How to care for senior dogs: 11 tips for what to expect

Caring for a senior dog is a lot different from caring for a puppy.

Senior dogs have unique needs, and preparation is key so that these new needs don’t take owners by surprise.

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In this post and we’ll discuss what changes to expect in an elderly dog and show you how to care for senior dogs and keep them comfortable, ensuring that your senior canine enjoys his golden years as much as his puppyhood.

At What Age Does a Dog Become a Senior Canine?

How do you tell when your dog has hit that time in its life? It really depends on the individual dog.

In general, giant breed dogs age faster than smaller breed dogs. For example, a Great Dane is considered to be senior by roughly 5-6 years of age, whereas a Chihuahua would likely only be middle-aged then, and probably not be considered a senior dog until 10-11 years. Large breed dogs fall somewhere in between – dogs like Golden Retrievers might be considered seniors by 8-10 years of age.

How to Care For Senior Dogs: A Golden Years Guide

You’ll witness a number of changes in your dog as he or she ages. While it can be startling to see your beloved pup change as he or she grows older, remember that many of these changes are completely normal and nothing to be worried about.

A few of those changes you can expect to witness include…

1. Diet: Choosing Food For Your Senior Canine

Senior dogs aren’t as mobile as they once were – they get tired quicker and suffer from old age aches and pains. This decrease in mobility sometimes means they’ll end up gaining weight as they get older (you’ll see this happen in humans too).

Overweight dogs (just like humans) have a higher chance of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, skin disease, and even cancer. Your veterinarian can help you choose an appropriate diet for your dog, especially since overweight dogs must be fed carefully to ensure that all nutritional needs are met while still allowing for weight loss.

Special diets that are fewer in calories as well as those that are high L-carnitine are available for obese or overweight dogs. A diet with a carefully chosen carbohydrate or carbohydrate blend can also help keep your overweight dog feeling satiated.

Asking for help from your veterinarian is a good start, but it would be a good idea to start learning how to read your dog’s food labels.

As dogs get older, some of their organs can break down and don’t work as well as they did in canine youth. You may want to consider a special diet if your dog has heart or kidney disease. Diets lower in sodium are better for dogs with heart disease, while diets which help control phosphorus, calcium and other electrolyte levels are given to dogs with kidney disease.

Even if your dog isn’t overweight or suffering from disease, there are also dog foods on the market that are specifically designed for senior dogs. These dog foods are usually much lower in fat while providing the nutrients that senior canines need.

You may simply find that your senior dog has gotten pickier – you may need to experiment with different dog food brands to find what fits his taste best.

2. Mobility: Senior Dogs Slow Down

Your dog will be moving much less often as they get older. This means more napping and less chasing after squirrels (which can actually be a bonus).

Video: How to Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

You’ll likely see your dogs mobility change in a number of ways, including:

• Stairs. Senior dogs will encounter difficulty with stairs. In many houses, even a few steps that were once bounded across in puppyhood become difficult, frightening hurdles.

This can pose issues for dogs who normally must go down steps to access yards where they go to the bathroom. In these cases, we recommend considering dog ramps, which can let your dog travel up and down steps easier. Dog ramps are also great to help dogs into cars, or help them up onto beds. Senior dogs can’t jump up onto beds or couches, so they will need steps or a ramp for that as well.

• Lying Down and Getting Up. As your dog gets older, you’ll find that they have a harder time lying down and getting up from their seat. Try to watch your senior dog as he changes position and gauge how difficult the movement is for him. He may be in need of doggie arthritis medicine.

• General Movement. Eventually, as your dog gets even older, he or she may even have a difficult time walking, with your dog sliding or slipping at times. This can be very frightening for owners, but is to be expected. When this happens, be sure to take your dog to the vet, who may be able to prescribe medicine which can help your dog move a bit more easily.

• Playing. You’ll likely note that your dog will tire much more quickly during playtime. Set up short playtime sessions for fun, but let your dog rest when he or she seems tuckered out.

• Exercise. Senior dogs can’t go for runs or long walks in the woods with you, but that isn’t to say you should halt walks all together. Exercise can actually help keep your senior dog healthy and keep joints limber – just be sure to keep exercise very light and walks very short (5-10 minutes, adjust to your dog’s condition).

Keep a careful eye on your dog and assess his condition, turning back when he seems tired. Don’t overwork him.

3. Senior Dogs Sleep More

You’ll find your buddy will be napping and sleeping much more than he or she did previously.

They’ll take longer to get up in the morning, and will opt for snoozing by your side rather than bounding around the house.

4. Old Dogs Should Get More Vet Visits

Regular vet visits are extremely important when it comes to caring for your senior dog.

Whether or not your dog should see a vet more regularly once he or she begins to age is really determined by your dog’s health and should be discussed with your veterinarian.

A normal vet checkup recommended for a senior dog in good health is every six months (twice a year). Be sure that your vet is very thorough with the examination and checks your dog’s heart and lungs in addition to all of the regular routine.

5. Body Temperatures: Senior Dogs Have Increased Sensitivity

Older dogs are unable to regulate body temperature as effectively as young dogs, and should be kept warm, dry, and indoors when not outside for exercise. Senior dogs are also extra sensitive to heat and humidity. Take precautions to protect them from conditions that could cause heatstroke.

An arthritic pet may need ramps in the home, extra blankets, and an orthopedic bed (potentially even a heated one if your dog gets cold easily).

6. Physical Signs of Canine Aging

As your dog gets older, you’ll see some or several physical signs of aging, including:

• Thinning Of Coat. Senior dogs will have their coat thin out and become less glossy than before.

• Foggy Eyes. Older dogs often have a foggy or grayish-blue tint to their eyes. This is very normal. Also keep an eye out for a whitish-tinge – this could be a sign of cataracts, which needs veterinary attention.

• Going Grey. Old dogs often have grey around face and muzzle.

• Skin Lumps. Senior canines will have a number of changes to their skin. Often, dogs will begin to grow fatty lumps on their skin called lipomas. Lipomas are usually harmless, but you should still take your dog to the vet to get them checked out, as some could potentially pose a mobility problem or be a sign of cancer.

7. Temperament: Old Dogs Can Get Grumpy

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