When the age of the dog is over eight years, it comes in the category of a senior dog. Senior dogs are fully grown, and it is their bodies begin to move into aging. Aging started affecting the organs in the dog’s body. Some organs are more prone to damage than others.
Some organs wear out faster than others. Because of this vulnerability of the organs, Hence it is advisable to frequently take your senior dogs to the vet. Senior dogs without any prior conditions should visit the vet once in six months.
Steps undertaken during the Checkup:
The assessments that the vet will do during the complete checkup of the senior dog are:
*Reviewing your dog’s history, diet, and, level of activity
*Parasites testing
*Monitoring the Weight
*Full body examination which includes the inspection of ears, mouth, and eyes
*Booster and vaccination undertaken
*Manipulation of Legs and joints
*Monitoring the medication and anti-parasitic drugs
Geriatric Screening
Along with the checkup, senior dogs should go through geriatric screening. It is an in-depth checkup. It can help with the early diagnosis of a disease that is developing. The early detection of these diseases will help in curing at an early stage and extend their life span.
The Geriatric screening includes:
*Analysis of urine samples for any infections
*Blood cell count
*Test for parasites and heartworms
*Detecting tick-caused diseases such as Lyme disease
Common Health Conditions That Affect Senior Dogs
Mostly, senior dogs tend to get some complications due to the age effect. Keep your dog on the recommended diet, thus keeping them maintained. The dogs experience a slow decline in their health due to wear and tear on their organs. Here are some of the common health conditions your dog is likely to experience.
Arthritis
Arthritis causes degeneration of joints, making them difficult to walk. And can be a severe condition. In dogs, arthritis can be hereditary. However, aging in dogs can also cause arthritis. It is a symptom of wear and tears on the joints. It causes joint swelling and decreased moment activity.
Kidney Disease
Aging causes kidney disease which no longer filters the blood for impurities and toxins. In some cases, genetics can play a vital role in developing kidney disease. Dogs with no family history of kidney disease are also affected by it. Other basic issues are infections, toxins, obstructions, and even cancer can cause kidney disease to develop.
Loss Of Hearing
When the vestibulocochlear nerve in the inner ear deteriorates it can cause hearing loss. It usually happens slowly and is only become noticeable when it is too late. There is, till now, no cure or remedy for age-related loss of hearing in dogs. You will come to observe when your dog no longer responds when you call.
For more details take your senior dog to the vet, visit our clinic today. You can also call to book an appointment.
