Changes To Look Out For As Your Dog Gets Older

Pulled muscles, stressed joints and organs scarred by infection are just a part of the beating you dog's body takes during his lifetime. Cell structure breaks down, decreasing the efficacy of organs and tissues. These traumas are the causes of abnormal cell development which in turn create arthritic conditions and sometimes tumors.

From the outside, he looks just as healthy and active as he ever was, but on the inside he is not at all functioning like he did when he was young.

As an example, if deterioration of the kidneys take place, the kidney can carry on functioning so long as forty percent of the tubules (the bit that breaks down nutrients) are still working. Throughout this time, there will be no tell tale signs and your aging dog will behave normally and feel fine, although he may need to urinate more regularly.

This condition can change, however, if the kidneys continue to deteriorate. It can happen slowly or in other cases, overnight. Therefore, as he gets older you will need to check his overall health by adjusting his amount of exercise, and food intake. Keep a close watch on his behavior as this is where you will notice any problem areas arising much sooner than any physical signs he may display.

If he is lethargic, or his appetite changes, this is a sign of a deeper problem. Your dog's muscles will remain strong, so long as he exercises and the more exercise he gets as a young dog, the more he will be able to do as he matures. Bear in mind he cannot talk! He, therefore, cannot tell you when he has had enough.

He copes with the aches and pains simply to be with you, and to please you, no matter how he feels. Although his muscles may still be strong at this point, his internal parts are not operating in perfect running order.

There is no reason why your dog cannot remain physically healthy even though he is getting less exercise. Try covering less ground, but taking more regular walks and soft ground may make it a bit easier for him instead of walking on concrete. The musculoskeletal system will usually show signs of arthritic changes as he matures into a senior dog. Arthritis comes about through changes in the joint bones, a thickening of the synovial fluid between the joints and a reduction of cartilage. Inflammation often causes further irritation and can result in lameness.

The arthritic changes will not only cause pain in the joints, but also atrophy in the muscles because your dog will want to remain still. The muscles start to become loose and hang off the bones most obviously along the spine, chest, and hind legs and the skin will appear to be baggy.

Your dog takes on a different temperament altogether as his senior years set in. He moves slower, becomes picky with his feeds and if his eyesight is not what it once was, he will bump into things as he is pottering around.

He will become less excitable, waiting patiently at the door whilst you find his leash and although he will still greet you with a wag of the tail, the acrobatics and gymnastics he used to perform when he was younger are now a thing of the past as he, probably reluctantly but accepting the inevitable, settles into old age.