As a canine body worker, I highly recommend that everyone with dogs around 8 years old start looking for a reputable acupuncturist, chiropractor, and massage person. I have been doing quite a few older dogs and it really helps keep the blood flowing, release muscle tension, and identify areas where the dog is over compensating for the loss of muscle as a result of age and less exercise. Many of the dogs that I have been doing are extremely tight in the front and sacro-lumbar area. One thing that everyone must remember is that bigger dogs age faster. Hence, I do quite a few large breed dogs such as Retrievers and labs. The other thing that people need to remember is that if your dog’s structure is not good, then you will need to start alternative therapies sooner because there is over compensation due to structural problems, as well as aging. Utilizing canine massage and other alternative therapies can help minimize the amount of pain medication that you might have to use. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me and I will provide you with any help that I can. Check out pawssage.com for more information.