Geriatric Frailty in Dogs

Geriatric frailty describes a state in which an older dog's ability to respond to physical stress becomes noticeably reduced. It reflects a gradual decline across multiple body systems rather than one specific illness, and tends to show itself through a cluster of changes—reduced muscle mass, slower recovery from minor setbacks, less tolerance for cold or heat, and a narrower margin for error when something goes wrong. Owners often arrive at this page because they have noticed their dog tiring more easily, struggling to bounce back from a routine vaccine reaction or a mild stomach upset, or simply seeming more fragile than they were a year ago. The changes can be subtle at first, and it can be difficult to know which signs reflect normal ageing and which suggest something that warrants closer attention. This page explores the patterns that characterise frailty, what is happening in the body when resilience begins to narrow, how frailty is assessed in practice, and the range of approaches that can support quality of life and help maintain function for as long as possible.