Caring for Older Dogs

As your dog ages, one might start to notice subtle signs of ageing such as: greying of the
face and muzzle, moving slower, losing interest in playing and/or sleeping more. When
dogs get older, they become more susceptible to developing age-related health problems.
Regular veterinary check ups and being aware of your dogʼs changing needs will help
improve your dogʼs quality of life.

When to See a Vet

If you notice any of the following changes such as: eating less, drinking more than usual,
urinating more often, having difficulty walking or seeing, losing weight, experiencing
periods of confusion or develops lumps on the skin, please seek veterinary attention. If
caught early enough, many of these age-related diseases can be managed therapeutically
to improve your dogʼs quality of life.
Age-related problems commonly seen in older dogs include: arthritis, change in dietary
needs, dental disease, kidney problems, diabetes, eye problems, skin changes and
senility.

Arthritis in Dogs

Signs of arthritis also known as “degenerative joint disease” in dogs includes: difficulty
walking, difficulty especially when climbing stairs, slow getting out of bed, general stiffness
and in severe cases overt lameness. In dogs, arthritis commonly affects the shoulders,
wrists and elbows and knee and hip joints. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed
successfully with a combination of veterinary NSAIDs, (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs), joint supplements, weight reduction (if overweight), gentle exercise and
environmental enrichment. Joint supplements made just for dogs are available over the
counter in powder and capsule forms. These natural joint supplements help promote joint
function and repair.
You can also make your dog more comfortable by providing thick extra soft bedding or a
dog orthopaedic bed, covering slippery floors with mats, elevating food bowls so that your
dog doesnʼt have to bend over and making high places more accessible (so your dog
doesnʼt have to jump and potentially injure itself) with a portable dog ramp or stair step.

Change in Dietary Needs

As dogs get older, their metabolism will slow down and they are not always able to digest
foods as well as they could in their younger days. Therefore, it is important that you feed a
senior type of dog food that will meet your dogʼs nutritional needs. You can also
supplement your dogʼs diet with a nutritional or multivitamin supplement formulated for
senior dogs.

Dental Disease

Older dogs often have tooth decay and loss causing bad breath and difficulty eating. It is a
good idea to have regular dental care including brushing your dogʼs teeth and having
regular dental cleanings by your vet. Good dental care will prevent harmful bacteria from
inside the mouth from spreading to other organs.
Kidney Problems, Diabetes & Incontinence
As dogs get older, sometimes their organs and donʼt function as well as they used to. If
you notice that your dog is urinating or drinking more than usual or having urinary
accidents, please seek veterinary care. Veterinary treatment and drug therapy can help
make your dog more comfortable. If your dog is unable to hold it through the night, one
can use disposable doggie diapers or bloomers to keep him/her dry through the night.

Eye Problems in Older Dogs

If you notice changes to your dogʼs eyes or that he doesnʼt seem to be seeing as well,
seek veterinary care. Older dogs will usually have difficulty seeing in low light conditions.
You can make navigating around the house easier by keeping his environment consistent
(e.g. avoid furniture changes) and providing extra lighting for your dog at night time. There
are even some lighted dog safety collars and attachable safety lights for night time
walking.

Skin Changes & Tumours

Be sure to regularly inspect your ageing dog for skin changes and any suspicious lumps
and bumps and have them checked out by your vet. Your vet can help determine whether
itʼs a benign or malignant change.

Senility or Brain Ageing

As dogs get older, many of them may become easily disoriented or confused even in
familiar surroundings. This is known as “canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome” similar to
Alzheimerʼs in people. Toilet training, loss of learned behaviours, difficulty sleeping and
interacting less with family members may also be seen with brain ageing. There are
medications and special prescription diets that may help slow down the disease
progression. Consult your vet for more info.
Itʼs important to remember that growing old is not a disease or a death sentence for your
dog. It just means that your dog may need a little extra loving care and treatment for
possible age-related diseases to improve his/her quality of life.