Best Practices
Muscle, Mobility & Mind:

Midlife Care
for Pets

By Dr. Kelly Fishman, DVM, CVA, CCRT

A

s another year unfolds, veterinarians are seeing the effects of the COVID-era pet adoption surge. Millions of dogs and cats adopted in 2020 are about to enter midlife—a stage often overlooked in clinical practice.

For dogs under 50 pounds, midlife begins around age 10. For larger breeds, it starts as early as age six or seven. Cats typically enter midlife around age seven, with senior status beginning at nine. While midlife is not a senior, there are early signs of aging that may start to present.

Given the growing population of aging pets, it is imperative to enhance our knowledge and interventions to support our increasingly aging population. This is important because frailty, manifested as difficulty rising, reluctance to go up and down stairs, and slower and shorter stamina for walks, rank among the top causes of euthanasia in dogs, accounting for 64.3% of euthanasia cases in one hospital-based study.1

Metabolic Changes and Caloric Adjustments
Weight gain is common in seniors due to reduced activity and changes in metabolism. A study found an average 25% decrease in energy needs in senior dogs compared to adults.2 As a result, caloric intake for senior dogs should typically be reduced by 20-25% compared to adult maintenance levels to prevent obesity while maintaining essential nutrients.
Muscle Loss and Strength-Building Strategies
Muscle loss due to aging, or sarcopenia, is one of the earliest signs of aging in pets and affects metabolism, mobility and immune function. Addressing this proactively can improve quality of life and delay the onset of frailty. Sarcopenia can go unnoticed because weight gain masks sarcopenia since muscle loss is a gradual process, and because most clinicians are not performing muscle condition assessments.

Strength training exercises to build and maintain muscle are essential in human health care to help address sarcopenia. This principle extends to veterinary medicine, and most veterinarians do not know there are options for dogs beyond a walk.3

Incorporating strength-building exercises like squats, planks or push-ups can help maintain muscle condition and strength. For example, dog squats build pelvic limb muscle and strength. This is ideal for geriatrics, as it builds functional strength, can be done indoors and most dogs are trained to sit. A training schedule for a dog without any pelvic limb orthopedic conditions would be 15 quick sit to stands, repeated two to three times, three times a week. A rest day in between exercise days is ideal.

Swimming and other water-based activities offer low-impact benefits. Balance disks and wobble boards engage core muscles and improve proprioception and coordination. Active stretching or “doga” routines—yoga-inspired movements—can improve flexibility and joint movement. Exercise also has a host of other benefits, from behavioral improvements to supporting cognitive health.4

Supplements for Muscle & Joint Support
Fortetropin, a bioactive compound derived from raw fertilized egg yolk, has shown promise in preserving muscle mass in aging pets. Fortetropin has been clinically shown to help enhance muscle growth, help increase lean body mass and help reduce muscle atrophy.5

In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study evaluating Fortetropin in geriatric and senior dogs with reduced mobility, supplementation led to mild but statistically significant improvements in mobility scores at weeks six and 12 compared to baseline, suggesting it may enhance mobility and potentially reduce reliance on anti-inflammatories for osteoarthritis.6

We often start joint supplements in mid-life dogs and cats prone to arthritis as a prevention tactic. Given the evidence, Fortetropin can be used for muscle loss prevention as well.

Many senior cats have muscle wasting secondary to chronic kidney disease. There are emerging areas of research showing that Fortetropin may help maintain lean mass with chronic conditions such as kidney disease.7

Nutritional strategies should also include joint-supporting ingredients like green-lipped mussel extract, fish source omega-3 fatty acids and type-2 collagen products shown to provide joint support.

Digestive Changes
Probiotics have been shown to be beneficial for senior dogs by promoting a balanced gut microbiota more similar to that of younger dogs, enhancing cytokine and antibody production for improved immune function and supporting overall wellness through strain-specific effects.8

Digestive enzymes and probiotics improve nutrient absorption and reduce diarrhea; two other evidence-based benefits for senior dogs include decreased systemic inflammation and improved immune function.

Behavior Changes
Midlife changes are not limited to the musculoskeletal system. Behavioral shifts often accompany physical decline and may be early indicators of pain or cognitive dysfunction. Changes in sleep patterns and altered social interactions are key markers. A once happy, active dog may become withdrawn or irritable. A cat may vocalize more, play less and experience nighttime restlessness.

Veterinarians should encourage pet parents to document these changes and bring videos with them to appointments which can be helpful in screening for canine cognitive dysfunction. Early intervention with exercise, nutrition and environmental adjustments can improve outcomes and delay progression.

Prevention Starts Now
Veterinary professionals now recognize a “senior” as a distinct and critical phase of life, deserving of its own protocols and priorities. Annual senior exams should include muscle condition scoring, along with strength and mobility assessments.

It is also important to validate the concerns of pet parents. A dog that no longer plays fetch and is slowing down for walks, or a cat that avoids jumping, may be experiencing more than “aging.” Shifting from reactive care to proactive care means dogs and cats can maintain vitality, mobility, strength and comfort well into their golden years.

References:
  1. Pugliese, M., Biondi, V., La Maestra, R., Passantino, A. Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results. Vet. Sci. 2022, 9, 554. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9100554
  2. Laflamme DP., Martineau, B., Jone,s W., et al. Effect of age on maintenance energy requirements and apparent digestibility of canine diets [abstract]. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 2000;22(Suppl 9A):113.
  3. Coger, L. The best starting exercise for geriatric patients (and other dogs). Optimum Pet Vitality. https://www.optimumpetvitality.com/learn-go-with-dr-laurie/best-starting-geriatric-exercise
  4. Frye C, Carr BJ, Lenfest M, Miller A. Canine geriatric rehabilitation: considerations and strategies for assessment, functional scoring, and follow up. Front Vet Sci. 2022;9:842458. Published 2022 Feb 28. doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.842458
  5. Clinical Studies. Myos Pet. https://myospet.com/pages/clinical-studies
  6. Hetrick, K., Harkin, K., Roush, J. Evaluation of Fortetropin in geriatric and senior dogs with reduced mobility. Can Vet J. 2022;63(10):1057-1060. PMID: 36185794.
  7. Jinka, T., Gilor, C. Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Fortetropin in Cats. University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0266/4683/9340/files/Fortetropin_-_Feline_Safety_Tolerability_Study_-_05-14-2021_Compatibility_Mode.pdf?v=1677533083
  8. Kim, J., Lee, H., An, J., et al. Influence of Probiotic Administration in Canine Feed: A Comprehensive Review. Vet. Sci. 2025, 12, 449 https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12050449
Dr. Kelly Fishman headshot
Dr. Kelly Fishman, DVM, CVA, CCRT, is a leader in the field of veterinary sports medicine and physical rehabilitation. As the founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists and a veterinary advisory board member at MYOS PET, she has dedicated her career to enhancing the quality of life for animals through her integrative approach, combining nutrition, fitness, and state-of-the-art therapy methods and tools that improve the long-term health, mobility, and well-being of dogs and cats. Her primary focus is to equip pet parents with the knowledge and tools they need to help their animals live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
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