My Australian Shepherd Doesn't Want To Run Anymore

by Ema Plesko
(Slovenia)

Hello, My Aussie (Xena) is 7,5 years old. Lately, she doesn't want to go on a longer walk anymore. She used to walk with my dad almost every day for 1-2 hours - she was always so excited when he put his walking shoes on. Now she sometimes goes with him but after 10min she just turns back and goes home. (We live in a small village so she knows every meadow and every forest by heart.) She still goes for a run with me but she doesn't look so energetic and most of the time she runs 5-10m behind me. (She always used to run way ahead me.) All this started this summer. (I wonder if she doesn't want to go because it might be to hot for her - we live in a Mediterranean climate?)

Xena doesn't look like she is in pain when walking/running or at least I don't see it. But she has her head and tail a bit lower than usually.

Otherwise she looks perfectly normal - she wants to cuddle all the time, when somebody comes home she is excited and jumpes around, she carries shoes around wagging her tail, she eats normal...

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice, should I take her to the vet?

Thank you,

Ema

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