Caring for a Senior Dog: Physical and Mental Changes to Watch For

Whether you’ve had your elderly dog for years or you’ve adopted a golden oldie, the fact is that caring for senior dogs brings new challenges for both of you. That said, caring for your best friend through those later years is also a privilege and will bring many special memories. Just as with human ageing, older dogs will experience both physical and mental changes, and being vigilant and aware will help both of you minimise the impact. In this article, we’ll look at what changes to expect and how you can help your beloved older companion have the best senior years possible.

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and in general, the bigger the dog, the shorter the life expectancy. This means that dogs age at different rates. For example, a Great Dane would be considered senior at six to seven years of age, whereas a Jack Russell would still be considered a middle-aged dog at that age. With this in mind, don’t be surprised if the signs of ageing below seem to be happening early if you have a large or giant type of dog.

Physical changes

The physical signs of ageing are usually pretty evident, the most common being:

• Weight changes
  Weight can go up or down. Older dogs burn fewer calories so many are prone to weight gain and may need diets to help them feel full but not gain weight. Conversely, the more senior dogs may lose weight or struggle to maintain muscle mass. Weight loss can also be one of the first signs of diseases such as diabetes or renal problems.

• Bad breath
  Dental disease is very common in older dogs, and bad breath is one of the telltale signs. 

• Stiffness and difficulty moving
  Just like us, dogs experience wear and tear on their joints and osteoarthritis is common. You may notice your dog is stiff when they first get up, or they may start to have trouble getting in the car or onto furniture.

• Cloudy eyes and poor vision
  This is usually due to an ageing change called nuclear sclerosis but can also be due to cataracts, among other problems. 

• Hearing loss
  This may be a physical change in hearing, but sometimes apparent hearing loss can be due to mental changes and brain ageing, which will be discussed below.

• Lumps and bumps
  Older dogs are prone to benign fatty lumps called lipomas. These usually grow slowly and are painless, smooth lumps. Over time, they can become so large that they cause issues and need removing. Older dogs are also more prone to cancer, so it’s best to always have any lumps you see or feel checked out by your vet.

• Poor coat
  As your dog ages, they will become less flexible and may stop being able to groom themselves properly, resulting in a poor coat, especially around the rear end where it’s hardest to reach. A poor coat generally can also be a sign of underlying medical conditions.

• Incontinence
  This is most common in spayed bitches. You may notice puddles when they stand up or leakage when they exert themselves.

• Coughing and problems exercising
  This can be a sign of heart issues in older dogs and should always be investigated.

Mental health and cognitive decline

Now that dogs live longer lives due to advances in nutrition and medicine, brain ageing is a fairly common issue in senior dogs. The proper term for brain ageing is cognitive dysfunction, but you may also hear it called dog dementia. The signs can be quite subtle at the start, and the most common ones include:

• Disturbed sleep patterns
  You may notice that your dog sleeps more in the day and is restless at night.

• Confusion
  Your dog may seem confused. A common example of this is standing by the back door as if they want to go out and then not going when the door is open, as if they can’t remember why they were there.

• Unusual vocalisation
  Your dog may whine or bark at odd times or for no apparent reason.

• Increased fear or anxiety

• Loss of recall
  As mentioned, some older dogs do lose their hearing as they age, but lack of recall or apparent hearing loss can also be due to cognitive dysfunction.

• Loss of toileting control

• Aimless wandering

Although these changes are not curable, you can make quite a difference using nutrition or supplements. We’ll look more closely at senior dog foods later, but some specially formulated foods are made with extra antioxidants and high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. These ingredients support brain function and can slow the advance of brain ageing. Always get a vet check if you see any of these signs, in case there is a different neurological issue going on.

Just the same as with people with cognitive decline, be patient with your older dog. These can be challenging times but if you can give them some leeway and follow your vet’s advice, you will both get through it more easily.

There are several aspects of caring for senior dogs that need to be considered. We’re very lucky to live in a time where medical knowledge and technology allow us to care for our animals better than ever. Here are some of the things you can plan for and do for your older companion.

• Veterinary Care
  Your dog’s first year of age and the latter years are the times that veterinary care is most important. Every adult dog should have a clinical exam once a year, but as your dog ages, these check-ups should become more frequent and will involve more tests. As referenced above, dogs age at different rates depending on their size. Ask your vet when your dog is considered older and what your schedule for visits should be. Your vet may want to do blood tests and urine tests routinely. These can be critically important for picking up hidden conditions early, giving you the best chance to act before clinical signs appear.
• Pain Management
  Vets often hear pet parents say, ‘Oh he’s not in pain, he just limps occasionally’. Stiffness and limping are signs of pain. Reluctance to get in the car and hesitating before jumping onto the settee are also signs of pain. There are fantastic medications for chronic pain and dietetic foods formulated to help support mobility in dogs with osteoarthritis. Making changes in the home can also make a huge difference to your dog’s pain management. There are fantastic resources provided by Canine Arthritis Management. They will help you consider factors like your flooring and your whole home environment.
• Diet and Nutrition
  There are so many ways that nutrition can help our dogs, and the senior years are so important. Here are some examples:
  
  • Joint disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Heart conditions
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  Combination foods also exist for dogs suffering from more than one ailment. As stated previously, never start your dog on a dietetic food without the say-so of your vet. Some of these foods may not suit your individual dog, particularly if they are sensitive to fat levels.
• Mental Health and Behavioural Changes
  Again, food and supplements can really help with this, but getting the whole family on board so they understand the reasons behind your dog’s changes and have patience will help too. Be aware when visitors come that your dog may be more anxious. Be even more respectful of their ‘safe space’, and make sure that if and when they retreat, they are left alone.
• Exercise and Weight
  It’s really important to keep your dog slim for life if at all possible. This will give you more years together and help keep them mentally and physically healthy for longer. As they age, be aware that shorter, more frequent walks will be better than binge exercising at weekends. As they reach their twilight years, don’t force them to exercise if they don’t want to.
• Grooming
  You may need to groom your senior dog more than you did when they were younger. Be gentle and remember they may have a poor coat because of painful joints.