The Senior Citizen Pet
Old Age in Dogs – Part I

Just like people, dogs are living longer today than in years past. The average lifespan of a dog has climbed from 7 years in the ‘30’s to more than 12 years today. With good care and a little luck, it isn’t unheard of for a dog to live 14-15 years.

How Old Is My Dog

We’ve all heard the old saying that one year is like seven for a dog… but that is really just an oversimplified generalization. There are many factors to consider including the actual age and weight of the dog. A larger dog will age more quickly than a small dog, generally.

Here is a chart to give you an idea:

Veterinarians typically consider a small dog to be a “senior” at around 10-12 years and larger dogs around 6-8 years. This is roughly the equivalent of a human around 50-65 years.

Also, as with humans, with age comes infirmity. You may notice Spot has slowed down a bit. Perhaps Fluffy doesn’t chase or race the kids around anymore. Or, if and when, Scooter will head upstairs, it is a leisurely stroll, no longer two or three stairs at a time. It happens.

So What can I Do

There are many things you can and should do as your dog gets older. Regular checkups at a trusted vet are a must but you need to be aware of certain signs and symptoms. After all, who spends the most time with your pet? Who knows when and how Snowball does normal (or not so normal) things? You do. Let’s start with a healthy, happy dog so we have a basis for comparison. Some changes are subtle and happen over time and therefore are less noticeable to us.

Signs of a Healthy Dog

• Coat – should be shiny and soft and thick (for most). Wire coats should be springy and lively. There should not be thinning patches. Double coated breeds should have an undercoat.
• Skin – should be smooth and have no redness, sores, lumps, scabs or scales. Color of skin varies with breed but usually is pink, black, brown or spotted. Keep free of fleas and ticks and other parasites.
• Ears – should be clean with no dark or bloody discharge or foreign matter in canal. There should never be a foul odor, redness or swelling.
• Eyes – should be bright and shiny. The conjunctiva (area around the eyeball) should be pink. Paleness is usually a sign of a problem. There should be no thick yellow or green discharge. Certain breeds have a watery discharge that is normal.
• Mouth – Gums should be pink or black. Paleness of gums is often a sign of anemia or worms. Red or inflamed gums may be gingivitis or periodontal disease. There shouldn’t be any bleeding or foul-smelling breath.
• Teeth – should be sparkling white on young dogs but older dogs’ teeth will tend to darken. Should be no yellow, green or brown matter and teeth should “fit” in gum.
• Nose – should normally be cold and wet. Should be a clear, watery secretion not green or yellow or foul-smelling.
• Temperature – runs around 101º normally. Active or excited dogs may run slightly higher but drastic changes (over 103 or less than 100) should be checked.
• Urine – should be clear and yellow, never dark brown or reddish. Should be proportionate to amount of water intake.
• Feces – should be firm and brown… color can be affected by different dog foods. Check for worms, blood or black color. Diarrhea or constipation should be checked.
• Weight – watch for weight gain or loss. As dogs get older they become less active and can easily gain weight from the same diet they have been on for years. (see earlier post about overweight pets) If an older dog is eating regularly and losing weight, this is possibly a sign of some ailment or affliction.

These are just a few helpful hints. Nothing takes the place of regular checkups. Find a vet that you and your pet trusts and make an appointment at least once a year, twice a year is better for an older dog.

There are so many great products available for the older pet; softer chews, ramps and stairs, vitamins and supplements, joint supplements, orthopedic or heated beds are just a few of the products Jeffers carries for older pets.

Next time – Part II (Signs and Symptoms and Preventative Care)

As always, information given here is meant to be helpful and/or educational. It is, in no way, intended to supersede, challenge or supplant the diagnosis, treatment or advice of a licensed veterinarian.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm and is filed under Pet Supplies, Discount Pet Supplies, New Pet Products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.