Getting some muscle back?

[MontananDakota]

How can I do this fro Dakota? I feel like I've gotten her to gain 5 lbs. now but she still feels like she's lost muscle. I can feel her shoulder blades and I compare her body to China and China ( she is 9) has way more muscle. Dakota always has been more of a sleek type body but not this sleek. She looks good, not skinny anymore but she is still always wanting to eat...not quite satisfied. And she sleeps a lot. I know she's 12 1/2... maybe I am being neurotic....

[Berna]

Lost muscle is difficult to gain back and needs time. Don't expect her to get back the muscle tone that she had when she was younger. Physical therapy - hydrotherapy, electric stimulation, exercises - these can help get the muscles working. Slow, on leash walks too, that is why it's important that our seniors remain active and get regular, low-impact exercise. One exercise that can help strengthen the muscles on the hind end is sit - stand up. Repeat a couple of times.

Here's Cookie doing the exercise a few months ago:

[POPTOP]

Melody and Mardi both had muscle loss with age. What helped them was the range of motion exercises. Although non-weight bearing, it did keep the muscles as limber as possible and I'm sure helped with strength some too.

[MontananDakota]

Thank you both so much. Berna I am so thankful that you posted that because I was actually trying to avoid asking Dakota to sit because I thought it was too hard on her. I didn't realize asking her to and repeat would actually help her. I know she will never regain what she had years ago. She never was very muscular, always more sleek but fit, walking always. It just seems like a big difference in this past 6 months, like creeping up on us. I'm going to try this now, thanks again.

Poptop, what are range of motion exercises? As we get further into cold weather I worry about our walks. It's always been her favorite thing in the world. Mine too. Weather permitting we go as often as possible but winter has ( for the past 12 years) slowed us down. Springtime we always get right back into the swing but I think this spring may happen a bit slower due to her age. I hate the aging part. Breaks my heart. We had a beautiful (but chilly and I'm on the lookout for sweaters) walk today and oh how alive she is when we're out on the trail��