HOW TO FIND THE BEST HARNESS FOR YOUR SENIOR DOG WITH ARTHRITIS

Finding the best harness can help your arthritic dog cope with pain and mobility issues. It can also help your aging canine companion enjoy his golden years. With that in mind, we explore whether it is good to exercise a senior dog with arthritis and what features to consider when buying a harness for your arthritic pup. 

SHOULD MY SENIOR DOG WITH ARTHRITIS EXERCISE? 

Daily walks are crucial for senior dogs with arthritis. They help keep your pup’s muscles, joints, and ligaments strong and flexible. Regular leash walks will deepen your bond with your dog. They also will decrease attention seeking-behaviors like biting.

Walking your arthritic dog too little can worsen his condition. On the other hand, walking him too much can cause unbearable pain and damage his joints. “Consider what terrain your dog is on and whether uphill or downhill paths are involved,” says Dr. Shadi Ireifej, founder of VetTriage. Small athletic dogs can handle more exercise than flat-faced breeds, such as French bulldogs, that are not built to exercise.

“Some dogs, such as Labrador retrievers, can ignore their own arthritic joint pain. Other breeds may be more in tune with their achy joints,” Dr. Ireifej says. How long  should you walk your arthritic dog? It depends on the weather outside, his breed, age, and current medical conditions. 

Red for Ruby! Beautiful senior dachshund Ruby of @miamiglen is wearing her DJANGO Adventure Dog Harness in the color Crimson Red.

FINDING THE BEST DOG HARNESS FOR YOUR ARTHRITIC DOG

Exercise does not have to be painful for arthritic dogs. With a proper-fitting dog harness, your senior dog can take several brief walks each day. 

“First, make sure the harness is comfortable for your dog to wear,” says Melissa M. Brock, a board-certified veterinarian and canine welfare expert at Pango Pets. “It should not rub against his skin or chafe. There should not be any pressure points where the straps meet to keep them from rubbing against each other.” Taking that into account, DJANGO dog harnesses were designed to have a deep, padded body that will not rub your arthritic dog’s skin. 

“Placing the harness on your dog and removing it may aggravate a previous injury like canine arthritis,” Dr. Ireifej says. Most senior dogs have arthritis in their shoulders, hips, elbows, and knees. For this reason, it is important to find a high quality dog harness that can be put on and taken off without lifting your dog's front paws or legs. DJANGO dog harnesses have a side-release buckle on each chest strap. After you slide the harness over your pup's head, clip each chest strap under his chest and belly. You do not have to lift your dog's swollen and stiff legs. Removing the DJANGO dog harness is equally easy and pain-free for arthritic canines with lameness. Just undo the chest strap's side-release buckles, and gently pull the harness over your dog's head. 

“If your arthritic dog is food motivated, a back clip harness may worsen his arthritis,” Dr. Ireifej says. A new study found that food-motivated dogs pull harder when they wear a back clip harness. Though this is not a problem for toy-motivated dogs. Food-obsessed dog breeds like beagles may need a front clip dog harness. DJANGO’s Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness is the best dog harness for aggressive walkers and pullers. To discourage your small or medium sized dog from pulling, it has a front and back leash attachment. If you use a double-ended leash, the Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness will put even pressure on your pooch’s chest and back. 

WHERE CAN I BUY DJANGO DOG HARNESSES?

DJANGO is a family-owned, small business in the USA. It designs modern, durable, and stylish travel and adventure dog apparel and accessories. DJANGO's high-quality dog gear is engineered for small and medium sized adventure pups. You can find DJANGO dog harnesses on djangobrand.com and Amazon. You can also buy them at many pet boutiques throughout the US, Canada, UK, and EU. Ask your local retailers if they carry DJANGO dog products.

EXTRA RESOURCES

• THE 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF DOG HARNESSES AND HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT SIZE FOR YOUR PUP

• SHOULD YOUR DOG WEAR A HARNESS OR A COLLAR? HERE ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH LEASH ATTACHMENT TYPE

• HOW TO HIRE DOG WALKERS NEAR YOU