Senior dog health checklist

When is a dog considered a senior?

There is no single birthday. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) defines a senior dog as one in the last 25% of its estimated lifespan. Because small dogs tend to live longer than big ones, they reach that point later.

Choose "Breed" in the checker to use your breed's own lifespan range instead: it takes 75% of the middle of that range. For your dog's age in human terms, try the dog age calculator.

Which health checks does a senior dog need?

AAHA's 2023 guidelines set out these routine checks for healthy senior dogs:

• A senior checkup once or twice a year. AAHA recommends a medical workup for seniors once or twice a year, with a thorough physical exam.
• Blood count and chemistry every 6 to 12 months. Screens kidneys, liver, blood sugar and more (AAHA Table 1).
• Urinalysis every 6 to 12 months. Often run alongside the blood tests.
• Blood pressure and thyroid (T4) test every year. Both recommended annually for senior dogs by AAHA.
• Heartworm and tick-borne disease tests every year. Plus a fecal test 1 to 4 times a year, depending on preventives and lifestyle.
• Mouth, eyes and paws checked at every visit. AAHA asks vets to pay special attention to these when looking for growths in older dogs.
• Any new lump measured and sampled. AAHA advises against "watch and see": a harmless-looking lump can't be told apart from some tumors without a sample.
• Yearly ECG if your breed is at high risk of heart disease. AAHA names Boxers and Dobermans as examples.
• Every medicine and supplement reviewed with your vet. Some supplements interact with common senior medicines, and some melatonin products contain xylitol.

The point of all this testing is timing. AAHA notes that catching age-related changes earlier may improve both the quality and the length of a dog's life. To budget for the extra visits and tests, use the vet cost calculator with the senior setting.

What are the signs of dementia in an older dog?

Canine cognitive dysfunction is the dog version of age-related dementia, and AAHA puts it at roughly 14 to 22.5% of dogs over 8. Vets group the signs under the letters DISHAA:

• Disorientation, such as seeming lost at home
• changes in social Interaction with people and other pets
• changes in the Sleep-wake cycle, often sleeping by day and restless at night
• loss of House training and other learned behaviors
• altered Activity levels, including pacing
• increased Anxiety

Early signs are easy to miss, and AAHA stresses that treatment works best when started early. Other conditions can look similar, so a vet should check first. Note what you see and when; a simple diary is more useful than a vague "he's getting old".

Is it old age or pain?

Slowing down, hesitating at stairs or no longer jumping into the car often get put down to age. AAHA warns that owners frequently mistake chronic pain for normal aging, because the changes are gradual and subtle. Short videos of your dog getting up, walking and climbing help your vet judge this and later show whether treatment is working. Pain relief for older dogs usually combines several approaches, from medicines and weight control to physical rehabilitation and changes at home. Never give human painkillers without your vet: the painkiller toxicity calculator explains why.

How do I make my home easier for an old dog?

AAHA's list of home changes is practical: rugs or yoga mats for grip, ramps instead of jumps, raised food and water bowls, a good bed, a padded harness to help lift a big dog, and toe grips or boots for slippery feet. Dogs with failing sight or hearing also need hazards such as stairs and pools blocked off. The dog ramp calculator works out a comfortable ramp length, and the dog bed size calculator finds a bed your dog can stretch out on.