Caring for a Senior Dog

The rate of ageing differs between breed and size of the pet.

OVERVIEW

It’s a natural part of life for pets to grow old.

A senior pet is one that describes an ageing or older pet. The rate of ageing differs between breed and size of the pet.

Size of dog (kgs)	Adult	Senior	Geriatric
<10	4-8 yrs	8-14 yrs	14+ yrs
10-23	3-8 yrs	8-12 yrs	12+ yrs
24-40	3-6 yrs	6-10 yrs	10+ yrs
>40	3-6 yrs	6-10 yrs	10+ yrs

Goals for senior care:

• Enhance the human-animal bond
• Promote early detection of abnormalities
• Promote individualized medical care to enhance the quality of life

Focused areas of wellness in the senior pet:

• Dental care
• Diet and nutrition
• Weight control – particularly weight gain in dogs
• Parasite control
• Exercise
• Vaccination
• Mental health including environmental enrichment
• Housing and the accommodation of disabilities such as vision and hearing loss

SIGNS

As pets get older, they can start to show signs of old age including:

• White hair around the muzzle
• Poor hearing
• Poor sight
• Poor smell
• Decreased energy
• Changes in appetite
• Fewer teeth
• Stiff joints
• Sleepy

Older pets can become sick more often. You can help by watching your pet every day for signs of a problem.

• Increased drinking or peeing
• Weight loss or gain
• Decreased appetite or failure to eat
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Difficulty in peeing or pooping
• Lameness
• Bumping into things
• Bad breath
• Sleeping a lot
• Hair loss
• Panting or coughing
• Weakness

It is important to keep feeding and sleeping habits consistent to avoid stress. Even vision-impaired pets cope well with a good routine and familiar areas. It’s from the middle-aged years that we should become more vigilant for early changes. Diseases can begin during these years and it often not until their senior years that the disease progresses to a point where the condition can become life-threatening. Early detection is important.

Common senior pet conditions:

• Osteoarthritis
• Dental disease
• Hypothyroidism in dogs
• Diabetes
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Incontinence (fecal and urinary)
• Spinal cord disease
• Vision loss
• Hearing loss
• Kidney failure
• Heart disease

It's a good idea to take your senior pet to the vets every 6 months so that any problems can be picked up early.

TIPS

Senior pets need special care:

• Handle them gently
• Provide them with soft but firm bedding
• Keep the bed area away from cold draughts
• Set up a ramp instead of stairs
• Give them soft food
• Provide them with elevated feeders
• Provide them with slow and gentle exercise daily
• Take them to the vet at least twice a year
• Teach your pet hand signals with verbal signals
• Avoid sudden movements
• Use the ground for sending vibrations
• Keep to a strict routine – meals and toileting