In summer, a senior dog may want to walk, play and accompany its owner just as much as a younger dog. However, this enthusiasm does not necessarily mean that its body can handle the exertion in the same way, and extra vigilance is often needed.

With age, the safety margin for coping with heat may be reduced. Joint, muscular or cardiorespiratory disorders are also more common and can make some outings more tiring. It is not a matter of viewing all older dogs as small, fragile things, but simply of paying closer attention to their recovery.

With age, as with our elderly, heat can become more difficult to manage.

Dogs primarily dissipate heat by panting. When the outdoor temperature, humidity or intensity of exertion increases, this mechanism may no longer be sufficient to maintain a normal body temperature.

A study by the British VetCompass Programme, involving more than 905,000 dogs, showed that age was one of the factors associated with heat-related illnesses. Dogs aged twelve or older had the highest risk among the age groups studied. A second study focused on severe and fatal cases also found an association between advanced age and the risk of an adverse outcome.

This does not mean that a senior dog will suffer heatstroke as soon as it gets a little warm, but rather that its ability to compensate may be reduced and that the first signs of discomfort should be taken seriously.

Being overweight, having heart or respiratory disease, being in poor physical condition and having a brachycephalic body shape can further reduce this safety margin. Short-nosed dogs, in particular, are less efficient at dissipating heat through their respiratory tract.

Signs that may start subtly

A dog does not always stop on its own when the exertion becomes too great. Some continue to follow their owner, run after a toy or keep going despite already being tired.

The first changes may be relatively subtle:

- panting that is more intense or prolonged than usual 

- frequently seeking shade or water 

- slowing down once or more during the walk 

- stopping more frequently 

- difficulty settling down once home 

- unusual tiredness 

- different or more labored breathing.

Excessive panting and changes in breathing are among the signs frequently found in heat-related illnesses. Respiratory difficulties, digestive disorders, loss of balance, reduced alertness or seizures correspond to more serious conditions.

A single sign is not enough to automatically conclude that a dog has heatstroke. It must be interpreted in terms of its intensity, duration, the conditions of the outing and the dog's usual state. You know your dog and its usual behaviours best. 

Arthritis can also affect recovery

Arthritis is common in dogs, but prevalence figures vary considerably depending on the age of the animals, the joints examined and the method used to make the diagnosis. The frequently cited estimates of 20% of adult dogs or 80 to 90% of older dogs should therefore not be considered universal figures.

Nevertheless, this condition can cause chronic pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion and lower exercise tolerance. Owners sometimes notice difficulty getting up, a slower pace, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, a shortened stride or intermittent limping.

Heat does not automatically worsen arthritis. However, a walk that is too long or too intense can exceed the dog's physical capabilities. Exertion-related tiredness can then make joint discomfort more noticeable upon returning or after a period of rest.

The goal, therefore, is not to stop an arthritic dog from moving! Regular, consistent activity adapted to its capabilities remains important for preserving its mobility and muscle strength. International recommendations place greater emphasis on regularity and adapting the exercise rather than eliminating it.

How to adapt walks in summer?

There is no strict walk duration for all senior dogs. Age, breed, weight, joint condition, associated diseases and activity habits greatly change how each dog tolerates exertion.

A few adaptations can nevertheless help limit the risks:

- going out early in the morning or later in the evening 

- preferring several short outings to one very long walk 

- choosing shaded routes and cooler surfaces 

- bringing water on longer outings 

- letting the dog choose its pace 

- taking more breaks before it shows significant tiredness 

- avoiding sudden accelerations, jumping and repeated changes of direction 

- adapting the duration to its condition that day rather than its usual performance.

A dog may be fit one morning and recover more slowly the next day. It is therefore more useful to observe its actual behaviour than to try to adhere at all costs to a predefined distance or duration.

Settling down is part of the walk

Once home, the dog should be able to rest in a cool, well-ventilated place, with water available. Settling down also allows you to observe its recovery.

A few points can be checked quickly:

- does its panting gradually decrease?

- does its breathing seem easy?

- does it remain attentive to its surroundings?

- can it lie down and get up normally?

- is its gait comparable to its gait at the start?

- do its pads show redness, irritation or unusual sensitivity?

There is no universal timeframe that allows one to state that panting becomes abnormal after exactly fifteen or twenty minutes. Temperature, humidity, the intensity of exertion and the dog's health condition also strongly influence recovery...

However, panting that remains very intense despite stopping the exertion and resting in a cool place, difficult breathing, marked weakness, collapse, vomiting, disorientation, seizures or bleeding require contacting a veterinarian promptly.

Persistent limping, unusual difficulty getting up or repeated loss of mobility after walks also warrant a veterinary check-up, even in the absence of an immediate emergency.

Observe to keep going out

Adapting a senior dog's walks does not mean preventing it from moving. It is about allowing it to maintain physical activity while respecting the progression of its capabilities.

Cooler times, possibly shorter outings, regular breaks and observing recovery often make it possible to maintain walks under good conditions.

In an older dog, a small change can provide important information. Observing its panting, pace, gait and behaviour after exertion is not overprotection: it is a simple way to identify discomfort earlier and prevent it from becoming established.

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Sources 

1. - Hall E. J., Carter A. J. and O’Neill D. G., Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016, Scientific Reports, 2020.
2. - Hall E. J. et al., Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs — A VetCompass Study, Veterinary Sciences, 2022.
3. - Beard S. et al., Evaluation and validation of a revised VetCompass clinical grading tool for heat-related illness in dogs, Scientific Reports, 2026.
4. - Cachon T. et al., COAST Development Group’s international consensus guidelines for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023.
5. - Enomoto M. et al., Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs, Scientific Reports, 2024