09/03/2026
Adventuring and staying active is very important for senior pets!
Houdini here has pretty severe arthritis, particularly in her hind end, but here’s how I keep her safe:
🌊 We medicate! I make sure she has meds on board the morning of her adventure (or the day before), as well as the days after.
🌊 She uses a long line! It allows her plenty of space to run if she’s up to it, but also allows her to go slow and check out her environment.
🌊 Even with the extra footage of the long line, if there is a potential risk (small cliff edge, deeper water where she cannot confidently stand/walk, etc) I am not far from her.
🌊 Valuables stay on land! If she wants to venture out to deeper water, I generally allow it, but I either stay close enough to shore to quickly throw my stuff there or I leave my items on land while I go out with her in case I need to bring her back to shore.
Houdini is an independent balls to the wall kinda gal (and I definitely kill her vibe by sticking close to her and telling her I love her a million times lol). So as she ages and her body can’t keep up quite as much as she wants it to, it’s a delicate balance of following her lead while also making sure she doesn’t completely wreck her body. 💗
Does your senior pup like to explore? 🐾
