So your animal companion has been with you for a long time and you’re starting to notice changes. As with people aging, so it goes with dogs. A well-cared-for dogs can live to a ripe old age. Most dogs can live into their teens, and small dogs seem to have a longer life span than the giant breeds.

Throughout your companion’s life, it is important that you have regular checkups with your veterinarian, get the appropriate vaccinations, and provide a good quality diet. When the animal approaches middle age (7ish years) you may start noticing tarter on the teeth. This is the dark sometimes, thick material that starts to form on the back teeth, especially. Initially, your vet may be able to scrape it off during a regular check-up but, as the material builds up, you may need to have your pet in for a dental cleaning.

Have you noticed that it is more difficult for your dog to jump onto the usual places? Yes, their joints and hips get stiff and they can develop arthritic changes…does this sound familiar? If you start noticing that they seem uncomfortable, it may be time for a trip to the vet. Your older dogs may prefer a slow leisurely walk rather than a climb up Mt. Diablo and soft place to lay and easy access to their special spots.

Their sight and hearing can become impaired and some signs you may notice could be cloudy eyes, bumping into things, or not hearing you when you call. So, just be aware and remember that our animal companions need that extra bit of attention and TLC as they go into the twilight of their years.

Slower Metabolism:
The senior dog’s body is in the process of slowing down. Their metabolism works more slowly than it used to and many dogs put on excess weight in their autumn years. Since the rest of the body’s organs and joints are also slowing down, extra weight can be more taxing on a senior than on a younger dog. Be sure to feed your senior dog age-appropriate food and help him get daily exercise as well. He may not need an hour-long jog, but a 15 minute daily walk that’s gradually increased up to 30 minutes can be just the ticket for keeping him sleek and trim.

Routine Vet Care:
While important for a dog of any age, routine vet care is even more important for seniors. Veterinarians may wish to perform an annual blood panel in order to discover problems before they become serious. Some veterinarians will also ask that you bring your senior in every six months instead of once a year. Just as young puppies, with their changing bodies, require more veterinary attention, so to do changing senior dogs.

Stable Routine:
Senior dogs are adaptable creatures, but often seem to be happiest when they’re in an established routine. Because they’re undergoing changes to their body, it’s nice to be able to predict what’s coming next in their day. This doesn’t mean you can’t take your senior dog camping or to an unplanned trip to the pet store, but it does mean that on average, making your dog’s life as consistent as you can, may help provide a little extra security.

Weekly Grooming Sessions:
Senior dogs can begin to lose the luster of their coat. Weekly grooming sessions will not only get rid of dead hair and help spread the skin’s oils more evenly across the body, but most dogs find grooming enjoyable or even therapeutic. It can be an excellent time for you and your pet to bond while doing something good for her health.

Sensory Changes:
Just as humans can lose some of their eyesight or hearing as they age, so too can dogs. Most senior dogs get a hazy blue cast to their eyes as their corneas change. Dogs can suffer hearing and scent loss as well, and this can cause them to become disoriented or more easily startled. Most of these changes occur gradually enough that your dog will adjust gracefully. You may not even notice the change.

Physical Changes:
Aging dogs will get graying fur around their face and muzzle. Their skin may also become thicker and less pliable. Although many senior dogs develop little lumps and bumps on their skin, if you detect any lumps beneath the skin, have a veterinarian examine them. These can be signs of something more serious than just old age. A senior dog’s mouth and teeth become more susceptible to infection and their joints may become stiffer or arthritic. You can feed your dog a food with glucosamine or give your dog glucosamine tablets for improved joint health. If your dog seems to be in pain, have a veterinarian examine him.

Cognitive Changes:
Dogs can forget things too, and some senior dogs begin to lose cognition as they age. They can be more easily startled, become lost in a house they should be familiar with, or seem not to recognize their family. Contact a veterinarian if you start to notice any of this disorientation.

When to Contact a Vet
If you notice any of these symptoms in your senior dog, contact a veterinarian immediately:

• Excessive drinking or urinating.
• Sudden weight gain or loss
• Lowered appetite or not eating.
• Sudden increase in appetite
• Repeated vomiting
• Diarrhea.
• Difficulty in passing stool or urine
• Change in housebreaking or loss of housebreaking
• Lameness
• Noticeable decrease in vision
• Open sores or scabs on the skin
• Foul mouth odor or drooling
• Increasing size of the abdomen
• Hair loss, especially if accompanied by scratching or if in specific areas (as opposed to generalized)
• Excessive panting
• Inability to chew dry food
• Blood in stool or urine
• Sudden collapse or bouts of weakness
• A seizure (convulsion)
• Persistent coughing or gagging
• Breathing heavily or rapidly while at rest