old age in dogs, how do you notice it?
As soon as dogs get older, it is crucial to keep a close eye on their health. In fact, when dogs become senior this is regularly accompanied by various age-related ailments. But when are dogs officially old? What exactly are the symptoms? And the all-important question: what can I do to take the best possible care of my senior dog and help him grow as old as possible? In this blog, we will answer these questions.
WHEN IS A DOG OLD?
When a dog is considered 'old' varies greatly from one dog to another. This is partly due to the breed of dog. For example, larger dogs age faster than small dogs. Large dogs are senior from 7 and sometimes even 6 years old. Medium-sized dogs become senior by the age of 8. Smaller dogs, on the other hand, are juniors until they are as old as the age of 10. Of course, this is not as specific as described above. There are all kinds of factors that affect the quality of your dog's life. Health has a significant part in this. Unfortunately, as dogs age, this is often accompanied by health issues. What stands out?
SIGNS OF OLD AGE
The risk of age-related diseases thus increases from an average age of 8 years. Dogs are getting older both physically and mentally. Behavioural changes due to old age can be seen in, for example, fearful behaviour for certain people or situations, decreasing motivation to play or walk, a disturbed rhythm of life (think of uncleanliness, forgetfulness, worse responsiveness and/or deeper sleep). Your dog may become more quickly disoriented in his or her surroundings. This is often linked to declining eyesight and hearing. Older dogs react less alert to sound stimuli, listen more poorly and are also less likely to recognise people and places.
Some dogs even experience cataracts, where blurring occurs on the lens of the eye. Other age-related discomforts your dog may face include dental problems (inflamed gums or bad breath), osteoarthritis/joint wear, heart and/or kidney problems, obesity, diabetes, tumours, incontinence and dementia. Many of the symptoms are interrelated. For example, dental infection can cause heart and kidney disease via the bloodstream, and obesity can aggravate heart problems or osteoarthritis and contribute metabolic disease (diabetes).
3 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR DOG YOUNG
1. Keep your dog mentally engaged. Challenge him with new stimuli and by teaching skills. This will keep your dog's brain sharp and functioning properly for longer.
2. Provide sufficient exercise and regularity. Instead of one long walk, take an older dog out for shorter but more frequent walks.
3. Have your dog checked by the vet once a year. Old age deficiencies can go unnoticed for a long time and it is better to be aware of them early.
Many signs of ageing are related to exercise. Osteoarthritis makes exercise difficult but, on the other hand, even more important. Reduced endurance and heavy breathing can indicate poor condition but also heart problems. Obesity is again the result of too little burning. Older dogs are simply less active but usually get the same amount of food.
Sufficient exercise is of course not only important once your dog becomes a senior. A dog treadmill can help maintain condition (early) and strengthen the body in a safe, fun way. More information?