As our dogs get older, many of their needs change, sometimes the side effects of aging are very subtle. Most begin showing signs of aging at about 7, but it is earlier for the big to giant breeds. As they slow down, they gain weight; their senses dull just like people. If our dogs could talk, here is what they would say:ìI canít see as well as I used to, and canít hear as well either.îThis can be very slight at first, but then get worse over time. Because it usually happens slowly, they learn to adapt, and we come to believe this is normal. We should learn to tell family and visitors to begin to approach senior pets more slowly and use touch carefully. Also, as so many senior dogs have arthritis they may not enjoy being petted over the hips or back as much as they once did. In very old dogs, be sure to keep their eyes clean with warm water on a cotton ball, and the same goes for the ears. Let your veterinarian or groomer show you how to keep those ears clean.ìI have more aches and pains, and Iím not sure what they mean, but the pain is real.îProbably one of the most common diseases our seniors get is arthritis. Sixty-five percent of all dogs have some form of this painful disease. It can be in their hips, knees, back, neck or front legs. The most common sign will be an abnormal walk, or difficulty getting up stairs or even from sleeping. As it gets worse, they will have trouble lying down and even cry out. Sometimes, a normally wonderful dog suddenly snips (or gives a warning bark) at you or a family member. If this begins to happen, then you might consider pain is the cause and not bad behavior.If you begin to see this, it is definitely time to see the veterinarian. There are many ways to treat pain these days (see my August column in The New Falcon Herald) and it involves more than an anti-inflammatory and a pain pill. The use of ìMulti-Modal Pain Managementî has many senior dogs living well with what would otherwise be painful arthritis. If your veterinarian does not know about this approach to pain, then you owe it to your senior pet to find one that does. Donít let your senior buddy live with pain!ìI know it may sound funny, but I may have doggie Alzheimerís disease ñ- and it makes me very anxious!îMost people are surprised to find out that this disease we know well in humans is similar to a canine disease called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction or CCD. The physical changes that occur with this disease are in the nerves of the brain, where memories are made and behaviors are shaped. While close to the same human disease, our dogs donít forget your name or where they put the TV remote. But they may forget to let you know when they need to go out, or your dog may begin to wander restlessly all evening; much like the ìsundown†syndromeî†of Alzheimerís patients. Also, and maybe most important, is that dogs with CCD may find familiar surroundings suddenly unfamiliar; and this can often trigger anxiety and agitation.Although dementia is almost never fatal on its own, mental dysfunction and physical health problems are a bad combination. Some of these cases get so bad that compassionate owners choose to euthanize their dogs. It is heart-breaking. But we do have treatments and supplements to attempt to treat or limit this disease.ìI donít know why, but I get colder these days.îAs we age, it gets harder to regulate our body temperature. Helping your dog keep his body temperature comfortable will help minimize joint and muscle stiffness, and may even help him fight off illnesses. So use good beds, blankets and even a doggy sweater in cold months. When indoors, put his bed close to a heat source. But donít use an electric heating pad, they get too hot and can cause burns.ìI could use some extra brushing or at least a trip to the groomer more often.îThe skin, hair coat and even the nails change as dogs age. Their skin can become dry and their coat more coarse. A supplement of good quality fish oil with meals can go a long way to solving the problem. Watch their nails and brush out the coat, which helps the hair stay healthy. While you are doing this, check for lumps; and, if you find a new one, let your veterinarian take a look.There are many more things to keep an eye out for as your dog ages. The best prevention is to put your senior on an every six-month visit schedule and let your veterinarian be sure your senior is aging gracefully.Dr. Jim Humphries is a veterinarian in Colorado Springs and also serves as a visiting professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. He provides hospice and end of life care for pets. He lives in Falcon with his wife, horses and Great Danes. www.MobilePetDocs.com
