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Older dogs have usually earned a special place in the family. They have reached an age when they have found their niche in the family unit and are an integral part of the day's activities. Senior dogs understand our personalities and we understand their typical behavior. They are living memory links to our past major family events.
In return for all the affection and joy they have given us, we owe them a reasonable quality of life in their senior years until death is imminent when, if possible, we should attempt to manage a dignified, fear-free, painless death for our canine companion.
Senior Years
The age that dogs become senior citizens varies with the breed. Larger breeds age faster than younger breeds. On the average, a dog over 7 years of age is entering its senior years. Characteristic changes associated with advancing age in dogs is less physical activity, new white hairs around the face, and a stiffer hair coat with less shine. The risk of undesirable weight gain becomes greater in early senior years, while in advanced senior years appetite and body weight tends to decrease.
Age Versus Disease
Aging is not a disease. Older dogs can be very healthy and active, especially if they were healthy and active in their younger years. However, years of accumulated insults to joints, hearing, eyesight, and other body functions may reach a critical point in the senior years when arthritis, poor sight, poor hearing, kidney damage, heart failure, and other problems may become evident. Earlier years of inactivity, neglect, or obesity can also take their tolls and lead to diseases in the senior years.
Routine Care Feeding Healthy older dogs do not need special changes in their diet, but it is particularly important to strive for an ideal weight. If you cannot easily feel your dog's ribs and/or see a tapering at the waist when you look down on your dog, gradually restrict the quantity of food being fed while monitoring the dog's weekly body weight, the ability to feel its ribs, and its overhead body shape. If you can see your dog's ribs when the hair coat is dry or wet, gradually increase the quantity of food being fed while monitoring body weight and stool consistency. Nutritional treats (milk, cottage cheese, beef broth, etc) in limited amounts may be added to its usual balanced diet if necessary to increase the appetite and caloric intake. If your veterinarian diagnoses a health problem in your older dog, a prescription diet may be helpful. Access to Clean Fresh Water Senior dogs are often unable to concentrate their urine to the degree they could in their youth and will need to drink more frequently in greater quantities, or rapid kidney failure could result. More frequent opportunities to urinate should be offered it water consumption has increased, especially if consumption exceeds 1 oz of water per lb of bodyweight daily. Exercise More effort to encourage exercise may be necessary, but this should be monitored for signs of exertion, exhaustion, stiffness, or lameness – before, during, and after the exercise. Monitor play with younger dogs and intervene if this or any other exercise is not "low impact". Try to eliminate situations of "high impact" on joints such as providing stairs or ramps if the dog's routine behavior includes jumping onto or off of furniture and beds. Basic Comforts Thicker bedding helps older dogs stay warm and protects joints and bony prominences. Brief periods of stiffness or lameness can be treated with aspirin (1 baby aspirin per 8 to 10 lb or 1 adult aspirin per 30 to 40 lb, twice per day, with food). If there is no improvement of stiffness or lameness with the use of aspirin or if aspirin has to be given for 3 or more days in a row, seek your veterinarian’s advice. Veterinary Care Annual health exams should be performed by your veterinarian to differentiate aging and disease and to catch health problems early. If health problems exist, veterinary exams may be needed several times per year.
The Transition from Being a Master of Care to a Master of Destiny
When all efforts to provide a quality life for our senior canine companion have been exhausted and the end is imminent, a managed fear-free, painless, and dignified death administered by your veterinarian should be considered. Possible signs of significant lost of quality of life of a canine companion includes: Persistent total loss of appetite Being unable to rise from a resting position and support body weight Evidence of uncontrollable pain Signs of irrational fear
For more information, contact your local veterinarian or the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital 573-882-7821 or visit <http://www.vmth.missouri.edu/>
C.B. Chastain, DVM
Professor, University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine
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