Mary Allen
Aging is a natural process that has complex effects on your dog’s body, most notably its metabolism. As an owner, you often do not notice at first that the aging process has already started in your own dog, because aging begins very gradually. But there are some things you can do to tell that your dog is on the way to seniority and some things you can do to slow down the aging process in dogs.
The Slow Way to Dog Seniors
Oftentimes, certain changes in behavior and other signs can be observed in a dog that has slowly begun to age. With the onset of aging, certain biological processes in the dog’s body change. This can cause various metabolic processes to function poorly. At the same time, the susceptibility to certain diseases also increases. Of course, aging itself cannot be prevented. However, it is possible to reduce the speed at which this natural process progresses.
Appropriate prevention is particularly important in order to support the health of your dog in the long term. In order to increase the chances of successful treatment if a disease does occur, it should be recognized and treated as early as possible. Regular veterinary examinations are therefore an important part of comprehensive preventive care.
What Does “Old” actually mean in a dog?
A term like age is difficult to define in general terms, especially for dogs. Smaller dogs usually have a longer life expectancy than larger dogs, which means that the natural aging process is slower. Larger dogs, on the other hand, often have a longer growth phase, but then age faster. Characteristics typical of the breed also play a role and of course the lifestyle and state of health of the individual dog. In general, one speaks of a mature dog from about the middle of the expected lifespan, from about three-quarters of the expected lifespan of a senior.
This is How Your Dog’s Body Changes with Age
The aging process in dogs changes various processes throughout their bodies. It is important to understand the individual biological aspects of aging, as they affect all organ systems and diseases can occur more quickly if there is a certain susceptibility or predisposition.
The Dog Gains Weight
In old age, dogs also tend to gain weight, the fat deposits usually become larger, the muscle mass decreases in proportion. If your dog loses too much muscle mass, its mobility will suffer. This leads to lower calorie consumption and, with the same energy intake, in turn, means that your dog gains weight even faster. To break this vicious cycle, it is advisable to regularly monitor your dog’s health and condition, maintain a healthy weight and counteract muscle loss. This also includes treating any pain that occurs quickly, as it can otherwise further restrict your dog’s mobility.
The Teeth are Getting Worse
The most common problem in canine dental health is plaque. This can lead to inflammation of the gums and other infectious diseases such as periodontitis. This can go so far that the dog has difficulty eating because chewing causes pain.
Poor dental health encourages the growth of bacteria, which not only cause bad breath but can also spread throughout the body and damage other organs. Because of the constant strain on the immune system by these bacteria, dogs are then also more susceptible to other diseases.
Therefore, you should pay attention to the care of your dog’s teeth throughout his life. However, this is all the more true the older the dog gets. So if you already get your puppy used to regular dental care, this is a preventive measure that can help your dog throughout his life. And diet is also important in this context. For example, in addition to the composition, the right physical condition of dry food, i.e. the size, shape, and hardness of the kibble, can also help to slow down plaque formation.
Digestion Slows Down
One of the possible consequences of aging is that the muscles around the intestines slowly lose their basic tension and fewer- digestive juices are produced. As a result, the digestive transport slows down overall, which can lead to constipation and subsequent diarrhea. Therefore, an adjusted diet is important as your dog gets older. Since the digestive capacity and the efficiency of nutrient absorption in the intestine decrease with age and it can take longer for your dog to get used to a change in diet, it can be advisable to switch to a high-quality, easily digestible food in good time.