Heartbreaking appeal for help from owner of elderly dog

Owning a dog or any other type of pet can be an extraordinarily fulfilling experience. However, just like humans, dogs have varying requirements as they age, and looking after a senior canine is vastly different from caring for a puppy.

Most dogs will possess less vigour as they grow older, and may start to encounter mobility issues. While a younger pup might return home from an extended walk still brimming with energy, an elderly dog may be ready for a rest after just 10 minutes at the park. One social media user sought guidance from fellow dog enthusiasts regarding their 17 year old schnauzer-beagle cross, who loved long walks in the countryside but fails to recognise they lack the stamina and mobility of a young dog, reports the Mirror.

In their post entitled “Elderly dog doesn’t understand his limitations”, they explained: “He’s definitely slowed down in terms of speed and stamina, but he doesn’t seem to know it.

“He still starts out at a fast trot and will wear himself out after 15 minutes or so. A couple of years ago, I bought a dog stroller so we could still take long walks together, but I could put him in to rest when he got tired.

“The problem is, he’ll only rest for like three minutes before he starts fussing to get out and walk again. Even when he’s in there, he’s standing up half the time.

“It’s not that the stroller really bothers him; he seems to appreciate it when he’s really tired, he just has FOMO (fear of missing out) I guess.

“He gets so wiped out after these walks and I can tell he’s a bit sore after as well.”

One Reddit user responded: “You may need to meet your dog where he is. I would probably trade the hikes for a mellow nature walk, shorter park loops, or places where you can maybe post up on a blanket and let him sniff around the area and come back to rest.

“If he keeps over-exerting himself to the point of causing pain, you need to stop giving him the opportunity to do so. The stroller was a good idea but if he’s not going to use it as intended, then it’s not a good fit.”

The original poster responded: “I just hate taking something away from him that makes him happy. He gets all excited and animated every day at the time when we usually go. I wish I could turn back the clock for him and get 17 more years!”

According to PetMD, schnauzers typically live between 13 and 16 years, whilst beagles generally survive between 10 and 15 years, meaning this owner’s pooch has already exceeded expectations.

Another user remarked: “He doesn’t understand his limitations, so you have to. He isn’t capable of thinking ‘This will hurt later, so I should rest in my stroller’.

“Take him out for shorter trips. There’s not really a trick here, just don’t give him the opportunity to overdo it even if he’s really happy in the moment.”