All owners hope that their dogs can accompany them and their families for a lifetime. However, the average life span of dogs is much shorter than that of humans, and owners will always have to face the aging of their dogs. Dogs age at a different rate than humans. Because their average life span is shorter, dogs tend to age suddenly. Suddenly the old dog's hind legs became weak, suddenly he didn't like to go out, and suddenly he couldn't even hear the call of his favorite owner...
Although the aging rate will vary depending on the breed, feeding method, and physical constitution of each dog, generally speaking, dogs will begin to gradually enter middle age after the age of seven, and enter old age around the age of 10. Generally, the larger the dog, the faster it ages. Small dogs start to enter the senior stage after about 12 years old; medium-sized dogs start to enter the senior stage after 10 years old; large dogs start to enter the senior stage after 8 years old.
As the dogs in the family grow older, owners have to adjust their daily routines in caring for their dogs. Older dogs require owners to take more careful care and pay attention to changes in their physical health. This article will tell you how to take care of senior dogs so that they can spend the rest of their lives healthy and happy.
How to tell if your dog is old?
If you want to observe whether your dog is gradually entering the stage of senior dog, you can observe from the physiological, psychological and behavioral changes:
Physiological phenomena of dog aging
First of all, you can observe from the appearance. In some long-haired dogs, you can obviously see that the luster of the dog's hair becomes lighter, some white hair appears on the face, and the color of the nose becomes lighter. Some dogs may experience hair loss. (Severe hair loss may be a sign of skin disease. If there is abnormal hair loss, please go to the animal hospital for examination immediately.) There are also some physiological changes:
1. Vision degradation
Dogs' vision degradation, retinopathy and other problems are difficult to observe and are often discovered only after obvious turbidity appears. Problems such as cataracts can be improved through professional treatment by doctors. However, your dog's vision will still not be as sharp as before. You may find that your dog often bumps into objects, or does not dare to move too far when the light is weak, or cannot accurately locate toys and food utensils.
2. Hearing deterioration
As the dog ages, the dog's hearing is no longer as sharp as before. You may find that the dog's reaction becomes slower, often not hearing the owner's calls, or becoming susceptible to being approached. Frightened by people and things around you.
3. Oral odor
When dogs age, their body functions are not as good as before, and their immune systems are not as strong as when they were young. They may be more susceptible to bacterial infections, especially their gums, which accumulate a lot of food residue every day, and are particularly prone to inflammation. You may find that your dog's mouth often smells bad even if his cleaning and eating habits haven't changed significantly.
4. Difficulty in movement
Old dogs often suffer from arthritis and other diseases, which makes it more difficult for them to move than before. They may slow down when walking and cannot move outside for too long. Because their movements are no longer sensitive, running, jumping, going up and down stairs, etc. are quite difficult for older dogs and they are more susceptible to injury.
5. Lumps appear on the body
Many dogs will develop lumps under the skin when they get old. Most of them may be benign lipomas, but they may also be malignant tumors. Therefore, if you find unknown lumps on your dog, you must Take it to the animal hospital for examination.
6. Weight changes
Some dogs will gain weight due to slower metabolism and less activity as they age. Feeders should pay special attention to their diet and do not let their dogs become overweight, otherwise other aging diseases will come sooner. In addition, some dogs will lose weight due to a loss of appetite after aging. If the dog loses too much muscle and loses weight too fast, ask a veterinarian to evaluate whether it is time to supplement nutrition or health food.
Some dogs' aging symptoms can be judged by changes in their appearance, such as white hair on their face.
Behavioral changes in dogs as they age
In addition to physical and physical changes, dogs will also experience some behavioral changes as they age:
1. Changes in excretion habits
Old dogs' control over excretion will decrease, and you may find that they often can't help excreting around the house. Even dogs who are used to using diaper pads may not have time to reach the diapers. Excretion occurs on the mat. Some dogs may suffer from incontinence. If this occurs, please go to the animal hospital for examination. Veterinary assistance can be used to alleviate the problem.
2. Changes in sleeping habits
It is more difficult for dogs to maintain their usual sleeping habits as they age. You may find that your dog is often restless in the middle of the night, walking around, and feels anxious and unable to sleep. At this time, you can comfort the dog more and let the dog fall asleep closer to you.
3. Alienation of close people and things
Older dogs may forget the previously familiar feelings of familiar people, things and things, and the dogs think these people and things are strange, so they feel fearful and want to distance themselves. Sometimes you may find that your dog seems to have forgotten who you are, and may even become less familiar and a little distant. At this time, don't think that your dog is being withdrawn and ignoring you. At this time, what your dog needs most is the patient and gentle companionship of its owner. Phew!
4. High alertness and increased barking frequency
Older dogs are experiencing a series of changes in their bodies. These changes can make them feel uncomfortable, unfamiliar, fearful, and anxious. Therefore, dogs will become more likely to be nervous, the slightest sound may cause them to alert and bark.
5. Forgetting the commands and rules you learned before
You may also find out why your dog has become less obedient as it gets older. If you can't remember how to obey the instructions or rules you have been taught in the past, your dog may not be disobedient on purpose, but may have forgotten it because of old age. Please be patient with them and do not hit, scold or yell.
6. Decreased activity
Dogs who are always active and active will not have as much physical strength as before when they reach advanced age. They may also suffer from pain in various parts of the body, so their activity will decrease significantly. However, the decrease in activity due to aging should be gradual. If your dog is suddenly lethargic and unable to move, it may be due to health problems or diseases. It is recommended to go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.
Care points for old dogs
Since dog aging is a process that owners must face, learning how to take care of senior dogs is a required course for owners. We can advise you on how to take care of old dogs from several aspects:
1. Diet
Old dogs eat much less than in the past, so the nutrients contained in the small amount of food are very important. The dog's feed can be replaced with feed specifically for senior dogs. Usually, feed specifically for senior dogs must contain high-quality, easy-to-digest protein to provide the dog with sufficient nutrition. Dogs who are accustomed to eating fresh food can also add some foods with antioxidant effects to the menu, such as blueberries, green cauliflower, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc., or other foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, carotenoids, and SOD, lipoic acid, Q10, selenium and other nutrients.
In addition, the bite force of older dogs will become weaker, so when feeding fresh food, it is recommended to cut the food smaller and cook the food softer to make it easier for the dog to eat. In addition, regular and quantitative feeding is also very important for old dogs, which can reduce the chance of gastrointestinal problems. The sense of smell and taste of older dogs will also gradually deteriorate. Coupled with the reduced appetite, foods that used to be delicious may no longer appeal to them. If the dog at home becomes reluctant to eat, you can try using leaky food toys or snuffle mats to stuff food or feed inside to arouse the dog's interest in eating.
When a dog loses interest in eating, you can use toys such as snuffle mats to attract the dog's attention.
2. Activities
Although older dogs are less active than before, owners still have to pay attention to maintaining a fixed amount of activity for their dogs. Especially senior dogs must pay attention to weight control, because being overweight will lead to many diseases. If an old dog develops health problems or diseases, it can easily get out of hand and turn into sad consequences. However, it is not recommended for older dogs to do excessively strenuous exercise, as it may overburden joints and other body parts. Activities such as jumping, climbing, and climbing stairs are not suitable for senior dogs.
If you want your dog to maintain a healthy and normal weight without overly strenuous exercise, what kind of exercise is suitable? In addition to daily gentle walks, you can also try taking your dog to swim in safe waters. Swimming is a good exercise for joint health, can soothe muscles and nerves, and can also exercise the whole body of your dog.
Older dogs should pay more attention to obesity, because being overweight may lead to more health problems.
3. Other daily care precautions
In other aspects of life, attention should be paid to minimizing changes in the environment. Senior dogs need a familiar and stable living environment to have a sense of security. After experiencing physical changes, they are already in a state of restlessness and anxiety. If the environment or the people and things around them change dramatically, Changes may make their anxiety worse.
In addition, in terms of living environment, we should also try our best to create a safer environment for old dogs. For example, in order to prevent dogs from falling or bumping due to poor vision, you can put more soft mats or carpets in the dog's activity routes. , Reduce the chance of your dog slipping and getting injured. Also try to keep dangerous and easy-to-fall objects in high places to avoid injuring dogs. In addition, auxiliary stairs, slopes, etc. can also be placed to reduce dog collisions and joint discomfort.
Although the coat color of older dogs is no longer as bright as before, especially long-haired dogs, daily grooming and cleaning are still important.
7 Common Health Problems in Old Dogs
When caring for senior dogs, in addition to paying attention to the daily environment and care methods, the most important thing is to frequently observe the dog's physical condition. When a dog begins to age, his body will undergo a series of changes, sometimes so fast that people are caught off guard. Therefore, if you know that your dog has almost reached the age of aging and physical function decline, you should start to pay attention to some health problems that are more likely to occur after the dog ages, detect them early by observing the dog's behavior, appearance, etc., and treat early.
1. Degeneration of vision and hearing
One of the most common health problems in dogs as they age is the deterioration of their eyesight. You may find that your dog is reluctant to move around or go out, loses its sense of direction, or often bumps into furniture or cannot be found even in a familiar living environment. Your own bowls, snacks on the floor, etc. There are many reasons for dog vision deterioration. The most common ones are cataracts, glaucoma or congenital retinal genetic diseases. The cause can be determined through diagnosis and treatment by a doctor.
Hearing deterioration is also a common health problem in older dogs. You may find that your dog often ignores your calls or instructions, and is obviously frightened when someone approaches. Faced with dogs with hearing loss, owners should not be overly worried or discouraged. They can use gestures to replace the original sounds in daily training, and slowly develop a tacit understanding with the dog. Your trust will not disappear. In addition, you should also pay attention in daily life. Try not to approach from behind or suddenly touch or scratch a dog with hearing loss from behind. If you frighten them too often, it will put the dog in an unsafe feeling state. Please look at it from the perspective of the dog. Where I can see you, I slowly approach and touch you.
2. Joint discomfort
Problems such as osteoarthritis and cartilage wear are problems that many dogs will face as they age. Joint discomfort will make their movements no longer as flexible as they used to be, and their mobility will also decrease. However, joint problems are normal degeneration, and although they cannot be completely cured, your dog's discomfort can be alleviated through health food, nutrition, or medication recommended by your doctor.
Dogs' joint discomfort can be relieved and maintained through nutritional supplements and health foods.
3. Dementia
Dogs may also face the problem of cognitive decline after aging. They may lose their sense of direction, forget familiar relatives, howl for no reason, feel anxious, and have incontinence. However, these symptoms may also be symptoms of other diseases, ask a doctor for evaluation. If there are no other diseases, it is the cognitive decline caused by dementia. The owner can accompany the dog patiently on weekdays. When the dog cannot defecate and defecate as before, be more tolerant and loving, so that the old dog can feel at ease life.
4. Tumor
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, aging may increase the chance of dogs suffering from cancer, but many lumps and tumors are benign. Therefore, if you find an unknown lump on your dog, you should ask a doctor to check it as soon as possible, and you should not judge by yourself. In addition, fixed health examinations should be done every time when the dog is young. When the dog ages, regular examinations should be carried out to prevent and treat new health problems as early as possible.
5. Gastrointestinal problems
The digestive tract function of older dogs decreases, and they are more likely to suffer from symptoms such as indigestion, diarrhea, and vomiting. In addition to having a balanced diet and regular and quantitative feeding, you should also try not to let your dog try too many new foods. Human food mixed with seasonings should not be fed. You can also ask your doctor for advice on supplementing your dog with additional pet health foods such as probiotics and enzymes to help with gastrointestinal digestion.
6. Heart problems
Heart disease is also one of the dangerous disease factors in old dogs. It may take away the dog's life in an instant. In particular, certain dog breeds such as Maltese and Pomeranians are prone to heart valve degeneration in small dogs. You must Pay attention to regular health check-ups. You can also choose health foods such as Q10, fish oil, and taurine based on professional recommendations to help your dog maintain its health and resist oxidation.
7. Kidney problems
Kidney failure is one of the common diseases in elderly dogs. Dogs with the most obvious early symptoms are abnormally thirsty, constantly drinking water and urinating, and have loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, and weight loss. Kidney failure in old dogs may kill the dog in a short period of time, so daily prevention and examination are particularly important. Kidney problems can be detected through blood tests.
Conclusion
The above is what you need to pay attention to when caring for senior dogs. When the dog gradually reaches its advanced age, you should start preparations as early as possible. Try not to wait until the dog is in urgent need of help before you rush to change the environment, care methods, etc. The most important thing is to maintain the habit of regular health check-ups to detect problems early and prevent or treat them early.
