The circle of life affects every living being on our planet. Whether it’s a human, a canine, a feline, or a
simple flower, there is a defined process of how the life cycle goes. You get born, you live, and
eventually, you reach the end of the journey. Although it can be very devastating, it’s a completely
natural thing. What’s more, those who actually reach their old age are the lucky ones since they saw
a lot of life and have had many moments.
The life cycle of a dog depends on many things. And oftentimes knowing what to expect or what to
look for can help you recognize the signs of aging in your dog. Once you do, you can take the
necessary actions to make sure that your dog has a healthy and long senior period of its life. Before
we get into the signs that tell you that your dog is getting old, let’s see what does the life span of a
dog depends on?
There are several things, but the major ones are the following:
Even if you do everything right as mentioned above, one thing is inevitable—your dog will get old.
Knowing that you gave them the best possible life helps. However, seeing the signs of seniority can
be crucial to prolonging their life even more. And that is precious to every dog owner. So let’s get
into the 10 signs that your dog is getting old:
Weight gain is usually one of the first signs that your dog is not as it was before. This can be caused
by many reasons like thyroid problems, joint pain, or simply a slower metabolism due to older age.
Obesity is one of the most common problems with senior dogs since they are usually slower, get less
exercise, but are fed the same. Some breeds are even more prone to getting obese.
What to do?
Simply adjust the food quantity and food type. Of course, you should consult with a vet on this issue,
but generally, you will need to give your dog less food, and food that has a lower percentage of fats.
There are foods specifically created for senior dogs with lots more fibers and adjusted fats.
Additionally, you might need to give some supplements.
Do you remember the times when you would take your dog on your morning run and he could keep
up with you with no problems? Now he is slowing down and needs a minute to catch a breath. Just
as when people get older, dogs become less energetic and need more rest when doing physical
activity. If you notice that your dog is slowing down, breathing heavily, or stopping entirely—that’s
another sign.
What to do?
When this happens, the only thing you can do is to adjust the exercise practices. You shouldn’t push
your dog to walk more once you see signs of him getting tired. Find a new, less drastic way of
exercising. Moving around is still very important for your dog, but maybe shorter walks than
previously will feel better for him.
Have you noticed that your dog is getting kind of stiff, especially after physical activity and in the
mornings? As dogs get older, a large portion of them develop arthritis and joint problems. This is
painful for them and causes stiffness in their movements. Sometimes dogs have difficulty moving
around in cold weather or climbing up and down the stairs.
What to do?
If you notice these signs, it’s a good time to go to the vet. They will recommend some supplements
for joints and bones, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, or other types of medication that will make
your dogs’ life more pleasant. Additionally, you can put up ramps if needed, or set your dog on the
first floor if you have the opportunity. Avoid long walks, try to get your dog to swim if you can,
provide a good bed, elevated dishes for food and water, etc.
You may notice that your dog has cloudy eyes or that he stopped seeing as much as he used to. This
is because of a condition called nuclear sclerosis which usually happens gradually to older dogs. It is
very common and although it doesn’t always mean that their vision is impacted, sometimes it’s a sign
of cataracts or other diseases of the eyes. If you notice your dog bumping into objects, or not being
able to find a toy on the floor, it’s time for (you know what!) the vet!
What to do?
Take your dog to the vet. It’s the only thing you can do since they will see if this is a progressive
disease or something that can be easily treated. Additionally, make the room your dog stays in the
most uncluttered. Use different scents or different textures in rugs in different rooms so the dog can
recognize where he is by other senses.
As with old people, dogs tend to start losing their hearing once they are seniors. This means that
sometimes your dog is unresponsive when you call him. He also may get startled if you come without
making any noise.
What to do?
If the hearing loss is greater than the vision problems, then the only thing you can do is start to start
training with hand signs so if he can’t hear you, he can still understand what you want from him.
Also, take him to the vet. They would be able to give you professional advice based on the specific
condition of your dog.
The breath of a dog is never perfect, no matter how much you take care of it. However, if it starts to
get very horrible, then you know there are some issues there. Bad breath can indicate infections,
tooth decay, or gum disease. As the immune system of a senior dog is weaker, the infections might
be worse and more persistent.
What to do?
First of all, maintain good dental hygiene on your dog. Regularly brush their teeth and/or give them
dental chews. Additionally, their teeth need to be cleaned by the vet. Consult with your vet whether
your dog can go under anesthesia to endure the cleaning. If not, find proper solutions.
As the dogs get older, their usual bathroom habits might change drastically. If they have problems
with their joints, it might be difficult for them to have normal bladder or bowel functions. The dog
may go to the toilet more frequently and even cause accidents in the home. Also, if they have lots of
pain in their joints they might find it difficult to properly squat when doing their thing, so they might
create bigger messes than usually.
What to do?
Take notice of their new bathroom habits. Follow how frequently they go, when do they make
accidents, etc. If there’s dripping urine or diarrhea, take your dog to the vet immediately to rule out
other possible health issues.
It’s always scary when you think you’ve touched an unexplained bump on your dogs’ skin. Some dogs
are naturally prone to harmless fatty lipomas, and these will get more frequent as the dog ages.
However, some of them might be cancerous. That is why it’s extremely important to notice them in
time and take action immediately.
What to do?
Make sure you run your fingers through your dogs’ coat frequently feeling for any new and
unexplained bumps and lumps. If you encounter a new one, take your dog to the vet immediately to
have it evaluated. They are not always necessarily bad or harmful, but it’s better to be safe than
sorry.
With age, dogs can have a deteriorating coat. They can experience fur loss, especially some short-
haired dogs. They can even have bald spots here and there. This is oftentimes a natural process of
getting old, but sometimes it indicated an underlying health issue. Some conditions affecting the coat
are thyroid problems, hot spots, allergies, or self-soothing.
What to do?
Some supplementation can be helpful. Also, make sure that you brush and clean his coat often so no
additional problems arise. And of course, check with a vet to rule out any of the before-mentioned
conditions.
Your dog used to be very outgoing, energetic, and friendly, but now he is anxious, scared of noises,
and other dogs? Again, this is the way it goes when the dogs get old. Senior dogs can develop things
like separation anxiety, aggression towards new people entering the home, becoming clingier,
wanting to be left alone more often, etc. This is all normal as it is with us, humans.
What to do?
Be more patient with your dog. If there is extreme anxiety, you can try some supplements or
medications recommended by a vet to calm down your dog. Try to keep the space clutter-free, and
avoid situations that you know cause great stress to your dog. Keep a defined routine according to
the dogs’ needs.
As we can see, the aging process of dogs is as natural and as sad as with humans. The only thing you
can do is try to offer your dog the best care you possibly can, and accommodate your schedule and
home to the dogs’ needs. He will love you for it, and you may have many more years left together.
