It feels like he’s always been a part of your life. He’s shared your highs and lows, your everyday chores and your occasional adventures. He’s a true friend, a real family member, but unfortunately, he has one disadvantage not shared by the rest of your family. He ages quickly.
One day he’s a little slower to get up, not as eager to plunge into icy water, even ready to call it quits on the walk when you are. His muzzle has grayed, his eyes look cloudy, and he doesn’t always catch the slight sound of the refrigerator door opening from the next room. Congratulations, you have a senior dog. That doesn’t come without good genes, good care, and good luck.
Physical Development
There’s no set age at which old age starts in dogs. In general, the larger the dog, the faster it ages. Thus a Great Dane can show signs of old age by 5 years of age, while a Chihuahua may still seem young at 10. And forget that old rule about 1 dog year equaling 7 people years. It depends on the breed.
Certain changes do occur in dogs as they age. As with people, their metabolic rate decreases, along with their activity, so they have a tendency to put on weight. In extreme old age, the opposite is true: they tend to lose their appetite and weight, and have muscle loss, so that enticing them to eat enough to keep weight on can be a challenge.
Older dogs, especially of larger breeds, tend to have arthritic changes that discourage them from being too active. These changes are especially noticeable the day after exercising, or when getting up in the morning. The dog may be stiff and lame, and may even cry.
Older dogs may also experience some sensory loss. It’s normal for dogs to have some slight haziness visible through the pupil due to thickening of the lens, but in some cases the haze becomes so dense the dog has difficulty seeing. Cataracts are more likely to form in some breeds and in dogs with diabetes. If they are interfering with vision the lens can be removed and an artificial lens implanted in its place. Some diseases cause irreversible blindness in old dogs. Dogs with gradual vision loss can cope well as long as they are kept in familiar surroundings and extra safety precautions are taken, such as blocking pools or open stairways.
Hearing loss also is common in older dogs, especially dogs that have been subjected to loud noises, such as gunfire, during their life, but it’s usually not noticeable until very old age. Higher pitched hearing usually is lost first, so sometimes speaking both louder and in a lower voice can help your dog hear you. Completely deaf dogs can cope well if you use hand signals. They also respond to vibrations.
Older dogs lose skin moisture as they age, and while your dog doesn’t have to worry about wrinkles, the skin can become dry and itchy. Regular brushing can help stimulate oil production, and shampoos and sprays designed to moisturize the skin may help.
Older dogs may also have a stronger body odor, which is sometimes due to a treatable problem. One common cause is periodontal disease, which can in turn cause a host of other problems. Seborrhea, impacted anal glands, ear infections, and even kidney disease can also contribute to body odor.
In general, any ailment that an older dog has is magnified in severity compared to a younger dog. Vomiting and diarrhea can bring on dehydration that can have serious repercussions in an old dog. The immune system may be less effective in old dogs, so it’s important to shield him from infectious disease, chilling, overheating, and stressful conditions.
Socialization
If he’s not socialized by now, let him be! He’s earned his peace. In fact, he may be less interested in playing social butterfly, and may be far less tolerant of rough children or boisterous puppies. Don’t force him to growl a nuisance away because you didn’t take care of it.
Behaviors
He’s not as raring to go as he used to be, but that doesn’t mean you can just ignore him. He still likes adventure, but you may need to tone it down a little. Instead of hiking to the lake, drive him there. Take him for drives around town to make up for the walks he can’t manage comfortably. But when it comes to long trips, remember, they can be grueling. Boarding in a kennel can be stressful. Consider getting a housesitter if you want to go on vacation and he can’t go with you.
Some older dogs can become cranky and impatient, but don’t just excuse behavioral changes as simply due to aging. There could be an underlying cause, such as pain or disease, especially if the change has come about suddenly.
Dogs can get Alzheimer’s. If your dog ends up staring into corners, seems to walk around aimlessly, doesn’t seem to respond normally to you, or seems to have lost all semblance of housetraining, talk to your veterinarian about possible drug therapy that helps in some cases.
Care and Experiences
At first you may not have to make many changes. Just tone his exercise down a bit, keep an eye on his weight, and take him to the veterinarian for more frequent (ideally, every six months) check ups.
You want him to keep fit, but strenuous activity can be hard on arthritic joints. It’s ideal if he can just wander around and smell the scents, maybe taking a casual stroll around the neighborhood. Don’t walk so far in hot weather that you can’t get back home before he gets overheated. In fact, it helps to bring a little canteen and a collapsible dog bowl along with you for emergencies.
Unless he has a specific problem, he doesn’t have to switch to food for old dogs, but that’s where his veterinary check-up will come in handy. Blood tests can alert you to the early stages of diseases of the liver, kidneys, and other organs that can be slowed by special diets. In extreme old age, you may find it a challenge to keep weight on him, so you may have to try enticing him with all sorts of different foods, even ones that may not be optimal for his other health problems. He should be fed several small meals instead of one large one. Moistening dry food or feeding canned food can help a dog with poor teeth enjoy his meal (but fixing the dental problem will help even more). He may find it easier to eat lying down or with his bowl on a an elevated feeder.
As he gets older you may have to put up some of those baby gates you thought you were done with, at least if his sight is failing. Even if it’s not, he may think he can still do athletic feats he’s no longer up to, like running down a flight of stairs, or jumping in the deep end of the pool. The rear legs often lose their strength before the rest of the dog does, and he may have difficulty standing up, or balancing on slick surfaces. Adding non-slip runners to tile floors can help prevent him from slipping down.
It’s not uncommon for some dogs to become incontinent with age. Spayed females of larger breeds are especially likely to dribble urine in their sleep. You can buy plastic backed pads made for babies for her to sleep on that will absorb urine and are easily washed. You can also buy disposable puppy wee-wee pads to place under her when she sleeps. Old dogs of either sex can also lose control of their bowels as they sleep. Just clean it up and don’t say anything. It wasn’t on purpose. It’s important to make it easy for your dog to get outside when he needs to go, especially if he has any disorders, such as kidney disease or diabetes, that make him drink and urinate more. And always make sure he has plenty to drink. Never withhold water to reduce how often has to urinate—you could make him extremely, even fatally, ill.
Training
You can teach an old dog new tricks, and you may find he really enjoys it. On days when he can’t get out, he may appreciate the mental stimulation of learning something new, and he’ll certainly enjoy the attention. And the pressure is off to make sure he’s perfect. Just make sure you’re not asking him to do something that’s hard on his joints.
Some new tricks may come in handy. He may need to learn how to use an indoor potty so he doesn’t have to go outside on snowy days, or go down outdoor steps or ride in a crowded elevator. He may need to learn to walk up a ramp to get on your bed or sofa. Don’t sell him short: he can do it!
And there’s evidence that, just as in people, keeping his mind active may help stave off senility.
Play
Some dogs are playful well into their teens, while others look at you like you must be out of your mind if you think they’re going to act like a stupid puppy. But a little play is good for any dog. If he likes to fetch, keep it up—but don’t send him into deep water when he could be tired. Don’t play rough games that can hurt his neck or spine, or be rough on his arthritic joints. Consider mind games that require him to seek out hidden treats in the house, either using his nose or by watching you hide them and then looking for them a few minutes later.
Consider interactive toys, which can entertain him while he tries to dislodge food from them. Just don’t make them too demanding!
Whatever you do, spend time with your old dog. Give him a gentle massage, take him for a in the car, just sit outside and enjoy the breeze while he falls asleep at your side. In many ways, these are the best days with your dog. If only they could last forever.
