When is my Dog Officially a Senior Citizen?
by Sue Senn
Sniffles and Friends Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service
Philadelphia, PA
Voted BEST PET SERVICE in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas FOUR YEARS IN A ROW on
PHL17 TV’s Hot List!
2007, 2008, 2009,2010
BEST OF PHILLY 2010, Philly Mag’s Best of Philly Issue
http://www.snifflesandfriends.com
When is my dog officially a “senior citizen”?
Everyone knows the old “one year to a human is like seven years to a dog”
method of determining a dog’s age; but this generalization really isn’t an
accurate one. Different dog breeds age on different time tables. A large
breed dog can be considered to be a senior around age 6; and small dogs
(like my 5-pond “tiny-toy” poodle, Alex) aren’t seniors until they are well into
their teens. We’ve actually had toy poodles that have lived into their 20’s.
Some research indicates that there are certain breeds that tend to have
considerably longer life expectancies than others.
Generally, any dog who is 7 years of age or older can be considered to be
middle-aged to geriatric. Regular, at least once a year
consultation/checkups with your vet starting around this age are highly
recommended so your vet can perform a thorough examination that
includes “senior care” blood work (to detect possible warning signs or
problems brought about by the aging process.) As in us humans, early
detection of medical problems is the key to successful treatment.
What physical changes can I expect as my dog gets older?
Just like us, some dogs can be expected to age more gracefully than others.
Here are some general items to be on the lookout for as your dog matures.
Common illnesses in older dogs –
Diabetes, renal (kidney) failure, heart failure, blindness, hearing loss (just to
name a few).
What changes in behavior or appearance can I expect as my dog ages?
Decline in activity level –
You might start to notice that it takes longer for your dog to awaken from a
sound sleep, to walk up a flight of stairs, or to just get from one room to
another. These are all to be expected during the aging process. Also,
arthritis is a common condition in dogs as they get older – especially in the
larger breeds. Arthritis affects the joints – usually legs, neck, and back.
Another cause of dogs not being their old active selves could be
hypothyroidism. This is a common canine endocrine disorder.
Hypothyroidism is very easily detected with routine blood work, and is often
successfully managed with regular veterinary visits/monitoring, and care
(usually medication and special diet).
Gray facial hair/muzzle –
Of course, it’s more noticeable depending upon the color of your dog’s
coat. You’ll notice a black or brown dog’s graying hair before you notice it
on a white dog (if you ever actually do!)
Hearing loss –
Is it more difficult than usual to awaken your dog, or is he easily startled
when he is approached from behind? Sometimes deafness/hearing loss is
the culprit. There isn’t much your vet can do if your dog is indeed deaf or
heard of hearing; but always make sure the vet checks your dog’s ears
thoroughly because hearing problems could be signs of something besides
deafness. It could be a sign of a growth (tumor), infection, impacted wax, etc.
Please note that if you do notice that your dog has become hard of hearing,
you really have to take special safety precautions to protect him from
potential danger – such as oncoming cars, children who may startle him
because he didn’t hear them approaching, etc. Dogs are very resilient and
can be taught hand signals. Some pet parents teach their dogs hand signals
in conjunction with their word commands and this is very helpful as they age
– that way they know their hand commands and signals already.
Lenticular sclerosis (cloudy eyes) –
As your dog ages, his eyes may begin to develop a clear bluish haziness in
the papillary area. This is quite normal, and is nothing to be alarmed about.
The dog’s vision is not usually affected by this change in appearance, and
this is different than cataracts. A cataract is white and is NOT transparent (it
is opaque). Cataracts do indeed adversely affect vision, and your vet would
certainly need to be consulted if you notice this symptomatology in your
dog. Again, dogs are amazingly resilient and can manage to “memorize”
their surroundings quite efficiently. We currently have 3 blind seniors and
they never miss a beat (unless I’ve moved the furniture to clean, etc.)
Loss in muscle mass –
As your dog ages, you can expect to notice mild loss in muscle mass,
especially in his hindquarters. Some muscle atrophy, especially in the head
area and abdominal muscles, can be a symptom of potential neurological or
endocrine problems. Always alert your vet and make an appointment for
your dog to be examined as soon as you notice any obvious changes in
muscle mass. It’s often the first and most obvious hint that there may be an
underlying medical problem in your senior dog (and cats!)
Have a good working relationship with your vet!
Clear and regular communication with your vet throughout your dog’s
lifetime is the best way to keep him healthy and to prevent potentially
troublesome and expensive medical problems. Be sure to keep in close
contact with your vet, call with any questions or changes, and follow your
doctor’s orders to the letter. Keep your dog at a healthy weight to assure a
long, healthy life with your favorite furry friend!
My husband and I have a houseful of senior dogs and cats, and our family
couldn’t be more entertaining, delightful, and gratifying!
Download a copy of the March/April 2011 Sue's Views here.
by Sue Senn
Sniffles and Friends Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Service
Philadelphia, PA
Voted BEST PET SERVICE in Philadelphia and Surrounding Areas FOUR YEARS IN A ROW on
PHL17 TV’s Hot List!
2007, 2008, 2009,2010
BEST OF PHILLY 2010, Philly Mag’s Best of Philly Issue
http://www.snifflesandfriends.com
When is my dog officially a “senior citizen”?
Everyone knows the old “one year to a human is like seven years to a dog”
method of determining a dog’s age; but this generalization really isn’t an
accurate one. Different dog breeds age on different time tables. A large
breed dog can be considered to be a senior around age 6; and small dogs
(like my 5-pond “tiny-toy” poodle, Alex) aren’t seniors until they are well into
their teens. We’ve actually had toy poodles that have lived into their 20’s.
Some research indicates that there are certain breeds that tend to have
considerably longer life expectancies than others.
Generally, any dog who is 7 years of age or older can be considered to be
middle-aged to geriatric. Regular, at least once a year
consultation/checkups with your vet starting around this age are highly
recommended so your vet can perform a thorough examination that
includes “senior care” blood work (to detect possible warning signs or
problems brought about by the aging process.) As in us humans, early
detection of medical problems is the key to successful treatment.
What physical changes can I expect as my dog gets older?
Just like us, some dogs can be expected to age more gracefully than others.
Here are some general items to be on the lookout for as your dog matures.
Common illnesses in older dogs –
Diabetes, renal (kidney) failure, heart failure, blindness, hearing loss (just to
name a few).
What changes in behavior or appearance can I expect as my dog ages?
Decline in activity level –
You might start to notice that it takes longer for your dog to awaken from a
sound sleep, to walk up a flight of stairs, or to just get from one room to
another. These are all to be expected during the aging process. Also,
arthritis is a common condition in dogs as they get older – especially in the
larger breeds. Arthritis affects the joints – usually legs, neck, and back.
Another cause of dogs not being their old active selves could be
hypothyroidism. This is a common canine endocrine disorder.
Hypothyroidism is very easily detected with routine blood work, and is often
successfully managed with regular veterinary visits/monitoring, and care
(usually medication and special diet).
Gray facial hair/muzzle –
Of course, it’s more noticeable depending upon the color of your dog’s
coat. You’ll notice a black or brown dog’s graying hair before you notice it
on a white dog (if you ever actually do!)
Hearing loss –
Is it more difficult than usual to awaken your dog, or is he easily startled
when he is approached from behind? Sometimes deafness/hearing loss is
the culprit. There isn’t much your vet can do if your dog is indeed deaf or
heard of hearing; but always make sure the vet checks your dog’s ears
thoroughly because hearing problems could be signs of something besides
deafness. It could be a sign of a growth (tumor), infection, impacted wax, etc.
Please note that if you do notice that your dog has become hard of hearing,
you really have to take special safety precautions to protect him from
potential danger – such as oncoming cars, children who may startle him
because he didn’t hear them approaching, etc. Dogs are very resilient and
can be taught hand signals. Some pet parents teach their dogs hand signals
in conjunction with their word commands and this is very helpful as they age
– that way they know their hand commands and signals already.
Lenticular sclerosis (cloudy eyes) –
As your dog ages, his eyes may begin to develop a clear bluish haziness in
the papillary area. This is quite normal, and is nothing to be alarmed about.
The dog’s vision is not usually affected by this change in appearance, and
this is different than cataracts. A cataract is white and is NOT transparent (it
is opaque). Cataracts do indeed adversely affect vision, and your vet would
certainly need to be consulted if you notice this symptomatology in your
dog. Again, dogs are amazingly resilient and can manage to “memorize”
their surroundings quite efficiently. We currently have 3 blind seniors and
they never miss a beat (unless I’ve moved the furniture to clean, etc.)
Loss in muscle mass –
As your dog ages, you can expect to notice mild loss in muscle mass,
especially in his hindquarters. Some muscle atrophy, especially in the head
area and abdominal muscles, can be a symptom of potential neurological or
endocrine problems. Always alert your vet and make an appointment for
your dog to be examined as soon as you notice any obvious changes in
muscle mass. It’s often the first and most obvious hint that there may be an
underlying medical problem in your senior dog (and cats!)
Have a good working relationship with your vet!
Clear and regular communication with your vet throughout your dog’s
lifetime is the best way to keep him healthy and to prevent potentially
troublesome and expensive medical problems. Be sure to keep in close
contact with your vet, call with any questions or changes, and follow your
doctor’s orders to the letter. Keep your dog at a healthy weight to assure a
long, healthy life with your favorite furry friend!
My husband and I have a houseful of senior dogs and cats, and our family
couldn’t be more entertaining, delightful, and gratifying!
Download a copy of the March/April 2011 Sue's Views here.
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