If the muzzle of your dog is turning gray, this is a sign that it may be entering the stage of senior dogs. Just like humans, aging is a normal process for dogs and happens gradually over time. The age at which a dog will be considered a senior member of the canine community depends on the breed and size of the dog. Normally small dogs grow old slowly and enjoy more longevity as compared to larger dogs. It is suggested by the experts that small, medium, large and giant size dogs will be considered as seniors when they reach 11, 10, 8, and 7 years of age respectively.
Aging is a gradual process and dogs undergo both physical and mental changes. As your dog grows in years, its body also undergoes many changes, and the lifestyle you are providing for your dog must be adjusted accordingly. Skin becomes rough and less elastic. Dogs may become less active and less responsive to their surroundings. To keep your dog healthy, you must know the requirements of your senior canine friend, and ready yourself with ways to adjust to maintain their health and comfort. Below are some common health issues that your canine friend may face as he grows old.
Obesity
The weight of your dog has a significant effect on his health; Old dogs are less active and are more likely to become obese as compared to younger adult dogs. Obesity can put undue stress on the joints and the organs, and can lead to or exacerbate arthritis, diabetes, and heart-related issues.
Athritis
If your dog is very advanced in age, arthritis is the first and most common health issue your dog may face. Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease is the most common form of arthritis found in dogs. This affects the weight-bearing joints (hip, knee, elbow, and shoulder) causing pain and stiffness of joints. This condition gradually becomes worse as time passes, and is exacerbated by inactivity and obesity.
Loss of Hearing And Vision
As dogs grow old, they gradually lose their ability to hear and vision due to the degeneration of nerves in the ear and eye. Vision loss due to certain conditions like cataracts can be corrected surgically, but if these conditions are wholly due to the aging process, nothing can be done to reverse them.
Cognitive Dysfunction or Dementia
Older dogs may lose cognitive function (due to the degenerative change in the brain) and develop behavioral changes (just like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in humans). The dog may show symptoms like disorientation, whining or barking for no apparent reason, confusion, appearing to get lost in familiar surroundings, restlessness, and more.
Diabetes
If your old friend is displaying signs like increased thirst, frequent urination, sudden and significant weight loss, increased appetite, and frequent urinary tract infections, this metabolic disease may be in progress. Diabetes can also lead to kidney and heart issues and is often comorbid with obesity.
Dental Disease
Although dental issues can arise in young dogs, they are more common in older dogs. Damage to the internal supportive structure of teeth is a gradual process and begins with tartar buildup leading to gingivitis.
Other Potential Ailments in Ageing Dogs
Some other issues that are not very common but can develop in older dogs are listed below;
- Urinary incontinence
- Digestive issues
- Heart-related issues
- Kidney problems
- Cancer
- Hepatitis
- Cancer or tumors
- Hyper adrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease)
- Hypothyroidism
Tips to Improve Health in Senior Dogs
Remember that aging is a natural process, but not a disease. You can help your dog to adjust to the new lifestyle, slow the aging process, and delay the development of medical issues. You can make sure that your canine friend continues to enjoy a healthy life, irrespective of age.
Below are some guidelines that you can follow to ensure a healthy and happy life for your senior dog while they face the challenges that come with age.
Regular Exercise
Regular moderate exercise is very important for older dogs. It helps them to maintain muscle tone, normal body weight, and keep the joints mobile. This will also reduce the chances of arthritis and diabetes.
Healthy Diet
A well-balanced diet specially formulated for older dogs should be offered. As older dogs are less active, their diet must be low in fat and calories and must be supplemented with essential nutrients necessary for senior dogs. This will reduce the chances of being obese and other weight-related issues.
More Frequent Vet Visits
You must visit your veterinarian regularly (at least twice a year) for the medical checkups of your senior friend. As older dogs are more prone to different ailments and regular visits will help your veterinarian in early diagnosis of any underlying issue and advise treatment.
Maintain Oral & Dental health
Oral and dental health is commonly neglected by most dog owners. Keeping your dog’s teeth in the best condition is very important to maintain your senior canine friend’s health. Regular teeth brushing, use of a special dental diet if necessary, and dental treats are good ways to improve dental health.
Play Brain Games
Just like physical exercise, mental exercise is also important for the mental health of your dog. Activities that involve the brain (like toy and food puzzles, hide and seek, etc.) keep the mind active and is an important exercise for cognitive health.
More Grooming Time
As older dogs are less active, they can develop more matting. Skin can also become rough, dry, and scaly with age. Therefore, older dogs tend to need more grooming than younger adult dogs. In addition to brushing your dog regularly, it is also advised to use natural shampoos that will nurture and rebuild irritated skin and coats.
Provide Special Accommodations
As old dogs may develop some medical conditions like arthritis, deafness, or blindness, you must make adjustments according to their special needs and build a residence for them where they can move around easily and feel comfortable. This may mean special dog beds, changing their training cues to match their sensory ability, moving more slowly, or refraining from rearranging furniture.
All dogs are not the same, but they all will grow old, and every dog owner should be ready for this. It’s important for all dog owners to understand the special needs of old dogs and how to look after them, whether your dog is a senior right now or won’t be for another ten years. None of the medical issues correlated with old age develop overnight. With proper care and simple adjustments in the lifestyle, you can delay their progression and make sure that your dog continues to enjoy a healthy and happy life for the coming days.