December 26, 2024, 9:41 am | Read time: 5 minutes

When a young, playful puppy moves in, thoughts of old age and possible ailments are far from your mind. However, like every living being, dogs also go through an aging process that brings with it certain accompanying symptoms. When are dogs considered senior citizens, and how does aging manifest itself in them? A British study provides answers.

Age Poses Challenges for Vets

Not only humans but also dogs get older and older. This poses new challenges for both owners and veterinarians. This is because the state of health of dogs changes with age. Diseases that often affect all body systems, such as joint problems, dental diseases, or digestive disorders, become more frequent, especially in senior age.

But when is a dog actually considered “old,” and how does this age limit differ depending on the breed? These questions have not yet been answered uniformly. A British study has used a novel text-based approach to analyze over five million veterinary health records to gain a more accurate understanding of the transition to old age and the most common health problems. The results could change veterinary practice – and help dog owners to better support their four-legged friends.

When Is a Dog a Senior?

The study identified 832 dogs that were classified as “old” by veterinarians. To do this, the veterinary data was searched for words such as “senior,” “old,” or the technical term “geriatric.” This showed that the median age was 12.5 years, with 95 percent of the dogs being at least 7.25 years old.

However, how quickly a dog ages and thus becomes a senior depends on various factors. For example, the breed, size, weight, and individual health of the animal play an important role. The study also revealed clear differences between the breeds: cocker spaniels were considered old at a median age of 11.7 years, while Jack Russell terriers were only considered old at 14.1 years. ¹

Generally, the larger a dog is, the faster it ages. Large breeds such as the Great Dane and the Irish wolfhound can sometimes be considered senior from the age of five or six. Smaller dogs, such as the Bichon frisé or the miniature poodle, have a longer life expectancy than their larger counterparts. They only become seniors at around eight years of age.

Why Do Large Dog Breeds Age Faster?

However, chronic diseases such as diabetes or kidney problems can accelerate the dog’s aging process. The ages given are, therefore, only rough guidelines. If you want to know specifically whether your dog is already showing the first signs of aging, you should make an appointment with your vet.

While a Chihuahua is only considered a senior at over 10 years old, particularly large breeds such as Great Danes reach old age at the age of six. But why is that? Scientists suspect that the growth process plays a role here. This is because puppies of large dog breeds rapidly gain weight and size during their first few years of life.

This enormous growth in size requires a lot of energy – these dogs, therefore, have to eat a comparatively large amount. When food is converted or broken down in order to obtain the necessary energy, so-called “free radicals” are produced. In large quantities, these molecules can damage the body and accelerate the aging process.

How Does Aging Become Noticeable in Dogs?

Aging dogs begin to change physically. The coat becomes lighter in color, especially around the muzzle or all over the face. Many senior dogs are no longer as active as they used to be. They move less as their muscles weaken and their joints wear out. The lack of exercise can lead to obesity – despite a reduced appetite. Sensory functions such as hearing and vision can deteriorate in old dogs, and their susceptibility to infections increases.

As far as the most common diseases of senior dogs are concerned, the British study once again delivered exciting results:

• Weight problems (35%) were the most common diagnosis.
• Musculoskeletal problems (33%), such as joint stiffness, were in second place.
• Dental problems (31%) such as tartar or gingivitis were also common.
• Skin conditions (28%) and digestive problems (22%) completed the list of top diagnoses.

But it’s not just a dog’s appearance and tendency to illness that show it is aging. Their behavior also changes. Senior dogs can develop a certain stubbornness that is often misinterpreted as disobedience. Some of them also no longer like to cuddle, their memory deteriorates, and their ability to learn decreases. Incidentally, dogs can also develop dementia. Vets refer to this as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). This is a progressive disease of aging dogs, which can cause symptoms such as disorientation, restlessness, and loss of house training.

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Is Senior Dog Food Beneficial?

It is best to discuss which food is recommended for your aging pet with your vet. If your dog is still fit and active as a senior, there is nothing to stop you from continuing to give him his usual food. If the first signs of aging are already apparent, such as a tendency to become overweight, you can consider changing your dog’s food. High-quality senior dog food is adapted to the animal’s changed energy and nutrient requirements and may now make sense.

Providing a tranquil environment with consistent routines is also crucial for senior dogs. However, aging animals not only need a fixed daily routine with set feeding and walking times. They also need their owner’s understanding if some things no longer work as well as they used to and a few drops of urine or a small pile end up on the carpet^{.2, 3}