What To Expect As Your Dog Gets Older
Time flies by so fast that before you know it, the little puppy you bought ten years ago has a muzzle full of white whiskers. This is just one of the symptoms that dogs experience as they age, and knowing what problems and symptoms to look out for in older dogs can help keep owners aware of the physical changes that are taking place in their beloved pets.
One of the first signs of a dog aging is the aforementioned white whiskers or fur that can appear around a dog's muzzle and ears. This is especially prominent on darker colored dogs like black and chocolate labs. There isn't usually a health risk associated with this – it's just a sort of similarity between dogs and their human counterparts. However, there are a lot of other problems that can arise as your dog ages that you should be aware of and keep an eye out for.
For example, as dogs get older and become less active, you'll need to cut back on their food intake to keep up with their decreasing metabolism. If you continue to feed your dog the same quantity of food they used to eat when they were puppies, you could run into problems with your dog's weight. If your dog becomes obese, there are a number of problems that can arise, including canine diabetes, kidney problems, arthritis, failing joints, and other health problems.
Another thing that you'll start to notice in your aging pet is that they may start to move with an increasing stiffness in their joints. This is another parallel to human aging in that dogs can get arthritis as they get older. This is especially common in larger breed dogs, or in smaller dogs that are overweight. There are several name brand dog foods that have added supplements known as glucosamine and chondrotin to their food, which can be helpful for dogs with achy joints or other problems. If you don't want to switch your dog's food, you can look into giving your pet one of these supplements. As in most cases, it's best to talk this over with your vet and ask for specific dosing instructions for your dog based on size and weight.
Cataracts are another problem that affects older dogs. Cataracts will first show up in dogs as pale blue discs across the eye that seem to reflect in the light. Before too long however, cataracts can completely block your dog's vision. Don't panic if this happens, dogs are extremely adaptable and will usually learn to navigate around based on noise and shadows. Cataract removal is possible – but it can be extremely expensive. If you're interested in pursuing this, your vet should be able to refer you to a specialist who can perform the procedure.
These are just a few of the changes that will affect your pet as he or she ages. If dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner, the problems can usually be remedied quickly and don't necessarily mean that the clock is winding down for your family pet. If you've noticed any other changes in your older dog, such as loss of appetite, loss of hearing, and lethargy, take him or her to the vet for a full physical examination and blood work-up. This can help to determine if there are any other potential health threats facing your dog that you may not be aware of. Keeping on top of these risks is the best way to ensure your dog lives the longest and healthiest life possible.
