Real People. Real Experiences. Real Helpful.
Wondering when a dog’s senior years begin? It depends on your dog’s size. Small dogs become seniors at 11 years old. Medium dogs become senior citizens at 10 years old. Large dogs become seniors at 8 years old. Giant breeds become senior citizens at 7 years old. That’s when it’s time to switch from adult food to senior dog food and begin paying attention to your dog’s needs as they age. See the signs of aging in dogs — and how to determine your dog’s real age. Dog mom recommendations for things you should start doing EARLY to prevent problems later and prolong your senior dog’s life. How to care for your dog’s arthritis and achy joints — vitamins and supplements that help aging dogs. Jealousy issues, potty issues (and how to deal with an incontinent dog), refusing to go down stairs (and how to build a ramp yourself) and other things to watch for. What it’s like living with an old blind and deaf dog — and the best toys for dogs with few or no teeth. How to know when it’s time to euthanize, what to do if your dog dies at home, and how to make a unique memorial as a tribute to your dog.
As dogs age, they face the same physical problems that most elderly people find themselves dealing with, including incontinence. Our 18-year-old dog, Rascal, is no exception. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to help maintain your sanity when you have an incontinent dog…
It can sometimes be more difficult to train an older dog not to pee or poop in the house. Here are 5 important points to consider when housebreaking an older dog — including how to housebreak a dog when you’re busy and away from home a lot.
As as a dog’s Senior years go by and the Geriatric years approach, we dog owners need to add a few more things to the list of what to watch for and do, in order to help our aging dogs get as much out of life as possible. Here are some Senior dog health issues to look for, plus some tips for providing daily care for older dogs.
Time passes much too quickly, and ultimately we dog lovers have to face the fact that our time together is winding down. The day will come when decisions — like putting your dog to sleep — have to be made that are never easy. A little planning ahead now will help. Take it from me… over the years we’ve gone through this 7 times. Sometimes it was a no-brainer. Other times, it wasn’t.
The senior dog years can be hard — on both the dog and the owner. 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. Here’s what to look for in terms of your dog’s weight, energy, and behavior issues as he approaches old age.
Our American Eskimo dog is 15 years young and STILL going strong. But, truth be told, we thought he would have left this world ages ago. Here’s what we’ve done so far that got him to be 105 in dog years…
