Five Common Disorders of Senior Dogs
If your pet ages, keep an eye on any changes in his behavior and mood. A few changes in his diet and behavior can be potential indications of something physically wrong. Just like humans, when your pets grow older they lose their ability to fight with illnesses.
Canines are usually considered to have reached senior status at age seven, but it depends on the breed of your furry friend. Sometimes, the most loving and caring pet owners can miss signs by assuming that deviations in the canine’s mood and behavior and eating habits are normal, merely due to age. The most common health issues in older dogs are arthritis, cardio problems and dental problems. Being aware of these diseases will help you to understand your furry friend and you can also take some preventive steps to delay the occurrence of theses aging ailments.
- Heart diseases
Just as humans, senior dogs are affected by several heart diseases. Heart diseases are very common in the overweight dogs. The level of exercise and diet also contribute to this problem. A canine with a less diet and heavy exercise routine will easily affect with heart problems. - Arthritis
It is a very common disease in senior dogs. The main signs of this disease are limping, difficulty getting up, trouble climbing stairs or jumping and unwillingness to exercise. There are a number of anti-inflammatory medications available that your veterinary can prescribe that may improve your dog’s comfort level and quality of life. - Dental diseases
Dental disease are very common that you can find in any age of the dogs. Untreated dental diseases lead to tooth loss and sometimes it may serve as a reservoir of infection for the rest of the body. - Diabetes
Diabetes is not only for humans. Your dog can easily affect by this disease. Older dogs are more exposed to developing diabetes. It is the result of poor production and functioning of insulin. This ailment develops in senior pets by an increased level of glucose in the blood. In order to manage this medical condition, it is crucial to consult with your vet. - Kidney disease
Dogs of any age can be diagnosed with this medical condition. It is more common in senior dogs. There are a number of causes of this medical condition, including bacterial infection, age, parasites, cancer, inflammation, trauma and urinary blockage. A dog with kidney disease can show several physical signs like lack of urination, increased water consumption, vomiting, diarrhea, and blood in urine.
Given are a few health ailments found in older canines. A regular health check-up will help you prevent all these diseases and maintain the healthy lifestyle of your furry friend. Our experienced vets at the Millcreek Veterinary Clinic in Mississauga provide you a full range of pet health care services.