Common Health Problems in Older Dogs

The incidence rate of cardiac problems in elderly dogs is high. The main symptoms are coughing, tiredness, weakness, lethargy, syncope (fainting in doss) and pale mucus membranes (gums and ocular conjunctiva). Heart diseases that affect older dogs include dilated cardiomyopathy and myxomatous mitral valve disease (degeneration of the mitral valve).

When noticing some of these symptoms, the guardian should take their dog to an evaluation with a veterinarian specialized in the subject. Diagnostic tests such as X-ray, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram should be carried out and the correct treatment is established immediately.

Treatment of heart disease in older dogs

Some heart diseases have no cure. They are a consequence of the aging of the animal's body and treatment is either unavailable, too invasive or prohibitively expensive. For some types of canine heart disease, surgical intervention and/or pharmacotherapy treatments may be available. These will depend on the underlying pathology. Symptom management may also need to be carried out via lifestyle changes.

Learn more with our article on canine cardiomyopathy symptoms and treatment.

As with humans, dogs also more prone to developing cataracts with age. It is one of the most frequent causes of vision loss in canines. The progressive opacification of the lens interferes with the absorption of light that will reach the retina, significantly impairing vision.

The main symptoms of cataracts in dogs are:

• Whitish or cloudy eye
• Difficulty navigating their environment
• Collisions with household furniture (which can result in head injuries)

The dog should be taken to the veterinary ophthalmologist for evaluation of the cataract and its classification according to its development (incipient, immature, mature and hypermature). Learn more with our article on why dogs have cloudy eyes.

Treatment of cataracts in older dogs

The treatment will be chosen according to the stage of the disease. Cataracts are a progressive condition, with surgery being the only definitive treatment. If treated in time, they can return the dog's vision to near-normal levels.

Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal failure, is the most common degenerative disease in older dogs. it is both progressive and irreversible. Some animals live a few months after diagnosis, while others can achieve a certain quality of life for several years. The most common symptoms include:

• Increased thirst
• Polyuria or oliguria
• Vomiting
• Weakness (due to anemia)
• Fever
• Bad breath

Polyuria (increased urination) or oliguria (decreased urination) will occur depending on the stage of the the kidney failure.

Treatment of kidney disease in older dogs

As we have mentioned, this disease of older dogs has no cure. The objective of the treatment is to delay the evolution of the disease and manage symptoms. A change of diet for dogs with kidney disease is necessary. We need to reduce the amount of phosphorus, sodium and protein they consume, as well as ensuring proper levels of fatty acids and B complex vitamins.

Unfortunately, kidney disease is often either asymptomatic or has generalized symptoms in its early stages, so it can be difficult to diagnose promptly. As with all the common health problems in older dogs, early detection is important. Fir this reason, we need to take senior dogs on more regular veterinary checkups than younger canines.

Neoplasms are one of the most common skin diseases in older dogs. They are skin tumors that can be benign or malignant. For this reason, it is essential to go to the veterinary center to analyze the neoplasm and determine its cause. Malignant tumors that appear on a dog's skin include carcinoma, melanoma and sarcoma.

The most common symptom is the appearance of a lump caused by an abnormal growth of cells under the skin. It is also possible to see hardened wounds, moles or warts.

Treatment of neoplasms in older dogs

The most effective treatment is usually removal of the tumor, something which requires surgical intervention. Whether it is benign or malignant, the veterinarian may decide to establish chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment. It will also be necessary to follow a series of care instructions at home, such as ensuring that the dog is allowed to rest, avoiding stress, etc.

Although we have seen that almost all of the common diseases of old dogs are degenerative and have no cure, there are treatments that help slow down development. They can improve the dog's quality of life and avoid euthanizing the dog. The care we provide as guardians can also greatly affect their quality of life. As it is a natural process in all animals, old age is something we need to consider once they start to reach around 7 years of age.

Here are some general tips you can use to improve a dog's quality of life and best prevent the most common health problems of elderly dogs:

• Provide a warm, dry place for them to sleep, preferably padded.
• Improve accessibility of food and water, especially if the dog has mobility problems.
• Pay attention to whether dog can still chew dry food. If not, provide wet food or add water to dry feed to make it more palatable. If you want to start a homemade diet, it is important to do so with the help of a veterinarian specialized in nutrition.
• Do not force them to take long walks or do intense exercise.
• Remove furniture or objects that may pose a danger to your dog if they no longer see well.
• Give them love and let them enjoy your presence, as they would have when they were younger.

Now that you know the most common health problems in older dogs, don't miss the following video in which we talk about the most common behavioral problems during this stage:

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Common Health Problems in Older Dogs, we recommend you visit our Degenerative diseases category.