What to Expect as Your Dog Gets Older

Though you might still remember your dog as a bouncing happy puppy, the years have a way of passing and when you are in a place where your dog is older, you need to expect some changes. Dogs age much like humans do and as they get older they are going to be showing it. How can you tell when the years are catching up with your dog and what do you need to be on the look out for? If you are watching your dog closely, you are already taking the most important step. Simply making sure that you know what to expect can make a huge difference in your ability to cope with your dog's health needs.

The first thing that you might notice is that your dog's energy is going to decrease and along with that, their metabolism is going to drop. Have you noticed that your dog is simply beginning to prefer sleeping to roaming the house? One issue that you need to keep in mind is that if you feed your dog the same amount of food that he was getting when he was younger and more energetic, you might notice that he starts to gain weight. Weight gain can be a real problem for dogs as they get older, so consider what kind of food you want to feed them. A diet that is higher in fiber and lower in fat is something that can be very beneficial to your dog. If your dog is not eating quite as well as you would like him to, supplements an also be recommended.

You know that humans will go grey when they get older and dogs do something very similar. Many older dogs will start to get more gray hair around their eyes and around their muzzles. This is quite normal. Another sign of aging that you need to be aware of is that your dog's fur might end up being thinner or duller. While this can be a product of aging, you also need to understand that your dog might be dealing with some sort of nutritional deficiency. Fatty acid supplements can help you put some luster back into the coat, though if you notice that there has been a very rapid or sudden change, you might want to speak to your vet. Be aware that your dog's skin may become more thin and frail, leading to more bumps, bruises and injuries.

Also keep in mind that you might need to be ready to deal with urinary incontinence in an older dog. Older dogs might start to leak urine from their urethra while they are resting, but this can mostly be treated with estrogens and other medications. If your dog is persistently having issues with incontinence, you should speak to a veterinarian. There may be a medical issue associated with it, or there might be a behavioral issue that needs to be dealt with.

There are several things that you need to consider when you are looking at aging dog, but knowing what to expect can make a real difference.