(Also see Nursing the Geriatric Dog and Our Older Pets Programme)
It is a sad fact that, compared to us, our dogs have very short lives indeed. Because of this the fact that your dog is getting older can be easy to overlook – it seems to happen so suddenly. Dogs are really entering the beginning of their older years at about eight years old, a little later perhaps in smaller breeds and even earlier in the case of some large breed dogs.
Like Us: Except They Don’t Smoke!
In many cases the changes that occur with aging in dogs are very similar to those which occur in humans though with some notable exceptions: they do not suffer from coronary artery disease and primary lung cancers are very rare. Could this be, at least partly, because they don’t smoke? They do however acquire other forms of heart disease but fortunately many heart diseases which occur in older pets can be very effectively treated allowing them to live essentially normal lives. Arthritis, failing sight and hearing, various organ problems, diabetes and tumours all become more common as a dog gets older, just as they do in older humans.
Common Conditions in Older Pets
These are some conditions which are extremely common and potentially life threatening in older dogs but which are often completely curable if spotted sufficiently early.
Tumours
Most tumours are more common in older pets. All lumps and bumps should be taken seriously and checked out fully since with any cancerous condition early detection is the key to successful treatment. Many treatments are now available for the various cancers which occur in pets. A cure is not always possible but it is often possible to prolong a dogs life considerable and give them an excellent quality of life while they are receiving treatment.
In females the most common tumours by far are mammary (or breast) tumours. This is much less common in neutere than in unnuetered bitches. In males both testicular and prostate cancer are quite common. You should get into the habit of feeling for lumps or bumbs and for changes in the consistency of your dog’s mammary glands or testicles as they age. This is especially true in long haired breeds where changes are easy t overlook. Early detection is the most important factor in sucessful treatment.
Heart Disease
Dogs who become short of breath, cannot tolerate exercise and cough frequently are often suffering for a very common old dog condition called Congestive Heart Failure. This may sound awful but in fact it is treatable and with modern medications affected dogs can live very long and full lives after they have been diagnosed. Diet is an important part of treatment also and a low sodium diet may be prescribed for older dogs with heart problems.
Women’s trouble!
Top of the list is Pyometritis, a serious womb infection which occurs in middle aged and older bitches who have not been neutered. Neutering completely eliminates the risk of this serious disease.
Another common condition in older bitches is the development of mammary tumours, or breast cancer, as mentioned earlier.
Some neutered bitches develop a form of incontinence in their later years, dribbling urine uncontrollably. This is easily treated with small doses of hormone replacement therapy.
Look Out Boys!
It may seem that bitches are getting a bad deal but dogs are not immune from trouble either! They are prone to developing prostate problems leading to frequent and often painful urination and possible difficulty in passing faeces (which may lead to constipation). Tumours of the testicles are also fairly common and again early detection is important if there is to be a happy outcome.
Be Vigilant
When your older dog comes to us for an annual check up and vaccination we will check for the early signs of all these conditions but you should be vigilant also. Any worrying signs or symptoms should be investigated as soon as possible. Most times the problem will be small and easily sorted out but it may well be that your prompt action will save your pets life.
Old age is not a disease and when old dogs have medical problems they should not be dismissed as inevitable. By the time he is old your dog will have given you many years of pleasure and friendship. Now you owe it to him to ensure a graceful and dignified old age. Look out for…
Changes in Hearing
Hearing loss is common among older dogs. You can tell if you dog’s hearing isn’t as sharp as it used to be if he doesn’t respond to your voice or tends to bark for no apparent reason. Deaf dogs need extra care as they are at a higher risk of being involved in an accident.
Changes in Urination
Excessive thirst and frequent urination may be signs of kidney problems, diabetes or pyometritis (a womb infection).
Loss of House Training
May be a sign of incontinence caused by a hormone imbalance, which is most common in spayed females, prostate problems or caused by other medical conditions. You can use an electric dog fence to train your dog.
Changes in Appetite
An older dog is more likely to develop tooth and gum disease. In addition, because of sore gums or loose teeth, he may let food drop out of his mouth or even refuse to eat.
Breathing Problems
Dogs are susceptible to heart disease. Coughing (especially at night), difficulty in breathing and tiredness could indicate possible cardiac problems.
Changes in Vision
A bluish haze on your aging dog’s eyes is normal and usually does not harm the eyesight very much. However, the hazy, whitish growth of cataracts can lead to blindness.
Weight Gain
Like humans, a dog’s metabolism slows down as he gets older. Because older dogs may not be as active as they used to be, they tend to gain weight. To tell if your dog is overweight gently put both hands on his ribcage. If you can’t feel his ribs, he probably needs to lose a little weight.
Weight Loss
Sudden weight loss or unplanned weight loss could be a sign of an internal problem. It is also one of the early signs of Diabetes and other hormonal conditions.
Skin and Coat
You will notice changes in hair colour, like gray hair around the muzzle. A dog’s coat can thin and become dull as he ages. It’s a good idea to check for lumps on or under the skin. They could be a sign of a tumour, cysts or cancer.
Lameness
As a dog gets older, you’ll notice a normal decrease in energy levels. Dogs can experience stiffness, especially in the hip and shoulder joints. This could just be normal wear and tear, or it could be a result of an old injury or a sign of arthritis. Arthritis can and should be treated.
Older Pets Programme
We have a special “Older Pets Programme” which is designed to pick up and deal with the very early signs of illness in older dogs and cats. We see these dogs and cats for check ups more regularly then other pets and may take blood samples or do other tests which are specially suited to early diagnosis of conditions associated with aging. If you would like to enroll your pet on our Older Pets Programme, please contact us for more details.
Nursing the Geriatric Dog
(This article, by Lisa O’Rourke, student veterinary nurse at Abbeyside, was published in the Irish Veterinary Journal in 1998)
Dogs generally start to feel the effects of ageing at around 8-9 years old though some of the giant breeds, such as the Irish Wolfhound, can start to show signs of getting old as early as 4-5 years of age. The changes that occur are both physical and mental and when older animals are admitted for treatment they need to be cared for and nursed accordingly.
It is often said that one dog year is the same as seven human ones – but dogs can reproduce before they are a year old and are fully grown before they are two. It is more accurate to use the chart below to determine a dog’s age. It is sometimes difficult for owners to accept the fact that their pet is getting old. It can be helpful when explaining ageing to owners to estimate the equivalent human age of their dog
Calculating a Dogs ‘Human’ Age
- Dogs first year = 15 human years
- Dogs second year = 10 human years
- Each subsequent year = 5 human years
Communication with the Dogs Owner
When admitting the geriatric dog communication with the owner is essential in order to get as much information as possible to help in the treatment of the dog and ensure its comfort while in the nurses’ care. Especially if dealing with a new client, where there may be no previous history available, it is important to get all details about any medication the dog is receiving, the vaccination history, whether the dog is neutered and any recent changes in habits etc.
It is also a good idea to discuss the dogs’ likes and dislikes with the owner. This information can help the nurse to maintain the animals’ usual routine as much as possible, which will help reduce the stress of being away from familiar surroundings. Information about the dog’s normal diet is very important as a sudden change in diet could cause Diarrhoea or stop the dog eating altogether.
It is helpful to have one nurse take special responsibility for an older dog who has to be hospitalised. A good relationship between the nurse and the owner of an older dog can help greatly in what may become ongoing treatment. Often an owner will freely discuss anxieties that they have with a nurse while they might be slower to mention them to the vet.
Feeding Hospitalised Older Dogs
As dogs age a number of changes occur which affect their appetites and the way they need to be fed. Older animals often have poor appetites or can become fussy eaters. From a nursing point of view several factors can contribute to reduced food intake in older dogs.
Changes in diet or environment
Elderly dogs admitted to a veterinary hospital may refuse to eat because they are away from home. It is useful to ask the owners what the dog normally eats at home and to attempt to feed the same diet while the dog is hospitalised.
Problems with teeth or gums
Tartar build up and gingivitis as well as loose or damaged teeth can cause discomfort or even pain which result in a reduced food intake. Appropriate dental treatment of older dogs, even if admitted for other reasons, can result in dramatically improved appetite.
Decreased salivary secretion
While some older dogs drool continuously others have very reduced salivary secretions and this can mean it is difficult for them to eat and can cause them to choke on their food. Adding 2 drops of ophthalmic 2% pilocarpine to the food will increase salivation and improve appetite.
Feeding a palatable and easily digested diet can encourage eating. Moist warm and strongly smelling food is more likely to be accepted – canned diets work very well. Older dogs may be on restricted diets – e.g. reduced calorie in the case of obese dogs or reduced protein or sodium in the case of dogs with kidney or heart disease. If these diets are to be introduced for the first time while the dog is hospitalised hand feeding, warming the diet or simply verbal encouragement can be useful in persuading an old dog to try a new food.
It is particularly important with older dogs to ensure that they have constant access to water, unless this access must be restricted due to vomiting. The water intake of hospitalised older dogs should be recorded carefully since increases or decreases in intake can be significant to their progress.
General Nursing Care
Older dogs are likely both to want to be clean and to need to urinate and defecate frequently. They should have short frequent bouts of exercise during the day. Any difficulty with, or changes in the pattern of, urination or defecation should be noted and brought to the attention of the vet.
Recumbent and incontinent animals require particular care and relatively intensive nursing. Use of warm comfortable bedding is essential. Vetbed or other polyester fur bedding is ideal as it is warm and soft and draws wetness away from the dog. It is important that inactive or recumbent dogs are thoroughly groomed and where necessary washed at least twice daily to prevent the development of pressure sores. Dogs who are unable to move themselves should be turned every two hours.
Particular attention should be paid to hips, hocks, elbows etc for any sign of ulceration. Any sores that are present should be carefully clipped and cleaned twice daily. Use of a chlorhexidine ointment can be useful in preventing infection.
It is useful, especially in longhaired dogs, to shave the hair in the anal area to prevent caking of faeces and facilitate cleaning.
Care of the ears and eyes is important to the animals’ comfort and secretions should be cleared away as often as necessary. Many older dogs drool copiously and the thick saliva can cause soreness and infection around the lips. Their faces should be washed to prevent the build up of saliva in skin folds.
Home Care
Many of the nursing tasks that were carried out when the pet was hospitalised will need to be continued at home. It is important to explain clearly to owners what is required and why if they are to follow instructions. Where possible supply information leaflets on whatever illness the pet has and give important care instructions to the owner in writing. Make sure that all instructions about giving drugs and caring for the dog at home have been understood before the dog is brought from the kennels – an excited owner reunited with a happy dog may not be paying attention.
Make sure the owner knows they can ring the nurse for advice and support. It is a nice idea to telephone the client the following day to check that things are going ok.
