Symptoms of Aging
Older dogs become very lazy or less active, you may notice stiffness when he walks and the dog tends to forget the way around the neighborhood that he knew so well at one time. He may not bark as usual at the door when people come over because he may not be able to hear the doorbell because of hearing loss that is natural and comes with the age. Gastrointenstinal issue is another thing that may make your old dog less skillful socially. Along with wheezing, your dog may experience bad breath because of gum and tooth decay. You may notice coarse, oily hair growth on him, which tend to fall out quickly.
Life of a Dog
Compared humans dogs age very fast. A dog can be a considered senior when he is seven years old depending on the breed. Giant types like Great Danes, will reach their anger sooner than smaller ones. We have an Australian cattle dog on the record of oldest dog, it lived to be twenty nine years old and it died in 1939. The expectancy of life of a pooch is around 13 years.
Getting adjusted with older dogs
Though they seem less interested in games and walks, it is crucial to keep them active and amused to make sure his mental and physical health. If your dog can’t walk very far, think about getting him to the exciting part of the walk or to some new place to avoid doing the similar loop around the neighborhood daily. The variation will help keep your dog active and happy. Taking your dog in your car to finish your erands with you allows him participate from the window in the world and breaks up the boredom of his day. He may have to be lifted in and out of the car though.
You can try and find ways to keep him enetertained at home as well. Though he may not be able to travel very far because of his stiff joints, he might like some hide and seek game. This satisfies the tendency of seeking nature of all animals, a drive which should have a way to balance their emotional and mental health.