in playtime, it could be a sign that something is wrong. You may also notice limping, slowness, or reluctance/difficulty with usual maneuvers. Restlessness, like excessive pacing or lack of sleep, are also cause for concern.

Changes in body – appearance and function. Visible swelling in the body is an obvious sign that something isn’t right with your dog. Troubled breathing, like excessive panting and shallow breaths, are also clear indicators of a health problem when exercise is absent. Don’t dismiss shaking and trembling or oddly rigid postures; these could be warning signs of serious internal ailments.


Nobody knows your dog like you. As pet owners, we assume responsibility of knowing what is normal for our pets and what could be a sign of sickness or injury. If your dog exhibits a strange behavior or symptom, contact a veterinary professional. Never attempt to treat your pets with medications intended for humans. Your vet may prescribe common pain relievers, but certain types and doses can be toxic. While certain health conditions may be rare, it’s better to find out something is minor and not cause for concern than let a potentially deadly problem go untreated.

CCL Injury Treatment Options

A CCL injury is no fun for your dog. Think of it like an ACL injury in humans – painful and limiting, but a typically positive outlook for healing and getting back to regular activity. There are varying treatments your veterinarian may prescribe for an injured CCL, and by following through with the advised care, your pet will be active again in no time.

In the past we’ve covered what can increase your pet’s risk for CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament) tears or ruptures, which can occur chronically (slowly over time) or as a result of an isolated incident. As a brief recap, here are the top risk factors:

  • Knee deformities that put more stress on the CCL
  • Obesity (increases stress on all support structures)
  • Age. Animals over age 5 often have decreased strength and increased stiffness of CCL.
  • Past injury of the opposite CC
  • Immune diseases
  • Breed (according to statistics ). Breeds more prone to CCL injury include Mastiffs, Akitas, St. Bernards, Rottweilers, and Labs.

If your dog is – or potentially will be – diagnosed with a CCL injury, you may be curious about the various treatments vets consider before making a recommendation. With all treatments, the goal is to relieve pain, restore, or at least improve, mobility, and slow the onset of degenerative diseases. Below is an in-depth look at a few of the corrective routes. You can also check out our services page for an overview of our surgical procedures for CCL injuries.

Note: If you suspect your dog is injured, please see a veterinary professional for accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment plan.

Nonsurgical

While minor tears in the CCL often become full ruptures (it’s hard to keep dogs from aggravating activities!), taking early action can help. Conservative treatment options, if fully adhered to, can be effective for healing or at least controlling the injury. This is especially true for small dogs.

Conservative treatment includes rest, rehab, pain medication, and weight maintenance. If you need ideas for keeping your dog at rest for an extended period of time, see our post on keeping your dog inactive after surgery (it applies to caring for any type of injury).


Surgical

For advanced cases, larger dogs, or athletic/performance dogs, conservative treatment alone probably won’t cut it. In most cases of CCL injuries, these measures are prescribed along with surgery; unfortunately, ligament tears are likely to progress and leaving them untreated often results in injury to the opposite leg. Further, surgery is the only correction for a fully ruptured CCL.

TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy), while an invasive procedure, is considered the gold-standard correction for a torn CCL in dogs.

The procedure involves adjusting the proximal tibia to eliminate the need of the CCL for stabilizing the knee joint. During surgery, a TPLO-specific saw is used to make a very precise cut through the tibial plateau, altering its slope. It is then rotated slightly. This stops the femur from sliding down the tibial plateau when the knee is bearing weight. Once the correction/rotation is made, a specialized plate and set of screws is used to secure the bone. 

TPLO surgery has a faster recovery time than other procedures, and is the preferred route for avoiding long-term pain medications and enabling very active dogs to resume normal exercise.

Our recovery regimen for a TPLO: It’s crucial for the patient to undergo 8-12 weeks of very strict exercise restriction. During the recovery phase, the body will repair the external incision and the osteotomy (cut through the tibia). Rechecks occur around 2 weeks and 8 weeks post-op. The 2 week recheck is to ensure the incision is fully healed and that the patient is progressing appropriately. X-rays will be taken at the 8 week recheck to determine if the surgical site has healed. Once fully healed, the plate and screws will no longer be necessary, but will remain in place unless they cause issues.

Lateral Suture Correction is the preferred surgical solution for small dogs (30 pounds or less) and may also be appropriate for sedentary dogs.

The goal of the procedure is to stabilize the dog’s knee by using monofilament (a single stand of fiber very similar to fishing line) on the outside of the knee joint. The suture is looped through the front part of the tibia, then looped around the fabellar bone. It’s designed to mimic the original ligament and prevent abnormal joint movement. Over time scar tissue will form around the area, providing more permanent stabilization.

As with any surgical procedure, a Lateral Suture correction requires strict rest post-op. However, full recovery and efficacy requires a longer period of limited activity than with other approaches. Physical therapy may be prescribed as well. The Lateral Suture stabilization allows most dogs to return to normal activity levels.


In cases of injury, your vet will help determine the best treatment options for your pet. Still, it doesn’t hurt to educate yourself on what the various treatments entail and why an expert may recommend one over another.

Because we understand the stress and high cost of surgical referrals, we strive to be an accommodating and attentive (and mobile!) alternative. We’ll work with you to determine the best approach and care plan. There’s no “one size fits all” solution for a torn CCL, but the goal is always the same: getting your pet back to it’s healthy, happy, and active life!

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Trustworthy vet surgery focusing on ACL, TPLO and orthopedics at highly competitive, affordable pricing compared to central Ohio animal hospitals.

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Dog ACL/CCL Repair
– TPLO Surgery
– Lateral Suture Correction
Luxating Patella Corrections
Soft Tissue Procedures

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