Senior Dog Care: How to Care for Your Elderly Dog
When your dog begins to age, its needs can change significantly. Requirements for diet, exercise, and other care contribute to your dog's health and longevity.
As a pet owner, it's your responsibility to ensure that your dog's golden years remain comfortable and healthy. And with our dogs as a best friend, we need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to provide top notch care as they age into their last stage of life.
The guide below covers all you need to know when it comes to caring for your elderly dog so that your furry friend can have a supportive environment and transition with grace. From the average life expectancy to identifying potential health concerns, you can ensure that your older dog has the comfort and necessary treatment it needs.
What is Considered a Senior Dog?
Depending on their breed or size, dogs are generally considered senior when they reach an age of about 25% of their expected life span. For example, smaller dogs are considered seniors at around 10 years old, a medium dog at around 8 years old, and a large dog, such as a Great Dane, at about 6 years old.
There are other factors that come into play when determining the average life expectancy. These include factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and health, that could determine whether a dog is considered senior.
For example, a smaller breed dog that contracts a severe health issue at 4 years of age may be closer to its senior years by 6 or 7 than at the average age of 10, since the dog's health is not at its highest.
How to Take Care of a Senior Dog
Taking care of your senior dog comes with a different set of needs than when they were a puppy or active adult. Senior pets often require more specialized care, and it can be a good idea to consult with your veterinarian on the best ways to care for your aging dog.
Here are some helpful and practical things to consider when caring for your dog in its old age.
Adjusting Caloric Intake
When a dog ages, its metabolism typically slows down, making weight management one of the most important things to focus on for health. There are options for senior dog food formulas geared toward specific breeds and sizes, designed to provide proper nutrients without excessive calories.
You must regularly monitor your dog's weight and consult your veterinarian to tailor their diet. Extra calories and weight gain can cause many health problems in your older dog such as pancreatitis or kidney failure. Your vet may want you to incorporate supplements like omega-3 fatty acids or glucosamine in support of joint health and mobility.
Foods to Avoid
As it ages, your dog's nutritional needs change, so you need to evaluate foods that may become problematic and contribute to health issues. Foods high in fat, sugar, or sodium found in table scraps and other human foods are not recommended for dogs of any age, especially senior dogs.
Your veterinarian can help provide helpful recommendations for your dogs or specialized diets for your dog's overall health when dealing with conditions like kidney disease or arthritis. Special attention to your senior dog's nutrition can significantly aid in the early detection of such diseases.
Benefits of Exercise + How to Do It Safely
Exercise is still essential for dogs at a senior stage of life to help them maintain muscle tone, joint mobility, and mental health. However, you may need to make some adjustments or subtle changes to the type of exercise that your dog engages in for its age.
Adapt your older dog's exercise to incorporate more low-impact activities such as slower, gentler walks, swimming, or shorter playtime sessions. It's helpful to gradually introduce these activities and monitor your dog to ensure its comfort and watch for any signs of pain.
Exercise helps to manage your dog's weight and supports cardiovascular health. Look to be consistent and consider using supportive gear and equipment like ramps and harnesses so activities are more accessible.
Signs of Overexertion
The aging process can take its toll on your elderly dog, so you should watch for any signs of overexertion. These include panting excessively, limping, lethargy or being reluctant to move, or longer recovery times after exercise or play.
The activity may be too strenuous for your older pup, so ensure you look for ways to make movements have a lower impact, and recognizing these signs helps to prevent further injury or stress. You can also bring your dog in for an examination to ensure that there isn't a more serious underlying health condition.
The Importance of Regular Vet Check-Ups
Regular veterinary visits are crucial for early detection in age-related issues like periodontal disease, diabetes, arthritis, or liver disease. Instead of an annual check-up , you should aim for two vet check-ups per year for a senior dog.
A physical exam may include blood work, x-rays, and other diagnostic tests to monitor your dog's overall health. They may look for other conditions that occur with senior dogs, such as examining their diet and any potential digestive issues, weight concerns, eye conditions, dental hygiene, behavioral changes, joint problems, and other health conditions.
Vaccination Needs
Senior dogs don't usually require as many vaccinations as puppies, but older pets continue to need rabies and distemper shots. You can talk to your vet to determine other boosters or vaccines that may be necessary based on your dog's health and lifestyle during regular veterinary visits.
Your dog may have a weakened immune system due to age so that additional preventative measures may help in the form of vaccines. For example, parasite control or flu vaccines can benefit senior dogs.
Dental Care for Older Dogs
Older dogs are more likely to contract dental disease since their dental health declines with age. It can lead to issues like gum disease and tooth loss, and neglected dental problems lead to more systemic infections, chronic health conditions and complications, so oral hygiene is integral to your senior dog's health.
If possible, brush your dog's teeth with a soft brush and vet-approved toothpaste. For geriatric dogs who won't allow you to brush them, you may want to schedule a professional dental cleaning and include dental chews and treats to help support your dog's oral health.
Grooming Your Senior Dog
Older dogs sometimes have more sensitive skin and can develop conditions like dandruff, skin tags, and thinning fur. You may invest in gentler grooming tools and regular brushing for their wellness care and coat health.
Look for high-quality hypoallergenic shampoos since these can help to soothe aging skin. Paying for a groomer can provide an opportunity to check the skin and look for any abnormalities that may require vet attention.
Cover areas of thinning fur in cold weather, and ensure your dog has a comfortable bed without any irritating fabrics.
Managing Incontinence
Incontinence is common in dogs with old age, due to the weakening of the bladder muscles, but it could also be due to another health condition. Ensure you give your senior pup more bathroom breaks, incorporating doggy diapers or waterproof bedding if necessary, to help maintain their dignity and comfort during the aging process.
If you're concerned about the frequency of your dog's bathroom needs, you can always consult with your vet to rule out urinary tract infections or hormonal imbalances.
Creating a Comfortable Home Environment
You can help care for your dog by creating a comfortable home environment. Hardwood floors can be slippery and difficult for dogs with mobility problems, so you can add non-slip rugs.
Consider incorporating rams for furniture or stairs, or an orthopedic dog bed to help with comfort. Ensure their sleep areas is warm and quiet, particularly for those senior dogs with joint pain or hearing loss.
You should also pay close attention to limitations with mobility in your older dog, so you can adapt your home to eliminate any risk of falling or injury. Keeping a consistent environment helps to reduce stress in dogs with senior status and improve their overall well-being.
Mental Stimulation and Enrichment
Mental stimulation for your older dog is an important part of exercise, like physical activity. Often with aging, some dogs develop cognitive decline, so it's essential to maintain their mental enrichment.
Provide scent games, training sessions, or puzzle toys that can help to keep their minds sharp. New experiences and regular interaction can help reduce anxiety and depression in senior dogs. While many older dogs do well with a predictable routine, you can enrich their lives by training new tricks (because, yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks!) , going for sniffing walks, and using food puzzles.
Remember to introduce new activities slowly, and it can help to work with their natural instincts like sniffing and foraging. Boosting your dog's cognitive health as they get older can significantly improve their quality of life.
End of Life Care and Support
The time may come when your senior dog's life is near its end. Wellness care at this stage usually incorporates pain management, palliative care, or a discussion about euthanasia with your veterinarian so your old dog no longer suffers in pain.
Being supportive with your care as a pet owner includes making your dog feel loved and as comfortable as possible in their final days. And don't forget to seek support for yourself and family members during this time, as it can be an emotional and difficult time when losing a dog, even in old age.
You can reminisce with loved ones about your dog, and seek out resources like grief counseling or support groups if needed. Navigating this challenging period doesn't have to be done alone, for you or your senior dog.
Care For A Dog in Its Senior Years
As dog owners, part of caring for a dog is knowing how to care for it when it becomes elderly. Ensuring veterinary care on a regular basis to identify and detect early signs of health problems can help ensure longevity and health.
Also, by making thoughtful adjustments to your dog's diet with senior-specific dog food , watching caloric intake, and focusing on low-impact exercise (such as a short walk), you can ensure your dog's golden years are full of comfort and happiness.
The best thing to remember is to include mental enrichment to help keep your dog's emotional well-being in check to ensure you're giving your senior dog the quality of life they deserve. Ensure you pay attention to any signs of conditions like vision problems, dental disease, or other chronic health conditions that can impair their later years, so you can provide successful treatment and extend their life, making every moment with your furry companion count.
Questions about your senior dog's health or concerns about a potential medical problem? Find out if a same-day appointment is available, or contact one of our telehealth specialists to discuss what exams are needed for early detection of chronic diseases and the average life expectancy of your furry friend!