How to care for your aging pup

Everybody gets old including our pets. It’s never easy to watch our vivacious little puppies become “senior citizen” dogs. While we as humans can express our aches and pains to a doctor, our pets can only show it through various signs. The more tuned in we are to the typical indications, the sooner we can help them age gracefully.

Physical Signs

Cloudy eyes or difficulty seeing. Eye cloudiness can happen so gradually that we may not even notice. It could just be a sign of cataracts or an eye disease. He may be bumping into things or this could be actual vision loss.

Horrible Breath

Awful breath may indicate gum disease, tooth decay or an infection. As they age, fighting off an infection is much more difficult.

SLOWING DOWN/DIFFICULTY GETTING AROUND

Very common to see them struggling with steps or even getting up from a nap may become challenging. You may notice weakness in their back legs which could be arthritis or a degenerative disease. HIs exercise routine will need to be adjusted.

NEW LUMPS & BUMPS

Some dogs are prone to fatty lipomas, but keep an eye on any and all lumps under the skin as they age. Make sure they are not malignant tumors.

Change In Weight

Often older dogs gain weight with less exercise. However, they may also begin to lose weight. Could be a result of reduced muscle mass, decreased appetite, poor absorption of nutrients or digestive illness.

INCONTINENCE OR DIFFICULTY “GOING”

If he suddenly seems to forget his housetraining or seems to strain when urinating, it could be signs of a UTI or a kidney disease.

Behavioral And Mental Signs

CCDS, or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, affects 14 to 37 percent of dogs over 8 years of age. Similar to Alzheimer’s in humans, CCDS can bring about these changes:

• Fear of people or objects;

• Changes in sleeping;

• Waking cycle including restlessness or pacing at night;

• Increased barking and vocalization;

• Repetitive or compulsive behaviors;

• Forgetting commands and cues that were once familiar;

• House soiling;

• Increased anxiety;

• Confusion and disorientation;

• Marked change in activity level.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The most important thing you can do is talk to your vet when you see the above changes. Let him/her help you make decisions about changes in diet or exercise, changes you can make around the house or the daily routine.

Often a pet owner’s greatest fear is having to make a decision about their pets’ end of life and that fear may make an owner unwilling to see the vet. Our dogs give us years of love and loyalty and we need to make their golden years as enjoyable as possible.

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