Senior dog
I can still remember exactly how I brought you home to me as a puppy. The first few days together. Sniffing each other out and getting to know each other. I remember how often you pushed boundaries as a young dog. Beyond mine and beyond yours. And how remorsefully you came back every time. You knew exactly when you were going too far. So much energy and pure joie de vivre are not easy to contain. You've become calmer over the years. And after spending so much time side by side, we understand each other completely.
We are a well-rehearsed team. We've never been as close and familiar as we are today. You no longer have to chase after every butterfly and it's no longer a matter of course that you run in front on our walks together. But you still enjoy it. As you get older, this is associated with various changes. But how do these manifest themselves? How can I recognize the ageing process and what can I do for you so that you stay fit in your senior years and we can still have a lot of fun together? Answers to these and other questions can be found here.
DEFINITION
Help, my four-legged friend is getting old!
You can easily recognize the first signs of ageing: it's often the grey hair, especially around the muzzle. Your dog may also be less agile and active, get tired more quickly and sleep longer and more often. As they get older, they may find it increasingly difficult to climb stairs or jump up.
Other signs of ageing are usually less obvious: your dog hears and sees less well, its immune system weakens, and it becomes more susceptible to illness. You may also notice that its reactions and orientation are reduced.
He may also drink more or too little and have less appetite overall. Dental problems (e.g. bad breath) and weight gain despite unchanged feeding indicate one thing: Your dog is getting old.
The good news is that many dog owners describe life with a senior as a special experience because the relationship becomes closer and more intense. If you accompany your pet closely, observe them carefully and provide targeted support, they can remain fit and agile into old age. A stable, healthy musculoskeletal system is an important prerequisite for this - and you can do a lot to maintain this.
How old is my dog in human years?
When you can expect to see the first signs of ageing in your pet depends mainly on the breed and genetics. It is said that large dogs age faster than small ones.
Good to know
This table can only give you an indication of how old your dog would be in human years. Recent studies indicate that our four-legged friends age much faster than humans, especially in the first few years of their lives, and that the process then slows down.
The following formula can help you calculate this more precisely: 16 ln (dog age) + 31 = human age*
FURTHER INFORMATION
When the joints age
With increasing age, your dog's musculoskeletal system in particular also changes: The muscles become weaker, the bone structure changes due to daily stress and the joints wear out. Movements can now cause pain again and again. This is where chronic joint wear and tear (= osteoarthritis) begins.
But what exactly happens in the joint? In a healthy young joint, a layer of cartilage covers the bone surfaces and acts as a "shock absorber". The joint fluid, which is located in the gap between the ends of the bones, also ensures that the bones glide smoothly over each other during movement. Over the years, however, the body produces less and less of this fluid. As a result, there is not enough "lubricant" and the joint cartilage also loses elasticity. The shock absorber no longer works 100% and damage to the cartilage can occur.
Friction in the joint now causes increasing pain and regular flare-ups of inflammation promote wear and tear. The process progresses and leads to further degradation of the joint cartilage. A vicious circle! Unhealed injuries, overloaded and incorrectly loaded joints as well as obesity and lack of exercise also promote joint wear and tear.
Good to know
Articular cartilage functions like a sponge. It can only absorb the synovial fluid and thus be supplied with nutrients through regular loading and unloading. If the joint is not moved, the cartilage is undersupplied and osteoarthritis progresses more quickly.
How can I tell if my dog is suffering from osteoarthritis?
For your dog, progressive joint wear and tear means an increasingly poor quality of life: inflammation and pain restrict mobility. Walking hurts and even natural needs such as scratching, grooming and stretching can be very uncomfortable. To enable your pet to enjoy happy and mobile senior years, you should look out for possible signs early on: The earlier osteoarthritis is detected and treated, the greater the chance of pain-free ageing.
Good to know
Around one in five dogs will suffer from osteoarthritis in the course of their lives. The joints shown in the diagram above are frequently affected.
Osteoarthritis check
Are you unsure whether your four-legged friend might have osteoarthritis? The following questions will help you make an initial assessment and can be a good basis for a discussion at the vet's office.
How can I support my pet?
If you suspect that your senior dog is suffering from osteoarthritis, your vet can make an accurate diagnosis and start suitable treatment by examining your dog while walking, performing a thorough palpation, taking an X-ray and possibly also an ultrasound scan.
Although osteoarthritis cannot be cured because the cartilage is permanently damaged, it can be treated. The therapy is demanding, as it is usually necessary for the rest of the patient's life. It should therefore be well tolerated and easy to use. What is the aim of this treatment? The therapy should not only relieve pain and inflammation, but also preserve and protect the joint cartilage and thus the mobility of your four-legged friend for as long as possible.
For older animals, that can also suffer from various diseases at the same time, the following applies: The medication to be administered should be easy to combine and have as few side effects as possible. Natural veterinary medicines can be very useful here.
Good to know
In addition to pain therapy - to relieve acute pain - the administration of veterinary medicines with regenerative effects on the joint cartilage is also recommended as long-term therapy. If you want to support your dog, consider the natural veterinary medicines from Heel Vet.
Tips for everyday life: to help dogs' joints stay healthy
Always keep a close eye on your senior, respond to its urge to be active and don't overtax it. Pay particular attention to changes in behavior.
Older dogs need less energy than young dogs. You should also take this into account when feeding them. Supplements containing chondroitin and glucosamine, for example, can provide additional support for the joints.
Set up fixed and suitable places for your dog to retreat to and recover from walks.
Too much weight puts additional strain on the joints. Check your pet's weight regularly and adjust the amount of food if necessary. It is better to give your dog several small portions, as its digestion can become slower with age.
Depending on your dog's state of mind, shorten your routes and walk several small laps a day instead.
Swimming, for example, is ideal for older dogs. The joints are spared during exercise as they do not have to bear the dog's weight.
Mental activity and attention are at least as important as physical exercise when dogs are older. Search and intelligence games or balance exercises are therefore also suitable for seniors.
Regular thorough examinations are particularly important for your older dog. You should take it to a vet once or twice a year.
Sources
- * Wang et al., 2020 Cell Systems 11, 176-185; doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2020.06.006
