Care of the Older Dog - Factsheet

Dogs usually live for 10 to 12 years and like humans their needs and their behaviour change with age. In many ways older dogs are like humans and have the same ageing changes, but everything happens faster.

Looking out for these changes needs a good observant owner as they are dependent upon us to get the help that they need to maintain a good quality of life.

Here are a few things to monitor:

Joints:
Ageing changes in all the major joints mean that arthritis can develop and this can be painful. Check to see if your dog tends to lie down whenever possible, say whilst you are out on a walk and you stop to talk to someone. By lying down they get relief from their aches and pains. Don't be fooled by your dog jumping up ready for the off at your command – they are faithful and reliable and they have an inherent desire for action, even if is uncomfortable for them.
Nowadays good non-steroidal medicines can do wonders to take away such pain and you could get back a lively active dog again. Glucosamine supplements are a natural alternative that can also help.

Heart:
Slowness on a walk could be joint pain, but it could otherwise be a sign that the circulation isn't up to pumping oxygen around the muscles so effectively. A dog that pants more and gets slower as the walk progresses is likely to have a compromised heart. Coughing is another sign to look for.
Unlike humans who are at risk of heart attacks from furred up arteries, the main problem in the dog is that the valves inside the heart start to leak. Every beat of the heart then becomes inefficient as some of the blood goes backwards not forwards.
Again, modern medicine can really help here too.

Lack of interest:
We know from studies in elderly people that mental tasks can become difficult due to a progressive loss of oxygen to the brain. In dogs, they may not play with their toys as much, or they may seem happiest just pottering around.
Several things could be involved so it is best to have your older dog regularly checked by a vet. We will be able to ascertain if this is a problem, and unlike in people, we vets have something that could help: A drug called Vivivtonin® increases the oxygenation to the deep brain tissue, sometimes with remarkable results. It can be like turning back the clock by five or so years!

Obesity:
Less exercise and general slowing of the metabolism mean that an older dog won't need so many calories as a bouncy pup. But try telling that to a dog used to a full bowl of food twice daily!
Of all the simple things that you can do to help maintain an active healthy dog for longer, you can just feed fewer calories and use a diet that is designed for the needs of the mature dog: reduced calories; increased vitamins and higher fibre. Commercial diets are available which a scientifically prepared for optimum health.

Eye-sight and Hearing:
Cataracts are common in people and so they are in dogs too. You will notice that in dim light, when the pupils are wide open, the eyes seem to be cloudy – like a pearl. The lens has become hard and the clear material is gradually replaced by white fibres.
This isn't often a great problem because a dog can see adequately even if there is a moderate haze, but if the lens is completely white then one of their main senses will have been lost.
On top of this, because older dogs tend to become deaf just like us, the poor sight and poor sound add up to a greatly reduced quality of life, and will be contributing to them becoming quieter and less interested in life.
Improving the hearing isn't possible, but cataract surgery is now a routine procedure as it is in people, and is not a major trauma that it once was. Day-surgery is possible.

Lumps and bumps:
Older dogs get an assortment of lumps and bumps over their bodies. Those under the skin are often innocent but some are not. Those inside, attached to the organs, should always be considered serious and will need attention if they are to be sorted. Modern veterinary medicine and surgery means that previously untreatable conditions are now solved easily. Not all lumps are cancers but deciding on which are is where your veterinary surgeon can help.

When to call for advice

Any problem can seem daunting before the full facts are known. To start the ball rolling you can always call us. We don't charge for phone advice.

The most common requests for help involve

- Lack of appetite
- Increased thirst
- Weight loss or gain
- Poor coat
- Bad breath
- Change in character
- Stiffness on moving
- Increase in panting
- Lumps and bumps appear

The annual health check is the best starting point as these are designed to pick up problems early enough for them to be dealt with.

However a year is a long time in a dog's life, so we invite dogs over the age of ten years to come in every quarter. It doesn't take long but it can be very useful.

Please make use of us! Dogs can't do it by themselves and they need you to be observant to their needs. We have the knowledge and facilities to be able to keep your dog in tip top condition but we do need you to let us see them.

Successful treatment depends on a team approach: you, us, and the patient!