Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

Best exercises for 70lb dog with hip dysplasia to lose weight?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 2 months old | 70 lbs

My dog is diagnosed with hip dysplacia, he is weight 70 lbs now. what type exercises can I give him to reduce his weight? He is currently on Farmina Ultrahypo diet.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on October 22nd, 2018

Dogs with hip dysplasia should be thin to reduce the discomfort so I’m glad you are getting him on a diet. Swimming is the best exercise to maintain his fitness, lose weight and protect his hips from further arthritis. You can also take him to a Rehabilitation veterinarian and they can give you specific exercises to do at home and he can walk in an underwater treadmill to keep his rear legs strong. I do recommend giving an omega 3 supplement as well as a joint supplement to reduce inflammation and improve the joint health. If he’s very painful then getting pain medication from your veterinarian may be needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sakthi.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Ann Dion, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 30th, 2017

    Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Swimming is great exercise for hips and knees. If Am is holding his 1 back leg in the air, it could be due to the hips, however it also could be a sore knee. I would suggest getting the knee checked for a ruptured TPLO, although he is young for this to occur. Swimming either way will strengthen the muscles and take less pressure off the joints. Dogs often will walk if the water isn't deep enough that they have to swim, so you can try brining him somewhere where the water is deeper. Walking in the water is also very good exercise for his knees and hips as well, as the resistance of the water provides great exercise without decreased stress on the joints. This is OK to continue as well. Keep it up with Am! Best of luck.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How do I exercise dog with hip dysplasia (no pain)? Of course daily walks (how much/long?) It's like she never gets tired. What about stuff to do in backyard? Fetching, chasing her, tugging, etc? Hiking in forest is option once every week. Swimming i
Hello. Since Pharah is not clinical & showing no signs of a limp or pain, then I would not restrict any activity with her ( many agility dogs will have signs of hip dysplasia with radiographs, but continue to compete very successfully ). The important thing in this point in her life is to control her weight. Obesity is the worse thing for dogs with HD. You might want to consider starting her on a joint lubricant such as Adequan injections ( 2 injections per week x 4 weeks, then monthly for life ), & Omega 3 Fatty Acids 50-100 mg/kg/day of the EPA. I like EcosaDerm, but your vet may have a good recommendation. If she shows signs of a limp, or is reluctant to complete a task, especially as she ages, then discontinue these activities. Otherwise, exercise & weight control are equally important for dogs with HD. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is one and a half years old, he is 85lbs and had been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Can you recommend good reputable joint supplements and/ or exercises for this?
Oh my. He is young to have this debilitating condition already. I would recommend Dasuquin or Cosequin joint supplements and regular exercise that isn't over exerting for him. The supplements, a high quality food and exercise should be enough to help maintain his conditon for as long as feasibly possible. Keeping him ideal weight can also help prevent any extra load on his joints. Also keep in mind that an overweight pet has extra fat which cause more inflammation to occur in the joints. I hope this helps and best wishes with Rosco and maintaining his conditon. Here is more information on this conditon. Best of luck. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How can I treat my dogs hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia means that Chuck's hips have poor conformation resulting in hip joint laxity. Over time this will result in arthritis and pain. Keeping Chuck thin and providing steady exercise such as walking will maintain the muscles that support the hips. This will reduce the development of arthritis. If he is already showing signs of pain please put him on medication so he can continue to be active and maintain his muscle mass. I like to give omega3 supplement in addition to a joint supplement. You may also want to discuss Adequan injections with your veterinarian. They help reduce the damage to the joint cartilage. It's best not to have Chuck do any jumping as this may make the discomfort worse. Absolutely work on getting him to a normal weight if he's heavy as the extra weight is hard on the joints. Many dogs live long active lives with hip dysplasia when their owners are proactive with their care. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Chuck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my dog has dysplasia and can hardly walk on one of his back legs. can i do anything to help this at home
For such a young dog, I recommend to have Boogie examined by the veterinarian. Dysplasia is something that tends to get worse over time and if you take appropriate action now, you may be able to avoid or slow this down. He will need an exam and radiographs to begin figuring out your options. At home you can put Boogie on an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets. A joint supplement would also help. Lastly, a prescription diet for joint health will also be beneficial but they cannot fix the dysplasia. Here is a link with further information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/ I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has hip dysplasia and was operated for perineal hernia (twice) 4 months ago. My question is, is there any activity we can do at home, what kind of play and limitation we can give him that will do well on his hips but wont compromise his perine
I would recommend a full assessment by a veterinary rehabilitation specialist or physiotherapist given his conditions which complicate each other. Strict weight management is vital for both and i would recommend hills metabolic mobility diet for such. Acupuncture and chiropractic care may also help relieve any spasm and improve nerve control in the area and improve bowel motility
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, Thank you in advance for your answer. My 6 months old labrador got hip dysplasia. he now walks with 1 back leg a bit "up in the air". I started to get him in water a bit yesterday for a light exercise. He didn't swim but kept warlking slowly in t
Hello and welcome to Boop by Petco. Swimming is great exercise for hips and knees. If Am is holding his 1 back leg in the air, it could be due to the hips, however it also could be a sore knee. I would suggest getting the knee checked for a ruptured TPLO, although he is young for this to occur. Swimming either way will strengthen the muscles and take less pressure off the joints. Dogs often will walk if the water isn't deep enough that they have to swim, so you can try brining him somewhere where the water is deeper. Walking in the water is also very good exercise for his knees and hips as well, as the resistance of the water provides great exercise without decreased stress on the joints. This is OK to continue as well. Keep it up with Am! Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have six months old golden retriever female...she could not walk properly...a vet doctor had told that she might be having hip displacement...so could you please tell me...any solution for this? And another is can you give a diet chart for this bre
I'm assuming Dobie was diagnosed with possible hip dysplasia, which unfortunately is common in Golden Retrievers. There are some surgical options for severe hip dysplasia in dogs so you should talk to your veterinarian if you might be interested in referral for surgery. Surgery is usually only recommended for dogs who are severely affected. Hip dysplasia can lead to arthritis later in life, so some things you could potentially do if surgery is not an option include making sure she stays thin, giving her consistent moderate exercise (daily walks on a leash or swimming would be best), and routine veterinary care. Joint supplements are recommended by some veterinarians as well - talk to your vet about options. The diet chart is a little more difficult since commercial dog foods vary in their calorie contents. All commercial dog foods should be nutritionally balanced, and I would definitely recommend choosing a puppy food until Dobie is at least one year old or fully grown. You can use th
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
He has luxating patella, need wait $ for sugery, he is overweight, try to lose some b4, how much exercise would be more damage than good?
Great question! I would take Butters for several walks a day, but at a short distance. This way, he gets exercise without putting a lot of strain on his knee. If he does start limping, take him home right away. You can also consider swimming. It's a great low impact exercise that won't put a lot of strain on his knee, and would help him lose weight. It will help him build up his muscles as well. Diet is also another important component of weight loss. I would speak to your vet about a diet food for him, and make sure not to give him any treats or human food at all.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I am unable to find a quality vet in my town and i figured out that my dog has hip dysplasia so can you please advice me what treatment and medication should i provide him to make him better.
A diagnosis of hip dysplasia is confirmed with xrays. Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. Consider a consultation with a veterinary orthopedic specialist. You should be able to locate one using your preferred online search engine. Anti inflammatories, physical therapy, swim therapy, cold laser therapy, joint supplements and weight control are all options to manage dysplasia. " Legally, we are prohibited from recommending medications in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My dog is more than 30 pounds over weight, he’s a Labrador Retriever. Do you know what exercises I can make my dog do since it’s pretty hard to go running outside since there’s snow outside. And what diet can I give my dog?? ‬
Hello. In bad weather, just do the best you can. Walking in the snow actually burns quite a few more calories then an easy stroll in the grass. Even just walking around the house or up & down stairs is great exercise ( if Simba has no problems with his hips ). Just like in people, it is not what you eat, but how much. You can easily control how much he eats, but you can also switch him to a weight control diet. There are many available, some you can just pick up, others like Hills w/d or r/d require a prescription from your veterinarian. Cut out all treats & table scraps & if Simba begs for treats you can give him a couple of baby carrots, or a few tablespoons of salt free canned green beans. With time, the weight should come off. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored