5 Health Signs of Senior Dogs You Should Watch For5 Health Signs of Senior Dogs You Should Watch For
Everyone will have to age with time including your adorable pets. but ageing brings with it various physical and mental complications. Hence identifying the early signs of ageing in your dogs and taking the necessary actions can help ease the discomfort and pain that are an integral part of ageing. Dogs of different breeds and sizes age at different paces. For example, a Great Dane becomes old and identified as a senior pup at the age of six. Whereas, a small dog like a Chihuahua becomes a senior at the age of ten. The more aware you will be, the sooner you can identify the ageing signs in your pet and help them age gracefully.
Here we will discuss a few common signs of ageing in dogs that can alarm you to be more careful and attentive towards your pup’s health.
Bad vision and difficulty seeing
Weak eyesight is a very common symptom of ageing. But often we fail to identify the change. While a cloudy eye may seem to be a common occurrence that doesn’t affect the vision of your dog, it can be a sign of a cataract or other eye problems. Besides, if you notice that your dog can no longer locate a toy on the floor quite easily and often bumping into things, it could be a signal of vision loss and ageing.
Lumps and bumps
With ageing, some dogs may develop lumps of harmless fatty lipomas. While these lumps can be easily noticeable in short-haired dogs, long-haired dogs need regular checking. It’s better to detect these lumps early as these lumps may sometimes be malignant tumours.
Slowing down and inactiveness
As a dog starts getting older, it becomes less active and starts slowing down. He may no longer climb the stairs or jump into a car with the same energy as before. As we all start losing our energy as we get old, your dog is no different. You might notice weakness in their back legs. This is an early sign of ageing or mobility issues like arthritis. To treat the condition, consider medications and other supplements with anti-inflammatory properties as suggested by the vet. Besides, you should also schedule your dog’s new exercise regime that includes exercises like mild walk and swimming that are mild on your dog’s body.
Drastic weight change
Weight gain is another common change that occurs with age. Old and less active dogs can gain weight too quickly. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise can help cut down the extra pounds of your dog. Besides gaining weight, sometimes senior dogs might also lose weight with age. This happens due to the reduced muscle that results from a reduced appetite, digestive illness and poor absorption of nutrients. If you notice your dog losing more than 10 percent of body weight in just a year, you must immediately take the advice of a medical expert.
Bad breath
Although a bad breath is common at any age, if you notice that your dog’s breath has become intolerable or horrible, it’s an indication that your dog is ageing. With age, the immune system of your dog can weaken. Hence, he might lose the ability to fight infections easily like before. Hence if you notice such a change in your dog, do not just consider it to be a dental issue but identify it as an ageing sign and consult your vet for a blood test to identify any infection.
The bottom line
Being more careful about your dog’s health and taking the necessary actions before it’s too late can help age gracefully and avoid the pain and discomfort of ageing. The above-discussed are a few common health signs of senior dogs.