Senior dog owners
have tons of questions. It seems like just yesterday that you brought home that
adorable little ball of fur. But before you know it, those puppies grow up into
adult dogs and then all of a sudden it's time to discuss the care of a senior
dog.
Time goes by so
quickly, doesn't it? Here are some of the top questions about senior dogs (and
their answers). These are just a few of the questions that readers have asked
me.
Q: Why is my dog gaining weight?
A: The aches and
pains of old age may prevent your dog from moving as freely as she once did.
She may have developed a touch of arthritis or stiffness in the joints.
Hormonal changes may also slow down her metabolism. Medications may add extra
girth. All these things add up to a widening waistline and a slower lifestyle.
Walk your dog and
play with her daily. You'll have to engage her in gentler activities than when
she was young, but she still needs her exercise.
In addition,
discuss changing her diet with your vet. Seniors need nutritious diets that are
higher in fiber but lower in fat and calories. It's your job to help her keep
her weight down, since obesity can make her more susceptible to diabetes,
arthritis, and heart problems. Go here for more tips on feeding your senior dog.
Q: Why is my dog losing weight?
A: Sometimes
older dogs' bodies change in the opposite direction and their weight begins
dropping. Is she eating? Are her teeth strong and mouth and gums healthy? Is
her neck arthritic? She won't eat if it's a painful process. Age or medications
can reduce her senses of smell and taste, which, of course, decreases her
appetite. Metabolic disorders and heart or liver trouble can cause weight loss,
regardless of how much she eats.
Try feeding your
dog a veterinary-prescribed diet in frequent, smaller meals. If her memory or
eyesight is failing, be sure to put her food and water bowls in the same place
every day. To prevent strain on her aging spine, elevate the bowls to the level
of her head.
Q: What if my dog has more than doggy breath?
A: Tooth or gum
disease, accompanied by bumps on the gums or tartar on the teeth, are the most
common reasons for extreme doggy breath. If you don't brush your dog's teeth
regularly, ask your vet to show you how. You'll probably need to do it daily.
Chewing on synthetic bones, biscuits, or hard rubber toys will help her prevent
tartar build-up.
An unusually foul
smell, accompanied by lack of appetite and frequent vomiting, could indicate
liver disease. Kidney disease adds a hint of urine to the breath. Very sweet or
fruity breath could indicate diabetes, especially if she 's been drinking and
urinating more than normal.
Q: Why does my dog seems unusually thirsty?
A: Make sure her
water bowl is clean, convenient to reach, and elevated if necessary. Always
keep fresh, cool water available, not only beside her food bowl, but in the
yard and on each floor of your home. Diabetes, a fairly common ailment of old
age that also increases appetite, could be the culprit. Here is a list of the
other most common conditions that affect senior dogs.
Q: Why does my dog toss and turn at night?
A: She may need
an orthopedic dog bed that will give her support to counter arthritis. Also,
older dogs tend to develop painful elbow calluses that are more comfortable on
soft bedding. The urge to urinate or defecate frequently can also keep her
awake. A syndrome called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
(CCD), akin to Alzheimer's disease in humans, also affects sleep patterns.
Q: Why does my dog nap more than ever?
A: Surprisingly,
she may just be bored; decreased stimulation due to poor hearing or sight and
reduced activity as a result of arthritis can make your dog depressed. The urge
to urinate or defecate frequently can disturb nighttime sleep. Medication and
hormonal or heart problems can also make a dog drowsy. In addition, CCD could
be throwing off your dog's sleep cycle so that she roams restlessly at night
and naps during the day.
Q: Why has my dog has started bumping into things?
A: Failing
eyesight is a bane of old age, but dogs learn to compensate. Make your home a
safe environment with clear paths and walkways. If you need to rearrange
furniture, lead the dog around until she gets a feeling for her surroundings.
Always greet her with a gentle voice before touching or petting her. Block the
entrances to stairs so she doesn't fall. Don't let her leave home without a human
companion and keep her leashed when she goes out.
Q: Why won't my dog come when called?
A: Deafness is
the most probable reason. If that is the cause, you can teach her hand signals.
Since many deaf dogs are sensitive to vibrations, clapping hands or stomping on
the floor may also get her attention.
Arthritis makes
moving painful and could be another reason she's unwilling to respond. More
serious medical conditions such as heart disease can be a factor as well. If
your dog has trouble seeing or hearing, it's still important that she exercise
and play. On days when she prefers sleep and inactivity, spend time petting her
and talking with her. Massage is an excellent way to keep her joints working
and muscles warm and limber.
Q: Why did my gentle dog snap at me/my child?
A: Senior dogs
display aggression for several reasons. Does your dog have vision problems? Is
she hard of hearing? If so, you may have surprised her. The physical and mental
symptoms of aging also increase your dog's stress level. Because of arthritis
or other movement restrictions, she may not be able to remove herself from an
annoying situation as she once could. Changes like moving, a new family member,
a high noise level, the quick movements of children—can be frightening, adding
to her stress and its resulting aggression. Her behavior also could be a
symptom of CCD. Don't leave your own child or a visitor alone with an
aggressive senior dog, even though there hasn't been a problem in the past.
Q: Why did my dog snap at my younger dog?
A: As your dog's
faculties decline, her dominant status in a multi-pet household may be
challenged. When younger dogs test her authority, she may become aggressive.
Honor her dominance as you have in the past, but make it clear to all of your
dogs that you are the real leader of their pack. You may have to separate your
dogs when you leave them home alone.
Q: Why has my dog forgotten her house-training?
A: As your dog
ages, soiling the house might become more common. A weak bladder, failing
kidneys, or an inflamed bowel is the usual explanation but forgetting longtime
habits may also be a sign of CCD. Besides medication, she may benefit
tremendously from letting her go outside more often to urinate and defecate.
Q: Why is my dog constipated?
A: Older dogs are
less likely to drink sufficient water and eat enough fiber, and constipation is a frequent problem with senior
dogs. You may need to change your dog's diet and feed her smaller meals more
frequently. She may no longer be able to tolerate table scraps. Eating more
fiber will help move food through her intestines.
But be observant.
Arthritis of the hip or spine and hip dysplasia can result in such painful
bowel movements that your dog is reluctant to defecate. An enlarged prostate in
males, or tumors, can cause blockages or pain.
Q: Why doesn't my dog want to go outside?
A: As a dog ages,
she loses her ability to adjust to changes in temperatures. Her drier skin and
thinner hair offer her less protection and her metabolism makes her less
resilient. During extreme weather, limit her time outdoors. In heat and
humidity, remember that a dog pants to cool her body, and that older lungs are
not as efficient.
If her vision and hearing are not as sharp as they once were, she
may be frightened of being out in the open. Always keep her on a leash and stay
close to reassure her when she's outdoors.
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