Furry Facts – Your senior dog

Your veterinarian will be able to judge when it’s time to consider your pet a senior.

Keep your vet informed

MOST importantly, you should tell your veterinarian about any noticeable change in your dog’s physical condition or behaviour.

A problem that you may assume is simply related to your pet’s advanced age may actually be the result of a treatable medical condition.

For example, your dog’s reluctance to exercise may not stem from the normal decrease in energy that comes with age, but from arthritis or a heart condition – both of which can be managed with the proper treatment.

Regular, semi-annual check-ups can thus help your veterinarian work out a suitable preventive health programme for your pet and catch any problems sufficiently early to provide effective treatment. Working together, you can both ensure your dog’s senior years will be healthy and happy ones.

How and when will I know my dog is getting old?

As dogs move into the geriatric phase of their lives, they experience gradual changes that are remarkably like those of ageing humans: hair turns grey, their bodies are not as supple and reflexes not as sharp as they once were, hearing, eyesight and the sense of smell may deteriorate and energy levels, as well as attention spans, seem to diminish. In fact, the first sign of ageing is often a general decrease in activity, combined with a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly.

Such signs may begin to manifest themselves before eight years in large breeds like great danes, while smaller breeds can remain youthful until 12 years and even longer. Furthermore, a healthy dog will most likely age later than one that has been affected by disease or environmental problems early in life. Again, as with humans, the ageing process will vary with the individual. Your veterinarian will be able to judge when it’s time to consider your pet a senior.

Feeding

As your pet ages, your dog’s nutritional needs may also change.

You may find that, although your pet is eating less, he/she still puts on weight. This could be due to slowdown of their metabolism or a decrease in activity. Excess weight can aggravate many canine medical conditions including heart, respiratory, skin and joint problems. To help a portly pet reduce, try feeding smaller quantities of food or gradually switch to diet lower in calories. Other dogs have entirely the opposite problem – they lose weight as they age, sometimes as the result of heart or periodontal disease or diabetes. In either case, ask your veterinarian for advice about your pet’s individual nutritional requirements.