Caring for your Senior Dog

Aging is a very natural process of a dog’s life. As dogs get into their golden years, they can have less energy, their sight or hearing may be impacted, and they have a higher risk of developing kidney or liver disease, diabetes or become obese. Additionally, you may find that they can seem confused or disorientated, or more prone to being anxious or fearful of loud noises than they used to be.

Depending on their size, dogs are considered to be seniors at different ages

Size	Age
Small	10 to 11
Medium	8 to 10
Large	5 to 6

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How to keep our senior dogs healthy

Walking
As dogs age, they can slow down and their exercise needs may change. The dog that used to be your jogging partner may no longer be able to keep up with you anymore. Be sensitive to that, and instead of expecting them to be by your side as you run at a steady pace, swap to low impact exercise such as a leisurely or brisk walk, allowing them to sniff and smell more and therefore get mentally stimulated.

Physical exercise is still very important for them to maintain a healthy body and a healthy mind. Be mindful on walks of steep inclines that may become difficult for your dog now that he is older and also going down a steep hill. Some dogs as they age may develop muscle atrophy and their legs will not be strong enough to always cope with steepness or a sharp slope. Senior dogs can also be more sensitive to the climate, so be sure that they seem comfortable on their walk.

If their exercise needs have changed, it will be time to change their diet to one that is lower in fat and less calories to prevent weight gain as this can lead to obesity and trigger such things as diabetes. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to talk to your Veterinarian to get their advice on what you should be feeding your senior dog.

​Mental stimulation
Mental enrichment is equally as important for senior dogs. They can get this through the many puzzle toys that are widely available on the market now, or through playing games like hide and seek with a toy or with food. Take a nose work class with your dog - it’s great fun for them as it engages their olfactory system, it’s low impact on their body and is very mentally stimulating for them!

​Swimming
Swimming can be a great form of exercise for a senior dog. It’s a great full body workout to keep them trim and is easy on the joints. To help support them I would always advise putting a dog life vest (or as we say in the UK, a dog life jacket) on to help support them in the water and only let them swim for short intervals. Please keep in mind that swimming is not recommended for certain breeds of dogs that have flat faces such as Bulldogs, Pugs and other brachycephalic breeds more prone to aspiration pneumonia.

Physical Therapy
If your older dog is getting stiffer when getting up and moving around, physical therapy or canine rehabilitation is a way to help them stay active and mobile. In the same way that this is beneficial to humans it can also help our canine friends. The approach is different but the principal is the same for the senior dog. Goals can include maintaining flexibility and range of motion, maintaining or improving strength, therefore helping your dog stay as active as possible and help with pain control. When a dogs’ body is stronger as they get older, it helps with normal things such as climbing the stairs and jumping. They will have an improved quality of life and may help them live longer.

​Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is where your dog is immersed in a tank filled with water and basically walks on a treadmill. This form of exercise is great for senior dogs as it is a painless and fun means of exercise. The water provides buoyancy and therefore eliminates stress on your dogs’ joints allowing them to move without feeling pain, plus the water gives resistance for muscle strengthening resulting in a stronger dog.

​Grooming
Regular grooming remains important. As dogs age their coats and skin change. It can be drier, flaky and irritated, which if not cared for properly can become worse. Brush them regularly to keep an eye on this, removing any mats or tangles and if you notice changes, talk to your veterinarian.

Veterinarian check-ups
These become more important as a dog gets older to give your veterinarian the chance to determine if something is wrong and if so, be able to implement a treatment plan straight away. Just like humans as dogs age they can develop ailments such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or joint problems. If left untreated they can be very painful conditions for your dog to live with and can affect their mood, appetite and overall quality of life. 

Dental hygiene for your senior dog is something that you need to be vigilant about and your veterinarian will keep a check on this, as poor dental care can have an impact to the health of other organs of their body, just as it can for humans. Therefore, regular brushing, oral chews, or oral teeth care products that you can put into water bowls are all ways to keep their teeth in good condition.  Regular vet checks at least twice a year is therefore a good idea and keeping up with flea, tick and heart-worm treatments (depending on where you live) are still necessary to keep your senior dog healthy.

​Changes to their home environment
When your dog was a puppy you probably had to puppy proof your home! Now as your dog is older to enable him to get around the home with ease you may have to make some accommodations such as ramps for them to get onto chairs or into the car especially if your dog has joint problems, muscle atrophy or arthritis. Heated mats or beds are a good idea for achy joints. If your dog becomes visually impaired having easy access to water bowls is important plus keeping furniture in the same place will prevent your dog from hitting into things which could result in injury.

Spend time with them
Finally, as our dogs age it is very important to spend time with them. Older dogs can become more anxious especially if they are hard of hearing or their sight becomes impaired. But by keeping to a routine with them so that they know what to expect and when, that helps to alleviate anxieties. Give back to them what they have given to you over the years, loyalty. It may be a little extra work, but it is very rewarding.
 
While writing this particular blog I do so with my two West Highland White Terriers in mind who are now 13 and 11 years old. They have given my husband and I such joy over the years and continue to do so. They have also shown how robust and adaptable they are with the many times during their lives with us that we have had to move from country to country. They always travelled well and adapted to their new surroundings very quickly just taking on what life threw at them and embracing it.

Now in their senior years we ensure that they are well exercised both physically and mentally and they have regular physical therapy and hydrotherapy sessions which really does help keep them physically fit. Being older dogs, they have developed some ailments but by keeping up with vet checks, feeding them a healthy diet, having a structured routine and keeping them physically and mentally stimulated it seems to do the trick for them. There’s nothing nicer than seeing happy dogs and just giving that little extra care as they now get older. If you live in Massachusetts and are interested in canine physical therapy, check out Sterling Impression Rehabilitation.