Welcome Dog Lovers

Caring for an elderly dog is much different from that of a puppy.

We have gathered all emails that we have received since over a couple decades in a place, and what we have responded to them. We thought these communications can make a good post and can be of great help to our readers. We have chosen a few. This chapter, Senior Dog Caring Tips deals in some of the most important queries raised by our readers (the then owners of senior dogs) over the years and the respective answers to each of their queries.

We already have a chapter - German Shepherd Dog FAQ that offers a wealth of information. However, this chapter mainly focuses on offering tips on caring for elderly dogs, senior dog food and exercise types for older dogs.

Please note that we have made slight modifications in our responses while publishing here to give those responses a style of a post

1) My GSD is 11 years old. Should I consider him to be too old? Does it mean that my dog has reached an age of approximately 77 human years? Can my elderly dog be considered to be as safe with unknown children as he used to be three-four years back?
(Question by Ketevan lobjanidze, Tbilisi, Georgia.)

Your dog ages faster than you. Major health changes naturally occur in quite a high pace than in humans. Aging in animals vary considerably between species and breeds. In the canine kingdom aging varies from type to type. While for small and toy breeds 8 years is an old age, for a medium and large breeds (having shorter span of life) the age of 6 to 7 years may be considered geriatric stage. Your GSD, at an age of 11 years is senior dog and you have to take special care of him. We oppose the popular belief that 1 year of a dog's life is equal to 7 years of a human's life. Practically, there's no logic to consider such calculation as reliable.

At this age many dogs tend to become more aloof than before, thereby developing behavior issues. They need good amount of rest without disturbance. Behavior may become unpredictable in a senior dog, hence unknown children should not be allowed near him unsupervised.

2) I am Seaneka Nixon from Freeport, Bahamas. I have been a loyal reader of the chapters in your website since four years. I have 2 German Shepherd Dogs, named Rolley and Abey. Rolley is 12 years and Abbey 10+. Both of them are showing changes in their behaviors. Both Rolley and Abey are gradually becoming more and more dependent on me and my husband; Rolley more on me. Rolley has always been a very nice dog and even at his age of 12 years he is very friendly and docile, but he shows occasional uncharacteristic aggression, which most of the times becomes unpredictable. So far we have not noticed any kind of such aggressive behavior in Abey. What signs related to their behaviors and health should we be concerned about in our older dogs?
(Question by Seaneka Nixon , Freeport, Bahamas.)

Both your dogs – Rolley and Abey are older dogs and behavioral changes in them are quite normal and should not be surprising. There may be significant changes in behaviors in a senior dog.

Here are the few behavioral changes, some of which you may notice in your geriatric dog:

Less interested in petting
Less interested in interactions, greeting people, kids or other animals
Less interested in exploration
Less interested in exercises or play
Do not respond much to things going on around him
Becomes overly dependent.
Sometimes wanders about aimlessly.
Sleepless in the night and sleepier during the daytime
Behaves more irritably, accompanied with unpredictable aggression.
Inconsistent behavior – Not necessarily aggression, but also includes a Developing tendency to lick your face more frequently.
Noticeable increase in anxiety
Develop tendency of house soiling
Repetitive activity
Increased vocalization

Here are more medical symptoms:

If you notice any signs like the ones mentioned below or any other signs that are unusual you should get in touch with your vet instantly for checkup.

Solid-appearing lumps or bumps on your dogs’ skin
Constipation or diarrhea or inconsistency in releasing bowel
Shortness of breath
Coughing
Body stiffness
Weakness
Sudden deterioration of health
Unusual discharges
Changes in weight (getting too heavy or too thin)
Changes in appetite (tendency to eat more or less)
Changes in frequency of urination or changes urine color and smell
Changes in water intake (overly decreased or increased water intake tendency)
Stiffness or limping

General health risks that an elderly dog may get exposed to are:

Cancer
Heart disease
Hepatic (liver) disorders
Hyperglycemia (increase in blood sugar level)
Hypoglycemia (decrease in blood sugar level)
Joint or bone issues
Renal (kidney) or urinary tract disorder
Senility
Weakness

3) Hi, My name is Megan, and I live in Ashford, Kent. Wax – my lovely German shepherd is getting older. What kind of a food management should we follow for Wax? Is there any special type of senior dog food types to be followed for Wax? He has always been on homemade diet, and we have He is over 8 years and will be 9 in March 2015. We are a dog lover family. All of us in our family want Wax to stay happy and healthy all through! Waiting in the anticipation of your valued response soon.
(Questioned by Megan, Ashford, Kent. Thank you Megan)

We would not suggest you any abrupt change in Wax’s food components and diet system, as long as he gets all desired nutrients to keep healthy and happy! Since Wax is an elderly dog he should have a maintained diet with controlled amount of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Obesity in dogs happens when your dog gets an inadequate level exercise and the extra glucose that is converted by the digestion of carbohydrates gets stored as fat. Moreover, in an elderly dog indigestion may occur at any point of time due to the sudden change in food.

A good senior dog food should contain natural enzymes necessary to break down carbohydrates. You can try yogurt, broccoli, parsley, papaya, carrots. If your dog shows no unusual symptoms, you can carry on with these along with the existing food.

Yogurt is a rich source of Probiotics - beneficial bacteria that enhances digestive health, and hence this is a wise addition to your senior dog food.

Egg is rich source of protein and is directly associated with several health benefits. Boiled eggs are easier for your geriatric dog to digest.

Liver is nutrient-dense food, having all essential vitamins and trace minerals and can help your elderly dog to keep healthy. You can feed small amounts liver regularly.

Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that support immunity. Fish such as salmon and trout can be added to your dog’s diet. Raw salmon may lead to salmon poisoning and can be potentially dangerous.

Meat - Lamb, beef are good because they are rich source of iron, zinc and other essential nutrients. Organ meat, such as liver, heart and kidney, added to your senior dog food a few times a week is a great idea. Chicken heart, liver and neck are good for your elderly dog.

4) I will be taking my elderly dog - 11-year-old girl, Cindy, to the vet in a week or so for a yearly health check-up. I know that that my regular vet will not be at her desk as she’s out of the country for a couple of months and a new vet will be there whom I do not know much.

My concern is if I should go for vaccinating my girl. As I told she’s already 11 years old, will the normal vaccination that I gave her all through her life each year (4-in-1 vaccine that covers Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus) be safe for Cindy?
(Name and Place not mentioned)

Especially when it comes to a senior dog Cindy’s vaccination requirement may be different. It is highly suggested that you should talk to your regular vet who has been checking Cindy for so many years. Also keep in mind that older dogs usually have impaired immune system that doesn’t work as good as a young dog. Also, very important to bear in mind is that the vaccines that Cindy may need may be based on where you are currently living and the environmental condition you have.

5) Hi there. My name is Jerry, owner of a small restaurant here in Jacksonville I have a 10-year-old Neapolitan Mastiff Rado. Rado seems to be in pain. He is not active as he used to be. I have talked to my vet, and he says Rado’s developed arthritis? Any suggestion?
(Questioned by Jerry from Jacksonville, Florida. Thank you Jerry)

Great that you have already talked to your vet and got Rado examined. We are sorry to hear about Rado's discomfort. Arthritis in dogs, especially in older ones like Rado, is quite common and can be managed to improve their comfort and mobility:

Medication: Your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or pain relievers tailored for dogs to manage Rado's arthritis pain.

Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for arthritic dogs. Ensure Rado stays at an appropriate weight to reduce stress on his joints.

Exercise: Gentle and low-impact exercises like short walks or swimming can help keep Rado mobile. Avoid high-impact activities that might worsen his condition.

Comfortable Environment: Provide a soft and supportive bed for Rado to rest on, especially one that eases pressure on his joints.

Supplements: Consider joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin to support Rado's joint health. Discuss with your vet for suitable options.

Physical Therapy: Techniques like massage, hydrotherapy, or physiotherapy can help alleviate pain and improve mobility.

Dietary Changes: Specialized diets rich in Omega-3 fatty acids or formulated for joint health can aid in managing arthritis symptoms.

Regular Vet Check-ups: Schedule regular visits to monitor Rado's condition and adjust his treatment plan as needed.

Remember, each dog's condition is unique, so working closely with your vet to tailor a plan suited for Rado's specific needs is essential. With proper care and management, you can help improve Rado's quality of life despite his arthritis. I would suggest a giving Rado a good diet, avoid over-feeding, avoid high protein diet. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA, has been found to be having high benefit in reducing arthritic inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids also prevent cardiac problems associated with old age in dogs.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are the most common treatment for arthritis in elderly dogs and should only be administered under a strict supervision of an experienced and registered vet.

Dog Caring Check List for Elderly Dog

Medical Care - Caring becomes more crucial and harder for elderly dog. Caring for elderly dogs includes medical attention, more frequently than normal. An annual health checkup may not be a good idea for; rather for older dogs you should consider a routine health check every quarter. Most common problems in dogs associated with aging are Nuclear (Lenticular) Sclerosis, Digestive Tract Disorder, Hind Leg Weakness, Arthritis and Joint Pain etc. Human pain killers may be potentially dangerous for your dog of any age – More so for a senior dog.

Diet Management -Your senior dog may need more attention when it comes to his/her diet. Food for your old dog should be more easily digestible. Your dog will have metabolic and immunological changes as well as progressive changes in body composition. Older dogs also have their intestinal bacteria affected, which may lead to gastrointestinal issues. Your dog may need low protein-low fat food. Yous senior dogs may not be good with usual one or two big meals; Rather he/she may need several smaller meals in a day.

Activity and Exercise - You are your dog's life tie companion. He/She will do anything for you - especially when it comes to play. Do not force or encourage your elderly dog to over play. He can't take stress in the same intensity that he used to take a couple of years ago. Over-exercising older dogs may have a fatal consequence.