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     Taking Care of the Older Dog     

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Aging in our pets is a gradual process thought to be due to oxidative damage and the brain is particularly susceptable.  This is because it uses lots of oxygen for cell processes, which after being metabolised, produces harmful waste products known as free radicals that, if not cleared, cause damage.  Organs begin to deteriorate, senses begin to decline, and energy begins to flag.  Pets are much happier to watch rather than to participate and can become less interactive with their surroundings.  But our companion animals can be kept comfortable and happy in their latter years largely due to advances in veterinary medicine.  Old age comes at different times for different breeds of dogs and different individual dogs. Dogs are considered "senior" in the last 25 percent of their live span. So, if your dog has a 12-year life expectancy, he will be a "senior" dog when he turns 9. Giant breeds tend to age early, for their life expectancy is generally less than 10 years. Large and medium-sized breeds have a life expectancy of 11-14 years, and small breeds can live 15 years or more. It is believed that one human year is equivalent to seven years in a dog’s life. But dogs reach adulthood in the first two years. The ratio can vary according to breed but you can say that a dog reaches old age when it hits 10 human years.  From a physiological viewpoint dogs are considered 'senior'  from about eight years of age and from five years old for large/giant breeds.  Dogs that are spayed or neutered before six months of age ordinarily live longer than dogs that are kept intact. 

Signs of Age-Related Disease
Thirst - decrese or increase

Appetite - decrease or increase

Weight Change  -  loss or gain

Constipation or diarrhoea

Changes in Urine Pattern

Vomiting

Poor Coat or Hair Loss

Stiffness/Lameness  -  especially on rising

Reluctance to Exercise

Reduced Interaction

Irritability/aggression

Reduced Hearing or Vision
source:Helping the Aged  -  Ella Canham  www.petfocus.com


The main culprits behind the aging process are free radicals.  These atoms, or groups of atoms, are found all around us, in our food, the atmosphere and especially in polluted environments.  They damage the cells in the body's membranes, but also can affect the fats and proteins, and even the DNA.  As a result, cells die quicker and regeneration is much slower and in some cases even stopped completely.  One of the best ways to deter free radicals is to eat a diet rich in antioxidants.  These are found in fresh fruit and vegetables.  Generally dogs do not eat a lot of these but many dog food manufacturers are now including antioxidant rich elements in their recipes.

The first sign of aging is a general decrease in activity level, including a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly, a waning of enthusiasm for long walks and games of catch, and a loss of interest in the goings on in the home.  Dogs need exercise throughout their lives but the amount varies with age.  A young dog requires much more exercise to help bones and muscles develop whilst the older dog, whose life is at a slower pace, should be exercised to retain ,mobility and good health.  Exercise is critical in keeping the dog in good shape.  They stay fitter and 'younger' if they are kept suitably exercised. An overweight dog may be happy being pampered, but will live longer if it slims down and takes a walk. Even old dogs generally like to play with a favorite toy for a few minutes each day or take a walk to the corner and back.  You will need to ensure that the dog is dried when you return from a wet walk. Older dogs may need a suitable jacket to go outside in, as some coats get thinner and more porous with age and are therefore less able to withstand rain and cold.

Older dogs are affected by extremes in temperature and changes in surroundings. They are careful to lie on the rug, not the tile floor and have difficulty in getting up after their nap, and are stiff-legged for a few hours now and then.  Orthopaedic dog beds can be helpful.

Hearing loss is an inevitable consequence of aging, it is usually a degenerative process for which there is no treatment, though hearing defects need to be checked for any underlying ear disease.

Some sight deterioration is almost always present in older dogs. Some pet owners notice that their pet has a bluish haze in their eyes, especially in bright light.  This is a normal ageing process of the lens, called 'Lenticular Sclerosis' which is an ageing change resulting from a nonpathological compaction and hardening of the lens fibres and does not affect vision.   Some older pets may develop cataracts which can be problematic.  The older dog will often be able to compensate for these conditions. Partial or even total blindness may not be noticed if the dog is in familiar surroundings and has learned to adjust as his eyesight failed. If you are relocating to a new home or travelling to unfamiliar areas, your pet will likely be anxious and afraid. Reassure and orientate the dog by walking it on a leash. Stop at each unfamiliar obstacle so that it can investigate its new surroundings.

Skin and coat change, too, as the skin loses pliability and the capacity of the oil-producing sebaceous glands diminishes. Wounds heal more slowly, allergies often worsen, non-malignant tumors may appear in the mouth or on or under the skin, and infestations of intestinal parasite may occur. Grooming your aged canine is essential to keep his skin and coat healthy as old coats may get thicker and more difficult to manage unless carefully looked after. Any problems such as dry skin, thin or brittle coat, thin coat, body odor, or sore spots can be easily detected before they get out of hand.  Feel over his body for any lumps or bumps, warts and benign fatty tumours (lipomas) are quite common in old dogs. They shouldn’t cause any problems unless they’re in a position where they can cause damage to other bodily areas (on the eyelid, for example), where they’re causing discomfort, or are easily traumatized. Get your vet to check any unusual swelling, especially if it’s growing quickly. Remember to check the ears for odour or gunk produced by infecting organisms on a regular basis.  Brush your dog more frequently to stimulate the production of natural oils and ask your veterinarian for a shampoo that may help to soothe dry skin without removing what little oils exist.

Check your dog's nails regularly. Pay special attention to the dew claws. These are located on the side of the leg and don’t touch the ground, so they’re not regularly worn. Sometimes these nails grow in a circle and back into the nail pad, which can be very painful. You can trim your dog’s nails yourself, but if you aren’t familiar with the procedure, ask your vet or a professional dog groomer to do this for you. Periodically examine your dog’s mouth and check his gums and teeth. Brown tartar deposits on the teeth lead to bad breath, gum disease and infections, and eventually can cause the teeth to fall out. Your vet can scale the teeth to remove the tartar and remove any loose teeth. This usually requires a general anaesthetic. It is far better to prevent or minimise the occurrence of gum disease by feeding your dog some hard foods as part of his diet throughout his life. There are also specially developed dog chews that will help to reduce the build up of plaque and tartar helping to maintain healthy teeth and gums. You should also brush his teeth regularly, using a special dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste or a soft cloth or cotton swab dipped in baking soda.

As aging advances, heart, liver, and kidneys lose their efficiency, and the immune system is less able to fight off attacks by bacteria and viruses. Bladder control may be affected, and muscles decrease in size and function.   A slight but noticeable loss of muscle mass is normal in old age, especially over the hind quarters.  This can also be a sign of disease so get your pet checked by your vet.  Ensure the dog is able to relieve itself more frequently - bladder control often reduces with age. Older dogs should not be left alone for long periods for this reason.  Invest in a baby gate or two to prevent the older dog from going up the stairs.  It's better to avoid the stain on the rug from incontinence or the injury that occurs when the dog is too stiff or can't see well enough to navigate the stairs.  Do not reprimand, discipline, or punish your dog for lapses in housetraining or for nipping a toddler who wakes her from a deep sleep. Avoid the situations when possible and deal with them when they happen, but do so without anger.  Older dogs with ailments need to be in a calm environment. Boisterous kids should be told to keep out of an old dog’s way as their behaviour may startle it. A grumpy old dog may not take too kindly to junior treading on its aching hip and may get aggressive. 

The nutritional needs change in older dogs and they need a more digestable food lower in calories.   Feed your dog a specific diet for elderly dogs. Senior/Light diets can reduce the calorie intake without reducing the nutrients the older dog still needs. This does not necessarily mean a low protein diet - this is an often-quoted misapprehension and is not backed up by research, which actually points to a higher protein intake for older dogs.  As well as containing fewer calories and made with easily digestable fish for the protein source many Senior/Light diets also contain the supplements glucosamine, chondroiton and MSN to reduce joint wear, fight arthritis and eleviate joint pain and stiffness.  The older dog may also benefit from having tastier things added to its meals to keep it eating.  Make sure you use a food type to suit old teeth if your dog has lost its teeth with age. Soaking the biscuits in warm water is usually enough to encourage the dog to continue eating.  Remember clean your dogs teeth to prevent gum disease or add a product like "Plaque-Off" to the meal. 

If your dog always leaves food you could be giving too much, some dogs cannot eat all they require in one sitting so they need to be fed a smaller amount in two or three sittings. Feed older dogs smaller, more frequent meals as good nutrition is critical to good health at all ages, so owners should avoid generic or cheap dog foods.  It is important to keep the dog’s weight down. Research has shown that dogs kept underweight (without being starved!) live longer, healthier lives, especially when compared to overweight dogs. Over feeding and resulting obesity do not do the dog any favours!  

Remember to supply clean fresh water at all times and encourage adequate water intake.  Note any changes in consumption

Older dogs have less resistance and less ability to fight off parasites and diseases so the yearly health check at your vets is important so that fleas and ticks can be detected and any infection can be treated.  Fleas can carry tapeworms and cause allergies; ticks can carry Lyme Disease. The body's systems slow down as cells deteriorate faster than the body can repair them.  This reduces the capacity to cope with internal and environmental changes, increasing susceptability to disease.  The metabolic rate decreases, which affects the speed of organ function, including bowel, muscle and brain.

Older dogs can experience age-related dementia. Signs of dementia include confusion where your pet may not recognise you or looks lost in your home.  He may confuse day with night, tending to sleep all day and be awake when it’s dark.  You may observe personality changes as well.  Some of these dogs go completely 'gaga' but potter about quite happily not understanding anything but seemingly quite content in a world of their own. Others may become very confused and stressed unable to understand the commands they have happily responded to for years. When called they will sometimes run in the wrong direction and get very upset if they become lost. Often they stand and bark continually - at nothing - and seem unable to relax.  Medication can help with this.

As your pet ages, routine checks at home become more necessary and regular veterinary checkups are important to help pick up on problems early. Prompt attention can slow the progression of disease and improve quality and life expectancy of your dog.  it is usually recommended that senior pets get a health check at least twice a year.  Further screening tests, such as blood tests, urinalysis and blood pressure monitoring can then be undertaken as recommended.  Handle your pet gently and be aware of any sensitive areas.

Conditions Regularly Detected
Dental Disease Nearly all ageing pets are affected to some degree, and changes can be severe, causing discomfort. Persistent infection can cause other illnesses and damage other organs
Osteoarthritis It is very important to identify the early signs of degenerative joint disease.  Look at how your pet gets up or lies down, uses stairs, gets in the car etc.  There are many treatmnet options to ais inflammation and discomfort.
Kidney Disease Chronic renal failure is one of the commonest problems to affect our pets.  Early detection through urine and blood tests can dramatically affect the rate of progression of kidney disease
Hyperthyroidism This is an over active thyroid gland and can be successfully controlled through medication or surgery.  A simple blood test screening provides a diagnosis and early treatment will reduce any secondary effects, such as heart disease or hypertension
Heart Disease Certain breeds are predisposed to heart disease.  Pets suffer progressive functional heart disease causing exercise intolerance and fluid retention.  Early dioagnosis and management will affect hugely the lonf term outlook
Diabetes Diabetes is regularly encountered in older dogs.  It can be well managed in a large number of cases.  The condition will be readily picked up by routine screening tests
Neoplasia The probability of tumours, both benign and malignant, increases dramatically with age.  Early detection and accurate diagnosis can sometimes avert serious consequences and will always help management.
Cognitive Dysfunction (dementia) Age-related reduction in mental ability is hugely variable between individuals and can significantly affect quality of life.  Medication and supplements can help mental function
source: Helping the Aged  -  Ella Canham  www.petfocus.com




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