Understanding What Your Senior Dog Needs
At what age is a dog considered a senior?
There is a little bit of controversy over exactly what age your dog becomes a senior, and it probably is related to their size. Some dogs have a longer lifespan than others, but a general rule is any dog over seven is considered a senior dog. It really does depend on the size of the dog you have. Unfortunately, for those gorgeous giant breeds, they have a shorter lifespan, so we think 8 to 10 years for a giant breed.
For a medium dog, their lifespan is probably at least about 13 healthy years. For these little tiny guys, like my number one assistant here, Georgie, they tend to have a longer lifespan, and he could very easily go till 15.
What are common health issues in senior dogs?
One of the most common health issues in senior dogs is mobility issues. They can be very hard for you to recognize at home. If your dog used to jump up on the couch, not that we recommend that, but if your dog used to jump in your car or go up the stairs very quickly and now seems to hesitate and isn't able to go places like they used to, or on walks, you notice they're slowing down or even stopping sometimes, those are good indicators of some degree of pain.
Also, if your dog happens to be limping, dogs would never limp if they didn't have to. Lame equals pain. If a dog is limping, it means they're painful, even if they're not complaining or whining.
How often should senior dogs visit the vet?
Senior dogs really need to see us more than once a year. We recommend they come in twice a year. Often, by the time they're seniors, they're on some medication that requires that they come in twice a year. It also helps us to intervene and do some things proactively for them if we get to see them twice a year.
What should senior dogs eat?
The dog food world is very good about letting you know that there are diets appropriate for different age categories. You should have your dog over seven on a senior diet. It should be labeled for seniors. There are some diets that say all life stages.
Personally, I prefer the ones that separate out the life stages, but the ones for seniors are appropriate for anybody over seven.
What is included in senior wellness plans?
One of the important things in senior wellness plans is that they have multiple visits for you, facilitating you coming in twice a year. They also have robust blood work in the wellness plan. You should do some type of screening blood work on your pet twice a year.
What cognitive changes occur in senior dogs?
One common thing that happens in senior dogs is cognitive changes that you should be mindful of to make it safe for them. As they age, they lose things like their vision, mostly their near vision, making it difficult for them to navigate places. You have to be careful about that, particularly in the dark.
They also lose their hearing, and these combined with cognitive changes can make it hard for them to navigate through your house and get outside to do their potty breaks. A common issue we get calls about is, "Oh my gosh, I found my dog in the corner," indicating they wandered into a corner when trying to make it outside.
An accident in the house is very upsetting to them. You have to adjust some things for them. When their cognition changes, they may change their appetite, meaning not that they're not hungry, but they may be hungry at different times of day. They may get their days and nights mixed up, or even vocalize at night, which is related to cognitive and hearing changes. These are common senior cognition changes.
How can I keep my senior dog active?
Keeping your senior dog active is important. Ensure they have comfortable, slow exercise. It's good for them to go on walks with you, not too long, but enough because they do things on a walk they don't do in the backyard. They'll see other pets, birds, and things they have to register, think about, look at, and navigate.
There are also good enrichment toys for senior dogs you can use in the house. Regarding interaction with other dogs, I'm not a big fan of introducing new dogs in their senior life, as it may not be well-received and hard for them to get out of the way if needed.
There are nice supplements with antioxidants and foods with additives for senior dogs. These are great things to do for your senior.
Why is dental care important for senior dogs?
Georgie can speak to this well. Georgie came to us as a senior and only has two teeth left with a lot of bone loss in his jaw. Dental care should start in adulthood to improve the fact that tartar may allow you to keep their teeth longer, which is important. It's crucial for how well they're able to eat. Dental care earlier helps, so if you get them used to toothbrush brushing, dental treats, and any food or water additive for dental disease is important.
In seniors, twice a year evaluation is necessary because one uncomfortable tooth can make it hard for them to eat. If you see your senior with dry food cocking their head or dropping food, it may mean they have a problem tooth needing evaluation. Good reason to come twice a year.
What are the signs of pain in senior dogs?
If they're limping, it's important. Lame equals pain. Other signs include stiffness or a groan. In larger dogs, you may notice when they settle. They'll do a spin move and then try to lay down, and you may hear a grunt or groan, indicating discomfort. Mention this to your veterinarian. Limping needs to be mentioned to your vet as well.
Some dogs have behavioral changes when uncomfortable, particularly around family members, even with little people. If they react when someone pats their back end, it needs to be discussed with your veterinarian.
What should I do if my senior dog is losing weight?
A really important thing about senior dogs losing weight is that it should prompt you to see your veterinarian and run some blood work. Weight loss is usually an important factor. They do lose some weight and muscle mass as they age, which is related to mobility.
However, if they've lost enough weight that it's noticeable to you and their appetite is reduced, you need to do screening lab work to ensure they don't have a metabolic problem, such as a kidney issue, liver issue, or endocrine issue.
What should I feed my senior dog?
I mentioned earlier that there are senior dog foods, some of which have antioxidants in them. Their coat and appearance do change due to hormonal changes, but also their ability to absorb the right nutrients may change slightly as they age.
This is a good reason to use a senior diet. There are some supplements specifically for coat and skin, mostly from the fatty acid family, which may be necessary if you're not getting what you need from your food. However, if they're on proper food, you shouldn't have to add too many supplements.
Home Modifications for Senior Dogs
This is a funny little story about how I modified my own home when my senior dog got older. I had all hardwood and tile floors, and I purchased every area rug I could think of to cover the path my dog used through the house. My children had guests over, and one of the little girls leaned over to my daughter and said, "If your mom likes carpeting so much, why doesn't she just get wall-to-wall?"
It's good to give them safe footing through your home. If that means no-slip area rugs and known pathways, it's a really good thing to do for your dog. You don't have to carpet your house wall-to-wall or use multicolored area rugs, but there are many rugs designed for pets. Even ones that are no-soil, meaning if they slip, fall, or have an accident, it's not the end of the world because they clean up easily. It's good to try to limit them to one level to reduce the number of stairs they have to navigate and ensure their footing is good.
End of Life Care for Senior Dogs
It's a tough topic to talk about end-of-life care for senior dogs, but unfortunately, none of us have discovered the fountain of youth for them. We'd love to keep them with us for 50 years, but that's not possible. There are some end-of-life indicators and things you can do at that point when they truly have a total loss of mobility or are very uncomfortable moving around. Making their world small and easy to navigate is important.
For instance, they shouldn't have to go down two flights of stairs to go outside. Moving them close to where it's convenient for food and water is crucial, as is keeping them warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. Older dogs are sensitive and may pant a lot. This doesn't always mean they're hot; they may be uncomfortable or disoriented. Whatever we can do to make them comfortable is important, and there are many interventions your veterinarian can provide.
Hearing and Vision Reduction in Senior Dogs
We've discussed the reduction in hearing and vision in senior dogs. The hardest part of a dog with hearing reduction is the lack of recall. If they're out in the yard and wander away, you may not be able to call them back. This is scary because senior dogs can follow their nose and get lost.
You need to ensure they maintain visual contact with you if hearing is the issue. If vision is the issue, it's like having a person with vision impairment in your home. Ensure they have safe pathways and don't navigate dangerous areas like stairs. Many dogs require more lighting to navigate stairs because their near vision changes and depth perception is affected. Limiting their world and making short distances for them to travel is important.
Preventive Care for Senior Dogs
One common question about senior dogs is whether they still need to maintain preventive care, such as vaccines and flea/tick medication. The answer is yes, as long as your pet hasn't had a reaction to these. The very young and the very old are most susceptible to diseases we vaccinate for, so it's important to keep those up. Protecting them from flea, tick, and heartworm is essential, even if they don't go outside often.
Town and Country Animal Hospital Supports your Senior Pet
Your pet’s health matters to us, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Call (703) 273-2110 or email [email protected] to learn more. If you are ready to join our family, schedule your visit below.