Older Dogs

Some extra attention for your older dog

When your dog gets a certain age, like human beings, it will need some different kind of attention. It depends on the kind of dog as of when that age “begins”. And of course, as with humans, it also differs from one individual dog to another. Just be sure to give it extra special care and attention when it is at that special age.

Another factor of how fit your old dog will be, is how well you raised it during the years before. Did you feed it well? Didn’t you over do it with the cookies and candies? Did it have lots of exercise?

We all want to grow old. And we want to be as fit as possible when we get it. Of course there are no guarantees in live. But to accomplish his we try to live as healthy as possible during all the years before. We try to eat healthy. We try to have at least some kind of regular exercise. Keep our bodies strong and agile.

With older dogs it is basically the same thing. Give your dog the wrong kind of diet. Don’t go out with it much. Don’t let him or her run now and again for as much as it can. Feed it too much cookies or candy. Don’t pay attention to it’s special needs when it has it. Do all these things and be sure to have a very problematic old dog. Not to mention unhappy. And assuming it gets old at all.

But of course if you love your pet (and you do or you wouldn’t be reading this page!) you want it to grow as old as possible. And not just old. But healthy and fit old! So it can still do some nice long walks. Although perhaps not as long as before. And probably taking some more time. And it will still be graving for attention when you get home from work. And still wants as much play-time with you when at home. Yes, older dogs can still have lots of fun!

For dogs “middle age” starts at different ages, depending on the breed. This simply because some dog breeds live longer than others.

There’s a sort of general rule I guess: The smaller the dog, the older it can get. It is a very general rule though. And there are big exceptions in every case. You might say that most smaller dogs will probably get between 12-15 years old. While most bigger dogs are considered really old when they pass their first decade.

Watch for the little signs

So as the years go by, be sure to keep your eye out for little signs. Skin problems. Teeth problems, incontinence, eyesight problems and hearing problems, problems with eating or digesting...

Does your old dog still eats as much as it used to do? Perhaps it needs another diet. Or perhaps it just needs less food because it’s not that active anymore?

And does it still walk as long or fast as it used to do? Perhaps you need to cut down on the long walks. For an old dog it is often better to make more but shorter walks.

Is it still agile? How does it use its legs? Some breeds are known to be vulnerable for some kind of hip disorders for example. Like Dachshund Dogs. But also German Shepherds for example.

And then the time comes your dog really is old. It can get (a bit) deaf or blind. Yes it will need really good care then. But it still doesn’t mean it can’t have a good quality of life. Just a quieter one. So be sure to take special good care of your older dog when the time comes.

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