These Senior Dog Care Tips Will Help Identify Illnesses

Pet owners can benefit by senior dog care tips that will help them recognize illnesses in their pets so that problems can be treated right away. Like humans, dogs experience a gradual decline in health with age, and are more prone to sickness and general health problems as they become older. It’s important to recognize signs and symptoms before it’s too late for successful treatment, and to ensure that your beloved pet’s last years are happy and pain free.

At What Age Does a Dog Become a Senior? 

A quick way to calculate your dog’s age in human terms is to multiply their current number of years old by seven, and assume one human year is equal to seven dog years. However, the age calculation actually differs depending on the breed, which means dogs become seniors at different ages.

For example, large breeds like Great Danes enter their senior years at age six or seven years, while smaller breeds like poodles are not considered elderly until they reach 12 or 13 years. It’s a good idea to consult your vet in order to find out your dog’s actual age so that you can be more alert for symptoms of problems that are more likely to occur as they enter their senior years.

Watch for these Common Diseases in Senior Dogs 

Here’s a rundown of the most common diseases that affect older dogs, their signs and their symptoms. Remember that many of these problems can affect younger dogs, too, and it is always wise to take your pet to the vet if your dog seems to be experiencing difficulties. Sometimes the problem causing your pet a lot of distress can be remedied very easily.

1. Cancer – The signs and symptoms are abnormal swelling or growths, sores that take a long time to heal, unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite, bloody discharge, offensive odor, lethargy and physical weakness, difficulty using bowel movements or difficulty in breathing.
2. Dental Disease – Dental problems are indicated by bad breath, difficulty swallowing or eating and weight loss.
3. Arthritis – Signs of arthritis are difficulty standing up or climbing steps, behavioral changes and loss of muscle.
4. Kidney Disease/Renal Failure – Symptoms of kidney problems are excessive urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness and pale gums.
5. Diarrhea – This problem is suspected when there are watery stools, blood in the stool, vomit with blood, bad breath and oral ulcers.
6. Prostate Disease – The usual signs are soiling inside the house, dribbling urine and blood in the urine.
7. Cataracts – Watch for cloudy eyes, clumsiness where there shouldn’t be and the inability to retrieve objects.
8. Hypothyroidism – Suspect this problem if there is an unexplained weight gain, dryness or thinning of hair, lethargy and depression.
9. Cushing’s disease – Signs are the thinning of the hair, increased thirst, excessive urination, potbelly and overeating.
10. Dry eye – The main sign is a yellowish green discharge from the eyes.
11. Epilepsy – The main symptom is seizures.
12. Gastrointestinal Disease – This problem is suspected when there is vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, bloody discharge in the stool and black stools.
13. Inflammatory Bowel Disease – The signs are diarrhea, vomiting and mucus or blood in the stool.
14. Diabetes mellitus – The symptoms are increased thirst, excessive urination, a drop in weight, weakness, depression and vomiting.
15. Obesity – This problem is easy to spot as your pet will be overweight, dislike exercise and will have difficulty walking.
16. Anemia – The main signs are weakness and pale gums.
17. Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease – The symptoms are excessive coughing, especially at night, weight loss, fainting and panting.
18. Liver Disease – Watch for vomiting, loss of appetite, behavioral changes and yellow gums.
19. Bladder stones – The signs are difficulty in urinating and blood in the urine.

Good care means paying careful attention to any changes in your pet’s health, body condition, activity and behavior. Use these senior dog care tips to help you identify symptoms of illnesses and problems so that you can take your best friend to the vet for treatment before he or she starts suffering. Sometimes it takes very little effort to ease your pet’s pain or discomfort. Make your dog’s last years with you as happy and enjoyable as possible.

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