How old is a senior dog?
Recognising that your dog is a ‘senior’ is the first step to preventative health care. There is considerable breed variation in the aging process with smaller dogs tending to live longer than larger breeds.
- Dogs less than 10kg – considered senior at about 8 years
- Dogs 10-25kg – considered senior from 7 years
- Dogs 25-40 kg – considered senior from 6 years
- Dogs 40kg + - considered senior from 5 years
Regular health checks
Once your pet is senior, take them to the vet for a thorough check up twice a year. Pets can suffer from many of the ailments that affect humans such as cancer, diabetes, dental disease, kidney failure and loss of vision. Early detection is key and many of these conditions can be treated to help your pet maintain their quality of life.
Be aware of changes in your pet’s behaviour
This could indicate underlying age-related disease. Don’t accept old age as the reason for these changes as they could actually be symptoms of treatable underlying problems. These include:
- Change in appetite
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Excessive thirst and/or urinations
- Difficulty rising, climbing stairs or getting into the car
- Loss of housetraining
- Appearance of lumps or bumps
- Bad breath, or bleeding gums
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
- Change in sleep patterns
- Confusion or disorientation
Tips on how to care for your beloved older pooch:
- Regular grooming
Senior dogs still need regular brushing to maintain coat health. Use a soft brush for their delicate skin. Also use grooming time to check your dog over for lumps and bumps.
- Good daily nutrition
Superior nutrition for your dog becomes even more important as they age. Seniors need a balanced diet that is often lower in calories, protein and fat but higher in fibre, depending on their individual requirements.
- Watch their weight
Because of decreased activity level, many older dogs will be more likely to gain weight. Being overweight predisposes pets to heart disease and pancreatitis, and also places unnecessary strain on their joints.
Keep a regular record of their weight and notify your vet of any significant changes, as weight loss can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition and needs to be investigated.
- Exercise
Regular exercise can promote muscle tone, increase blood circulation, improve brain function and help to control weight in those overweight dogs. Many dogs will be able to continue regular gentle exercise into their golden years, however the type and duration may need to be adjusted.
- Watch out for signs of osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease)
These can include reluctance to exercise, reduced ability to jump and play and changes to toileting behaviour. It is important your vet diagnoses osteoarthritis as other diseases can also cause these signs.
There are many treatment options to help to slow down the degenerative changes within joints. Your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatories to help provide pain relief, advise on appropriate diet and exercise routines, and there are a range of supplements available that can help to slow disease progression and alleviate inflammation within arthritic joints.
- Supplements
PAW Senior Vitality is a tasty powder containing a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals & nutrients to help support brain, eye and immune health in your senior dog.
Be kind and considerate
Think of your older pooch as you would an elderly person. Their senses may not be as sharp as they once were, so they may be easily startled or may not move out of your way as quickly as they once did.
Our senior pets are so special-their twilight years are a time to be treasured and for us to thank them for all the happy times they have brought us.
