Ways Senior Dogs are different:

Old dogs and cats need TLC, but not because they are old, its because their bodies' are uniquely different in this life stage. Heres some things to consider as your pet ages

• Prone to degeneration of the joints, resulting in chronic pain and reduced mobility

• Decreased energy/sedentary lifestyle can exacerbate stiffness and soreness

• Age related hearing loss and vision changes- not to be confused with other senior dog eye changes such as cataracts

• More prone to organ insufficiency: Kidney, Heart, Brain- These organs can run out of steam during the aging process but can be supported with appropriate care

• Decreased activity levels can mask other disease symptoms and make pain assessment challenging

• Decreased energy metabolism and different nutritional needs- senior animals often have higher protein requirements

• Chronic muscle loss results in to decreased muscle function and weakness.  Seniors may have difficulty walking or standing for long periods.  

• Prone to cognitive decline/senility “doggy dementia”.  This syndrome can affect sleep/wake cycles, urination/defecation habits, memory, ability to learn new tasks.  

• At risk for cancer- early detection is key

• Increased fraility makes senior animals prone to injury

• Decreased ability to respond to stressors

• Prone to comorbidities (multiple overlapping disease processes) which can make prioritization challenging

• Decreased thermoregulation (ability to control body temperature) 

• Need more rest and have slower recovery times.  Occasionally prolonged healing may occur due to reduced cellular turnover