What to Expect as Your Dog Ages

I realize this is a very sensitive subject for most dog owners. We all like to think our companions will live forever, and always be with us. But this is just simply not the case. Today I’m going to tell you some changes you can expect in your dog’s behavior and give you some pointers to help make him as comfortable as possible!

First let me point out that all dogs are different, so what I talk about here may not necessarily be the case with your dog. These are just general guidelines and common problems, if you have any further questions about anything discussed in this post, please leave me a comment and I will post your question as well as my response.

As dogs get older, they are at an increased risk for infection and disease, so I am telling you this information so you will be aware of your dog and you will know what to look for in his health and behavior.

The Senses:

It is perfectly normal for your dog to experience problems with his senses. You may see that he acts confused, or he may run into things around your house. Also, it may seem like you are giving him commands and he is not listening to you. He isn’t ignoring you, it could be that he cannot hear you. If his eyesight gets very bad, you may want to confine him to one area of the house. Doing this will reduce his risk for injury and give you peace of mind knowing he is safe!

It is important for you to be extremely patient with older dogs, understand that they are not at their peak physically, so it may take them a longer time to comprehend what you are asking them to do, but rest assured they still want to please you! If you start to notice his hearing isn’t what it used to be, you should consider teaching him hand signals to go with voice commands, if he knows them you will still be able to communicate with him even after his hearing goes completely.

Behavior:

When my last dog got older, she had a very short temper. It seemed like she only wanted to be petted for a certain amount of time and then she would get crabby. She was not able to get up on her own, so someone in my family would have to reach under her and pick her up constantly throughout the day. The joints and muscles in an older dog are not the same as in a younger one. If you see that he is in great pain when he stands up or has difficulty standing on his own, take him to the vet and have him checked out.

Another thing that is very common in older dogs is their lack of bladder control. You may think he is making mistakes on purpose or that he has “forgotten” his training, but he has not. As in elderly human beings sometimes you do not feel the sensation, and you are not aware of what you are doing. It is exactly the same in dogs. If your dog has this problem, consider putting diapers on him and increasing his trips outside. Make it easy on him and make sure he gets outside frequently!

Comfort:

To keep him comfortable, make sure he has a warm place to sleep in the winter with plenty of soft blankets. His teeth may be brittle, so consider buying wet (canned) dog food, and steer clear of rawhide chew toys, this could cause further damage to his teeth. Give an older dog lots of attention and love! They will appreciate still being a part of the family, and you will be making him happy and comfortable! Also be sure he is still taken to the vet regularly, infections and disease caught early can often be treated!!

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!

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