Your dog, just like you, will go through different stages of aging. It is often difficult to tell one stage from the next but it is important to be on the lookout for signs of aging in your dog so you can give him the proper, care, treatment, and love he deserves. In this article, we will cover what constitutes old age in dogs, signs of old age, and how to keep your older dog as healthy as possible.
In humans, 55-plus is considered to be the senior age category. With dogs, it is based on the size of the dog. Old age is usually determined by size with smaller dogs tending to live longer. Large dogs begin to show their age at 8 or 9 years of age, with middle-sized dogs (50 lbs) showing age at about 10 years. Small dogs and toy breeds generally live longer and dont show age until around 12 years or so.
The good news is that just as the human life span has increased, so has your dogs. In the 1930s, the average life expectancy for dogs was 7 years and it is now 12 years. Today, it is not uncommon for some dogs to live up to 14 or 15 years of age.Increasing Your Dogs Life and HealthYou can't keep your dog from aging, just as we can't keep ourselves from aging, but there are things that you can do to increase the life and health of your beloved dog. These include annual checkups by your dogs vet.
As well as getting your dogs yearly rabies vaccination, this will protect you dog from diseases such as hepatitis, septospirosis, parvovirus, kennel cough and distemper. At these annual checkups, make sure you dog is checked for heartworms and intestinal parasites and keep fleas and ticks controlled at home. As your dog ages, his immune system becomes weaker and cannot fight off germs and parasites as well as a younger dog.Other ways to keep your aging dog healthy is to control his diet in order to keep his weight down.
As your dog ages, he is naturally less active and doesnt need to consume as many calories. So, limit calories and keep up a good exercise program. Good nutrition is critical for the health of your dog. Make sure you avoid cheap or generic dog food that can be harmful to your dog and lack proper nutrition. Your dog may seem happy being fat, well-fed and babied, but he will live longer and have a life that is enjoyable if he is kept in shape by regular exercise.
Periodontal disease is next to obesity as the most common problem with aging dogs that vets see. It is important to keep your dogs teeth clean to prevent gum disease because the bacteria can build up and enter your dogs bloodstream. Other steps a pet owner can take to delay the onset of aging in their dogs include grooming him to keep his skin and coat healthy and to discover any problems such as dry skin, thin or brittle coat, thin coat, body odor, or sore spots; and checking his ears for odor or gunk produced by infecting organisms.
Keeping your dog strong and healthy dog will help him age later than a dog that is stressed by disease or environment early in his life. Spaying and neutering your dog before six months of age usually adds to your dogs life expectancy. Signs of Aging - How can you tell your dog is aging?
One of the first signs of aging is when your dog starts to slow down. They just arent as active and playful as they used to be and take more frequent naps. It takes them longer to get up from a lying position and they go slowly up steps one at a time. You will begin to notice that your aging dog can no longer tolerate extreme temperatures.
They no longer enjoy lying out in full sunshine but rather seek out cooler shady spots to relax. Immune system is less able to fight off attacksSigns that indicate that your dog is aging include being stiff after waking. This is a normal part of aging and you just need to allow your dog time to slowly wake up and walk off the stiffness.
You might also notice some hearing loss and changes in their skin and coat. Wounds heal more slowly, they acquire allergies or their current allergies worsen. Oftentimes, your dog will start getting benign tumors that appear in their mouth or on their extremities.
Special Care for Your Older Dog
There are many ways in which you can care for your older dog that will make him more comfortable.
- Because you dog will tend to be stiff, allow time in the mornings for your dog to leisurely walk about to loosen up.
- Make sure he has a good bed that has the proper support and is a comfortable size for him.
- Brush his coat more often to stimulate the oil glands which in turn will help his drying skin.
- Be patient and understand that his kidneys may be getting weaker and he will tend to have some accidents in the house. This is out of his control so be diligent in letting him have more time outside.
- Above all, spend time with him. He has been a loyal friend and deserves to be treated well.
By recognizing the signs of aging in your dog and taking care of your dogs needs, you can extend your dogs life. With the proper care, attention, and treatment, your dog can live a long, healthy and happy life.
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