Age gracefully: something that we all want to explore, and it is possible for our pet too. For pets, as they get older, they may develop new, undesirable behaviors. Giving your pet a little extra attention on their health care may help them live longer, healthier lives as they aged. Recognizing dog’s behavioral changes that come with age can help you adjust your lifestyle, home setting, and care routines to give your senior dog the best life possible.
1. Sleeping much more: One of the most common signs is excessive tiredness. You may see your dog sleeping more, lagging on walks, or losing interest in activities that used to love, like fetch or tug.
2. Weight Loss: As a dog ages, it can be harder for that dog to maintain lean muscle mass. Dogs can also lose weight due to medical conditions that related to aging, such as cancer, kidney or liver disease, and diabetes, etc.
3. Sudden change in personality: it may get grouchier and grumpier. As your dog getting old, it may experience more irritations, such as pain. Besides, vision or hearing loss may make them more likely to startle from unexpected touches or noises.
4. Trouble getting around: Osteoarthritis is very common in older dogs, and they may get difficult or reluctant to climb stairs, lagging behind on walks, decreased interest in play, sleeping more, difficulty getting up, etc
5. Appearing confused and forgetting: Canine cognitive dysfunction, just as Alzheimer's disease, takes place when there is a decline in a dog's cognitive ability. Affected dogs may appear confused, forget commands, and sometimes may even not recognize friends or their owners.
On top of behavioral changes, aging dogs will have the following physical conditions:
hearing loss, vision loss, tooth loss or soreness, changes in breathing, stiffness, or limping. If you are unsure whether your dog starts aging, it is important to have your veterinarian examine your dog and check on its condition.
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