• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Dog Care 101
    • Choosing A Dog
    • Dog Breed Selector
    • First Days At Home
    • Good Dog Names
    • Potty Training Dogs
    • Puppyproofing & Dog Safety 101
    • Invisible Fence Reviews
    • Dog Ages/Growth Stages
    • Senior Dog Tips
    • Raising Two Dogs
  • Food & Treats
    • Dog Food Kibble
    • Human Foods For Dogs
    • Changing Food & Feeding Tips
    • Homemade Dog Treats
    • Kong Recipes
  • Dog Health
    • Diarrhea Remedy
    • Human Meds For Dogs
    • Dog Skin Issues
    • Flea & Tick Control
    • Vet Tips For Sick Dogs
    • Emergencies & Vet Bills
    • Dog Surgery & Recovery
    • Dog Died …Or Is Dying
  • Tricks & Training
    • Cool Dog Tricks
    • Dog Communication 101
    • DIY Dog Training Tips
    • Behavior Problems
    • Puppy Biting & Chewing
    • Stop Dog Barking
    • Crate Training & Sleeping Advice
  • Dog Cleaning & Grooming
    • Dog Odors & Stains
    • Dog Shedding & Fur
    • Clean & Treat Dog Ears
    • Dog Baths & Deodorizing
    • Dog Nails & Paw Care
    • Teeth & Mouth Issues
    • How To Care For Dog Eyes
  • Toys & Activities
    • Dog Toys, Games & Enrichment
    • DIY Dog Items
    • Places To Go With Dogs
    • Dog Walking Tips & Accessories
    • Car Rides With Your Dog
    • Free And Fun Stuff For Dog Lovers
  • More
    • Electronics & Gadgets
    • Health & Beauty
    • Hobbies & Crafts
    • Home & Garden
    • Jobs & Money
    • Outdoor Fun
    • Travel

Dog Guide

Real People. Real Experiences. Real Helpful.

a Fun Times Guide site

Shop Our Favorite Items
  • New? START HERE!
  • DIY Grooming Tutorials
  • Dog Home Remedies
  • DIY Training Tips
  • Dog Food/Treats
  • Out & About w/Dogs
Home » Home & Garden » First Time Dog Owner Tips » Senior Dog Care Tips: Things To Do Early!

Senior Dog Care Tips: Things To Do Early!


This page may contain affiliate links. In addition to sharing our personal experiences, we often write about products and services that we use ourselves or that we believe would be a helpful resource for you. To support our work, and remain a free website, we receive a commission from some of the links we share.

older-poodle-dog.jpg My biggest complaint about our canine best friends is they age much too fast!

But there are many things you can do to keep your older dog with you and feeling as good as possible for many years to come.

Let’s look at a few of the early things you should do for your senior pet…

 

Dog Age Explained

calculate-dog-age-in-year-via-bits-and-piecess.jpg

The old adage about 1 human year being equal to 7 doggie years is, of course, false.

There are a number of dog age charts out there, and they all tell us basically the same thing — that years plus size determine when a dog reaches Senior, and then Geriatric, status.

For example, a dog up to 20 pounds is considered Senior around 7 years of age, and Geriatric around age 14.  By comparison, a dog over 90 pounds is thought to be Senior by age 5, and Geriatric by age 9 — quite a difference!

When the Senior years roll around, you’ll probably spot a few gray hairs around the muzzle, and your playful pup may start slowing down a bit.

 


Exercising An Older Dog

slow-dog-walk-by-nickpye.jpgExercise is still extremely important, though, so be sure to keep your Senior dog active, for both his physical (and mental) well-being.  Remember, common sense applies here.  Depending on your pet, consider slowing your daily jog together down to a brisk walk, or take a couple of short walks instead of one long one — you get the idea.

I know I can’t do things with the same vigor at the age I am now (don’t ask …) as I did when I was younger, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to keep as active as I reasonably can for optimum health.  The key word here is “reasonably” — don’t do it if it hurts.  The same holds true with your dog as his physical condition changes, so be aware.

 

Weight Issues With Older Dogs

Keeping active is a lot tougher with extra weight to lug around. One of the biggest favors you can do for your dog at any age, but particularly during his Senior years, is to make sure he isn’t overweight.  If your dog is optimal weight, that’s fantastic!  If, like me, he’s added a little extra with the passing years, then you need to take action — and don’t start tomorrow, start today!

Just like with people, the extra pounds add stress to the joints, can lead to diabetes, difficulty breathing, and much more — up to and including shortening his already-too-short life!   If you leave food down all day for him to eat at will, try measuring it and feeding him twice a day instead to limit overeating.  Watch the snacks, and avoid giving him table food.  Your vet can help by recommending a weight loss program, and even specific foods for senior dogs — all based on your dog’s current state of heath.

 

Older Dog Behavior Issues
beagle-dog-giving-the-look-by-rdaassoc.jpg

Another priority is to be observant for any behavior changes, and report them to your vet. There are many cases where an underlying condition may be masquerading as symptoms of old age, and can be helped with medication, therapy, or simply a change in diet.

This is a big reason to begin annual Geriatric screening once your pet gets into his Senior years.  Your vet will give him a complete hands-on examination, blood tests, and any other tests that his health or history may indicate a need for.  Chances are, the tests will come back just fine, but if any problems do turn up, you’ll have an early opportunity to take care of them before they might get harder to deal with.

Some common behavior changes and problems in older dogs.

So, to summarize, make sure your Senior dog gets some exercise daily, watch his weight, do the vet checkups, and with plenty of attention and TLC (that part’s easy!), your Senior pet will have many happy years ahead.

 

More Senior Dog Care Tips

  • Senior Dog Tips: How To Prolong Your Dog’s Life
  • What To Do Differently As Your Dog Ages
  • Senior Dog Foods
  • Senior Dog Health Issues
  • The Senior Dogs Project
  • Signs Of Aging To Watch For In An Elderly Dog
  • 10 Ways To Ensure Your Dog’s Golden Years Are The Best
Kristie
Kristie

Our current dog family consists of 2 Beagle-mix sisters, Susie and Fluffy. Over the last 35 years I’ve had anywhere from 1 to 6 dogs at a time, so I definitely have tons of dog and puppy stories to share! By the way, our dogs are going on 2 years straight with absolutely NO commercial pet food or dog treats. I like to make my own food and treats for my dogs.

Filed Under: First Time Dog Owner Tips, Home & Garden Tagged With: Beagles, Old Dogs

MORE LIKE THIS ...

Primary Sidebar

About Me

LynnetteI like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner -- currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians -- whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog -- how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site!

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

You Might Also Like…

Top Searches

Adoption/Rescue Dogs American Eskimo Dogs Baths Car Rides Celebrity Dog Owners Chewing & Destructive Behavior Christmas Cleaning And Odors Clothing And Accessories Costs And Expenses Diarrhea DIY Dog Stuff Dog Beds And Pillows Dog Breeds Dog Feeding Tips Dog Games And Activities Dog Gear & Necessities Dog Grooming Tips Dog Toys & Dog Chews Dog Tricks And Training Free Stuff Great Pyrenees Holidays Home Remedies And Alternative Medicine Humanizing Dogs Humor About Dogs Injuries And Emergencies Kong Dog Toys Labrador Retrievers Miniature Pinscher New Dog Owners Old Dogs Pet Hair And Shedding Pet Warnings And Dangers Pictures Of Dogs Poop Issues Recipes For Dogs Reviews Summer Fun Travel Dog Tips Treats And Snacks Veterinarians And Experts Videos Of Dogs Vomiting Walking And Leashes

Footer

Fun Times Guide logo

Copyright © 2004-2019 The Fun Times Guide | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | Sitemap