It is a muscle that runs along the back of the neck. Unlike humans, a dog’s cervical vertebrae are naturally tilted forward, so simply maintaining a posture of looking straight ahead puts a significant load on their neck. And when eating or drinking, this muscle needs to relax and stretch, making its flexibility especially important in senior dogs.

It is a muscle that runs along both sides of the neck. This muscle works when the dog turns its head side to side or tilts it. Because it attaches to the scapula, the position, angle, and flexibility of a dog’s shoulder blade greatly influence the neck’s range of motion and ease of movement."

These muscles are located between the ribs, filling the spaces in between. Primarily during breathing, the ribs expand during inhalation and contract during exhalation. However, dogs support their body weight on their front legs, which are not connected by bones (they lack a clavicle). Because of the muscles connecting the scapula and ribs, the ribs can become restricted in movement due to the load on the front legs, leading to a loss of trunk flexibility.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula with the head, cervical vertebrae, and thoracic vertebrae. Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle works to help push the front leg backward. When this area becomes stiff, scapular rotation is restricted, making it difficult for the dog to move its front legs forward. When stride length becomes limited, senior dogs often find walking tiring and have difficulty covering long distances.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. This muscle connects the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. Since dogs only walk forward, their front legs tend to become stiff in a position as if they've fully pushed off backward. At that time, this muscle becomes tense, and when touched from the outside, it is perceived as tightness in the back. However, simply massaging this area directly when the back is stiff doesn’t have much effect.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

When dogs walk, they swing their limbs back and forth, but after fully pushing the hind leg backward, the front leg must be folded when moving it forward to avoid dragging the toes on the ground. This muscle is used during that movement, so it isn’t heavily engaged during weight-bearing activities like standing or walking.

Because dogs stand with their weight shifted onto their front legs and lack a clavicle, the muscles connecting the front legs to the torso are constantly under strain, making simply standing tiring. Therefore, as dogs enter their senior years, this area can easily develop muscle stiffness just from standing. When this area becomes stiff, dogs may struggle with steps and tire more easily during walks. If you are aware of its position, this muscle can be accessed via the chest and is definitely a key area to focus on during care.

It can be said to be the most important inner muscle for dogs that bear weight primarily on their front legs. It originates from the back of the scapula and inserts onto the ribs. Since this muscle is located behind the scapula, it cannot be felt from the outside, but you can target it by stretching the scapula. In senior dogs, loss of flexibility in this muscle can limit the stride length of the front legs. If left untreated, muscle loss will begin in the hind legs. It’s important to provide care while the dog can still walk.

It is the muscle that pulls the hind leg forward. Because dogs only walk forward, this muscle experiences less load compared to those that push the hind legs backward. As a result, it is a muscle that is less used and more likely to weaken quickly in senior dogs.

It is the muscle that pushes the hip joint backward. This muscle is used to generate propulsion with the hind legs, so it tends to be well developed in young dogs that run frequently. Most of this muscle originates from the ischium, but in senior dogs, the well-developed muscle can lose flexibility, pulling the ischium downward and causing the hips to drop or the lower back to round.

This muscle around the ankle works to push the toes backward, generating propulsion during hind leg movement. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss typically begins in the hind legs. Even if a dog’s hind legs are weakening and it becomes unsteady, dogs that keep trying to walk are likely relying heavily on this muscle. As long as this muscle remains functional, there’s a good chance the dog won’t give up using its hind legs, making it an important area to keep relaxed and cared for.

This muscle is responsible for abducting the hind leg. It functions to support the hip joint during standing, preventing lateral sway. It is also a muscle that tends to weaken more easily than others as dogs age. If the thigh muscles remain strong but the gluteal muscles weaken first, the dog may be able to walk once standing but finds it difficult to stand up on its own. It is very difficult to build muscle through strength training once dogs become seniors, so it’s important to maintain ample hip joint mobility while they’re still young to help prevent decline.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

This muscle functions in knee flexion and is situated right at the back of the knee. The popliteus muscle is difficult to feel directly, and its primary function in knee flexion is to prevent the toes from dragging on the ground when the hind leg is brought forward. Therefore, it is not a muscle that typically experiences high loads. For this reason, it generally doesn’t need much manual therapy.

This muscle is located on the front lower part of the leg, just below the knee—essentially the shin—and it works when lifting the toes. Like the popliteus muscle, it helps lift the toes off the ground when the hind leg is brought forward to prevent dragging. During this movement, no weight is placed on the hind limb. Therefore, like the popliteus muscle, the tibialis anterior muscle generally does not bear significant load.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

This muscle is responsible for abducting the hind leg. It functions to support the hip joint during standing, preventing lateral sway. It is also a muscle that tends to weaken more easily than others as dogs age. If the thigh muscles remain strong but the gluteal muscles weaken first, the dog may be able to walk once standing but finds it difficult to stand up on its own. It is very difficult to build muscle through strength training once dogs become seniors, so it’s important to maintain ample hip joint mobility while they’re still young to help prevent decline.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

This muscle runs along the sides of the lumbar vertebrae and is active when rounding the lower back or bending it side to side. In small to medium-sized dogs, as they enter their senior years, they tend to adopt a posture where the ischium is pulled downward due to tension in the hamstrings. This area then becomes a site of secondary muscle stiffness. When the lower back is rounded, you may feel inclined to massage the back, but it’s ineffective unless you also relieve tension in the hip joints.

This muscle runs along the lumbar vertebrae and is active when extending or laterally flexing the lower back. It is common for senior dogs with rounded backs to have this area extremely tight, and many show discomfort or pain when it is touched. However, just because the lower back is rounded or the dog shows pain in the back, it doesn’t mean massaging the lower back alone is sufficient. The true cause of tightness in this area, leading to a rounded lower back, is likely related to issues in the limbs. This muscle is particularly important among the muscles, but unfortunately, since it is located on the backside of the scapula, it is difficult to palpate externally.However, when this muscle becomes tight, it can pull on the ribs, limiting the stride length of the forelimbs, causing asymmetry between left and right sides, and even leading to twisting habits in the torso. Therefore, it is an important area to care for.

These muscles are located between the ribs, filling the spaces in between. Primarily during breathing, the ribs expand during inhalation and contract during exhalation. However, dogs support their body weight on their front legs, which are not connected by bones (they lack a clavicle). Because of the muscles connecting the scapula and ribs, the ribs can become restricted in movement due to the load on the front legs, leading to a loss of trunk flexibility.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is the muscle that pushes the hip joint backward. This muscle is used to generate propulsion with the hind legs, so it tends to be well developed in young dogs that run frequently. Most of this muscle originates from the ischium, but in senior dogs, the well-developed muscle can lose flexibility, pulling the ischium downward and causing the hips to drop or the lower back to round.

This muscle around the ankle works to push the toes backward, generating propulsion during hind leg movement. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss typically begins in the hind legs. Even if a dog’s hind legs are weakening and it becomes unsteady, dogs that keep trying to walk are likely relying heavily on this muscle. As long as this muscle remains functional, there’s a good chance the dog won’t give up using its hind legs, making it an important area to keep relaxed and cared for.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula with the head, cervical vertebrae, and thoracic vertebrae. Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle works to help push the front leg backward. When this area becomes stiff, scapular rotation is restricted, making it difficult for the dog to move its front legs forward. When stride length becomes limited, senior dogs often find walking tiring and have difficulty covering long distances.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. This muscle connects the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. Since dogs only walk forward, their front legs tend to become stiff in a position as if they've fully pushed off backward. At that time, this muscle becomes tense, and when touched from the outside, it is perceived as tightness in the back. However, simply massaging this area directly when the back is stiff doesn’t have much effect.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is the muscle that pushes the hip joint backward. This muscle is used to generate propulsion with the hind legs, so it tends to be well developed in young dogs that run frequently. Most of this muscle originates from the ischium, but in senior dogs, the well-developed muscle can lose flexibility, pulling the ischium downward and causing the hips to drop or the lower back to round.

This muscle around the ankle works to push the toes backward, generating propulsion during hind leg movement. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss typically begins in the hind legs. Even if a dog’s hind legs are weakening and it becomes unsteady, dogs that keep trying to walk are likely relying heavily on this muscle. As long as this muscle remains functional, there’s a good chance the dog won’t give up using its hind legs, making it an important area to keep relaxed and cared for.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

When dogs walk, they swing their limbs back and forth, but after fully pushing the hind leg backward, the front leg must be folded when moving it forward to avoid dragging the toes on the ground. This muscle is used during that movement, so it isn’t heavily engaged during weight-bearing activities like standing or walking.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

When dogs walk, they swing their limbs back and forth, but after fully pushing the hind leg backward, the front leg must be folded when moving it forward to avoid dragging the toes on the ground. This muscle is used during that movement, so it isn’t heavily engaged during weight-bearing activities like standing or walking.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

This muscle runs along the lumbar vertebrae and is active when extending or laterally flexing the lower back. It is common for senior dogs with rounded backs to have this area extremely tight, and many show discomfort or pain when it is touched. However, just because the lower back is rounded or the dog shows pain in the back, it doesn’t mean massaging the lower back alone is sufficient. The true cause of tightness in this area, leading to a rounded lower back, is likely related to issues in the limbs. This muscle is particularly important among the muscles, but unfortunately, since it is located on the backside of the scapula, it is difficult to palpate externally.However, when this muscle becomes tight, it can pull on the ribs, limiting the stride length of the forelimbs, causing asymmetry between left and right sides, and even leading to twisting habits in the torso. Therefore, it is an important area to care for.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

Because dogs stand with their weight shifted onto their front legs and lack a clavicle, the muscles connecting the front legs to the torso are constantly under strain, making simply standing tiring. Therefore, as dogs enter their senior years, this area can easily develop muscle stiffness just from standing. When this area becomes stiff, dogs may struggle with steps and tire more easily during walks. If you are aware of its position, this muscle can be accessed via the chest and is definitely a key area to focus on during care.

It can be said to be the most important inner muscle for dogs that bear weight primarily on their front legs. It originates from the back of the scapula and inserts onto the ribs. Since this muscle is located behind the scapula, it cannot be felt from the outside, but you can target it by stretching the scapula. In senior dogs, loss of flexibility in this muscle can limit the stride length of the front legs. If left untreated, muscle loss will begin in the hind legs. It’s important to provide care while the dog can still walk.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

Because dogs stand with their weight shifted onto their front legs and lack a clavicle, the muscles connecting the front legs to the torso are constantly under strain, making simply standing tiring. Therefore, as dogs enter their senior years, this area can easily develop muscle stiffness just from standing. When this area becomes stiff, dogs may struggle with steps and tire more easily during walks. If you are aware of its position, this muscle can be accessed via the chest and is definitely a key area to focus on during care.

It can be said to be the most important inner muscle for dogs that bear weight primarily on their front legs. It originates from the back of the scapula and inserts onto the ribs. Since this muscle is located behind the scapula, it cannot be felt from the outside, but you can target it by stretching the scapula. In senior dogs, loss of flexibility in this muscle can limit the stride length of the front legs. If left untreated, muscle loss will begin in the hind legs. It’s important to provide care while the dog can still walk.

It is the muscle that pushes the hip joint backward. This muscle is used to generate propulsion with the hind legs, so it tends to be well developed in young dogs that run frequently. Most of this muscle originates from the ischium, but in senior dogs, the well-developed muscle can lose flexibility, pulling the ischium downward and causing the hips to drop or the lower back to round.

This muscle around the ankle works to push the toes backward, generating propulsion during hind leg movement. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss typically begins in the hind legs. Even if a dog’s hind legs are weakening and it becomes unsteady, dogs that keep trying to walk are likely relying heavily on this muscle. As long as this muscle remains functional, there’s a good chance the dog won’t give up using its hind legs, making it an important area to keep relaxed and cared for.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

It is the muscle that pushes the hip joint backward. This muscle is used to generate propulsion with the hind legs, so it tends to be well developed in young dogs that run frequently. Most of this muscle originates from the ischium, but in senior dogs, the well-developed muscle can lose flexibility, pulling the ischium downward and causing the hips to drop or the lower back to round.

This muscle around the ankle works to push the toes backward, generating propulsion during hind leg movement. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss typically begins in the hind legs. Even if a dog’s hind legs are weakening and it becomes unsteady, dogs that keep trying to walk are likely relying heavily on this muscle. As long as this muscle remains functional, there’s a good chance the dog won’t give up using its hind legs, making it an important area to keep relaxed and cared for.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

It is a muscle that runs along the back of the neck. Unlike humans, a dog’s cervical vertebrae are naturally tilted forward, so simply maintaining a posture of looking straight ahead puts a significant load on their neck. And when eating or drinking, this muscle needs to relax and stretch, making its flexibility especially important in senior dogs.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula with the head, cervical vertebrae, and thoracic vertebrae. Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle works to help push the front leg backward. When this area becomes stiff, scapular rotation is restricted, making it difficult for the dog to move its front legs forward. When stride length becomes limited, senior dogs often find walking tiring and have difficulty covering long distances.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. This muscle connects the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. Since dogs only walk forward, their front legs tend to become stiff in a position as if they've fully pushed off backward. At that time, this muscle becomes tense, and when touched from the outside, it is perceived as tightness in the back. However, simply massaging this area directly when the back is stiff doesn’t have much effect.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

When dogs walk, they swing their limbs back and forth, but after fully pushing the hind leg backward, the front leg must be folded when moving it forward to avoid dragging the toes on the ground. This muscle is used during that movement, so it isn’t heavily engaged during weight-bearing activities like standing or walking.

It is a muscle that runs along the back of the neck. Unlike humans, a dog’s cervical vertebrae are naturally tilted forward, so simply maintaining a posture of looking straight ahead puts a significant load on their neck. And when eating or drinking, this muscle needs to relax and stretch, making its flexibility especially important in senior dogs.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is a muscle that supports the elbow. Dogs stand with their weight shifted forward onto their front legs, essentially holding a position similar to being midway through a push-up. Therefore, whenever the dog’s weight is on the front legs—regardless of the posture—this area is always under load, making it an important spot to focus care on.

For dogs with a forward-weighted stance, this muscle, which supports the wrist—the part of the front leg closest to the ground—is extremely important. Since this joint is at the very front of the direction of movement while walking, it absorbs significant impact during sudden stops or landings from heights. Therefore, maintaining flexibility in this area is crucial to prevent wrist injuries.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula with the head, cervical vertebrae, and thoracic vertebrae. Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle works to help push the front leg backward. When this area becomes stiff, scapular rotation is restricted, making it difficult for the dog to move its front legs forward. When stride length becomes limited, senior dogs often find walking tiring and have difficulty covering long distances.

These muscles connect the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. This muscle connects the upper part of the scapula to the thoracic vertebrae. Since dogs only walk forward, their front legs tend to become stiff in a position as if they've fully pushed off backward. At that time, this muscle becomes tense, and when touched from the outside, it is perceived as tightness in the back. However, simply massaging this area directly when the back is stiff doesn’t have much effect.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

It is the muscle that pushes the hip joint backward. This muscle is used to generate propulsion with the hind legs, so it tends to be well developed in young dogs that run frequently. Most of this muscle originates from the ischium, but in senior dogs, the well-developed muscle can lose flexibility, pulling the ischium downward and causing the hips to drop or the lower back to round.

This muscle around the ankle works to push the toes backward, generating propulsion during hind leg movement. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss typically begins in the hind legs. Even if a dog’s hind legs are weakening and it becomes unsteady, dogs that keep trying to walk are likely relying heavily on this muscle. As long as this muscle remains functional, there’s a good chance the dog won’t give up using its hind legs, making it an important area to keep relaxed and cared for.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when walking, and this muscle is used to generate propulsion with the front legs. Therefore, dogs with weakening hind legs inevitably place greater load on this area. When it becomes stiff, it becomes difficult for the front legs to move forward, causing a reduction in stride length.

Dogs rotate their scapulae when they walk. This muscle is active when pulling the front leg forward. As dogs enter their senior years, muscle loss tends to begin in the hind legs, causing increased weight-bearing on the front legs. When the paw pads of the front legs are positioned further back to support this weight, the load on this area increases significantly.

When dogs walk, they swing their limbs back and forth, but after fully pushing the hind leg backward, the front leg must be folded when moving it forward to avoid dragging the toes on the ground. This muscle is used during that movement, so it isn’t heavily engaged during weight-bearing activities like standing or walking.

This muscle is responsible for abducting the hind leg. It functions to support the hip joint during standing, preventing lateral sway. It is also a muscle that tends to weaken more easily than others as dogs age. If the thigh muscles remain strong but the gluteal muscles weaken first, the dog may be able to walk once standing but finds it difficult to stand up on its own. It is very difficult to build muscle through strength training once dogs become seniors, so it’s important to maintain ample hip joint mobility while they’re still young to help prevent decline.

It is a muscle located in the front of the thigh. Dogs stand with their knees slightly bent, similar to a human holding a wall sit position. Put simply, dogs hold a stance that makes standing tiring. The important point is that many dogs do not properly use the vastus intermedius muscle needed to maintain this posture, and as they become seniors, this muscle is prone to weakening. Muscles reach a point where they become difficult to use before they actually begin to weaken. If care is provided at that stage, it may be possible to prevent muscle loss.

Dogs stand on their toes, with their heels raised off the ground. The muscles in the calf, including the flexor digitorum superficialis, work to maintain this angle. When jumping or wanting to lift the body, the dog bends the knee and ankle tightly and then quickly extends them to push off the ground and leap. Put simply, active dogs that run a lot or navigate stairs regularly engage both the vastus intermedius and these calf muscles.