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Signs of old age creeping in are not hard to spot:
your pet starts
to take things easier, spends more time sleeping and ease of
movement reduces. Dark-haired dogs become grey around the
muzzle and their hearing and eyesight may diminish.
Signs Of Ageing
| Sign |
Effect |
Treatment |
|
Impaired vision |
Bumping into
things and disorientation |
Seek veterinary
advice, and avoid moving furniture
around |
|
Deafness |
He 'ignores'
vocal commands due to him failing to
hear you, or respond to noise |
Seek veterinary
advice in case there's a treatment;
otherwise teach your dog hand
signals to replace vocal commands |
|
Stiffness |
Impaired
movement and pain |
Orthopedic
beds can help alleviate discomfort,
as can diets specifically for older
dogs |
|
Incontinence |
Soiling in the
house |
Never chastise
your pet for something he cannot
help. Drug therapy may help,
otherwise replace carpets with
soil-proof flooring in areas your
dog goes, so urine and faeces are
easily cleaned up |
|
Lack of
appetite |
Weight loss and
lethargy |
Seek veterinary
advice to determine the cause and
prescribe treatment for mouth
ailments if necessary. lf all is
clear, change food to a more
appetizing and easy to eat variety |
|
Unpleasant body
odor |
He smells bad!
|
Some veterinary
drugs can cause nasty body odor, as
can skin ailments, over productive
oil glands, poor oral hygiene and
blocked anal sacs. Consult your vet |
|
Excessive
thirst |
Always drinking
water and urinating more |
Causes for this
are usually diabetes mellitus or
renal failure. Veterinary treatment
is required |
Warm Reminder and Advice
Old dogs can suffer from canine senile dementia,
which is the equivalent of Alzheimer disease in humans, Symptoms
include; irritability, abnormal sleeping patterns and vocalization,
confusion and disorientation. Veterinary drugs are available that
can help.
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