Nobody likes to admit that they are getting old. Least of all, their pets. It’s understandable, in what feels like a short period of time, you have watched your dog go from bouncing, stumbling puppy to a brisk, healthy adult.
Dogs in their autumnal years live just as rich, fulfilling and happy lives as puppies. Part of that is making sure they are healthy. A nutritious diet, the right amount of exercise and plenty of tender loving care will ensure your dog’s lasting health and happiness.
Part of supporting your dog as it ages is knowing when to switch its dog food from adult dog food to senior dog food. Just like older humans, older dogs have different dietary requirements as they age. Since they are less active, they don’t need as many calories as younger dogs, and they may require softer foods as their teeth wear out.
Don’t despair though, switching your senior dog to appropriate food will only lengthen his lifespan, and improve his health, so the two of you get more happy times together.
Spotting the Signs…
The main reason why it is important to keep tabs on how aged your dogs are, is for their own welfare. You can better care for someone when you know what is wrong with them. They say a dog becomes senior around the age of 9, but this varies, not only from breed to breed, but from dog to dog.
Ageing is something that is partly genetic and partly environmental. Dogs that get plenty of exercise and great diets throughout their youth are more likely to age gracefully than those with poorer starts in life.
How to Tell Your Dog is Ageing
Some of the signs of old age are listed below. If you find your dog is displaying these behaviours, it may be time to switch them onto a senior dog food formula.
- Change in appetite. You may find your dog wants to eat less than usual.
- Thirstier than usual. (This can however also be a sign of diabetes or organ failure, so do seek medical attention if your dog is drinking a lot more.)
- Smellier breath.
- Weight loss or gain. Ageing causes changes in metabolism.
- Lumps or bumps. If you are worried about a bump, get it checked out, but often older dogs simply become a little bumpier.
- Fatigued and lethargic. Old dogs spend a lot more time resting than younger dogs.
- Not keen on walks. Older dogs have less energy and may have aches and pains, so are less likely to want to exercise.
- Coughs.
- Difficulty urinating or passing stool.
- Dullness or inattentiveness.
- Poor balance
- Also, check their genitals to see if any smelly discharge is coming out.
General Care for Senior Dogs
We wrote a blog already about caring for your senior dog. Give it a read for an in-depth explanation of how you can ensure your dog’s older years are spent as happily and healthily as possible.
Older dogs will require more frequent vet visits. Take him to the vet if any of the symptoms of age are worrying you, because they can also be indicators that something may not be right.
