Whereas smaller breed of dogs [ex: Poodle] are considered old only when they are 13 or 14 years old. Whatever the criteria it is important to get started on a suitable health care program for the dogs, taking into account its genetics, medical history and individual health and vitality at that given time.
Constant visits to the veterinarian and proper monitoring will help you recognize some common symptoms typical of an aging dog.

Important Symptoms to look out for:
• Slow reflexes are a common symptom. Arthritis sets on with aging and it is reflected in the ways a dog walks, climbs, lies down and gets up.
• Graying around the face and muzzle is another common symptom
• Loss of hearing which needs special care if the dog is often on its own, especially in areas with vehicular traffic.
• Susceptibility to lenticular sclerosis and cataracts. While the former does not affect the dog’s vision the latter ailment does damage visibility.
• Muscular Atrophy – Slight loss of muscle mass.

What you can do:
Apart from the above mentioned major symptoms aging dogs are prone to several other disorders. Here is a brief on how to tackle them.
Choose the best veterinarian close to your locality and set up a regular check up regimen with him, making sure you don’t miss out on it at any cost. Make periodical notes on any behavioral changes that you see in your dog and bring it to the vet’s notice.
Educate yourelf about geriatric care of dogs. Talk to people who own dogs or read up on the common ailments that afflict senior canines. This helps you to seek the vet’s help the moment you spot any of the abnormal symptoms.
Alter the feeding pattern of your senior dog to two small meals per day instead of one large meal. Give it good quality food .A home made diet will also suffice. Do not overfeed. Ensure that you give adequate dietary supplements in consultation with your vet.
Dogs are prone to Diabetes like humans. Early diagnosis and care is an absolute must. It can be life threatening and great care must be taken in getting it properly treated.
You need to exercise your dog regularly. Do keep in mind its changing fitness levels and do not over do.
Brush your Dog’s teeth everyday. Apart from this, your Dog’s dental health should receive professional attention whenever your vet advises it.
Get your dog vaccinated at regular intervals.
Keep your dog clean from fleas and ticks and ensure that its place of stay – kennel, dog house or simply your living room – is spotless.
As dogs age, your vet may suggest periodical geriatric tests that include Laboratory tests, Fecal examination and blood samples. These tests help prevent, diagnose and arrest diseases at an early stage and help chart out the proper course of medication where required.
Some dogs go through ‘Anxiety Pangs’ as they grow older as a result of being away from their owners for long periods of time. Ensure that you are away from your dog only for short intervals of time. Change your time of departure every now and then and divert them when you leave.
Senior dogs generally have difficulty climbing in and out of cars or elevated places. Try using a ramp tailor made for your dog at such times to ease its discomfort
Dogs may at times seem disoriented and even a simple activity as picking up a ball may seem to take more time than usual. They may run in a different direction from the ball or appear confused. Nevertheless show your dog loads of encouragement at such times and help overcome this confused state.
Introducing another pet may work as a stimuli and bring a positive change in the older dog but be careful to ensure that this does not have an adverse psychological effect as well. The new entrant should at no point make your senior dog suffer anxiety.
Older dogs tend to display aggressive behaviour which may be caused by physical ailments [arthritis, reduced visual and hearing faculties, nervous disorders] or stress factor [like moving house, a new entrant in the family] and needs to be treated appropriately.
Another worrying factor in senior dogs is ‘House Soiling’ – loss of control over bladder and bowel discharge. Physical ailments may force the dogs to urinate or defecate more frequently resulting in this embarrassing situation. The vet is the best person to ascertain the reasons for this disorder. This problem can be tackled in the following manner – Dogs will need to be taken out more often, quality of food needs to be examined, using ramps to help the dogs go outdoors more quickly without waiting for you to come every time and treating other physical ailments.
Some older dogs might be afflicted by noise phobia. They may detest a few types of noises. Identify these sounds and counter the fear by playing these sounds in low volumes and reward the dog if no fear is displayed. Similarly stress and anxiety in older dogs may instigate them to be more vociferous. They may bark, howl or whine loudly unnecessarily .If they do it just to catch your attention, then you should give a serious thought to the quality and quantity time of spent that you spend with it. Sleeping disorders may occur and the dog could refuse to sleep and pace around all night. Again only the vet has the key to unlock this problem. Consult him immediately.
Apart from looking for the vet’s help, simple changes adopted by you can make life a lot easier and pleasant for your senior dog:-
Replace slippery or smooth flooring with rougher materials or covering to prevent slipping and possible injury for the dog.
Stick to a low calorie diet and monitor weight gain. Keep plenty of fresh water readily available at all times. Do not offer treats unless really required. Even then offer only low-calorie treats. Keep treats to a minimum and do not feed table scraps.
Use ramps wherever possible to reduce physical strain on the dog. Use elevated feeders to make eating and drinking more comfortable for large dogs. Raised bowls reduce neck and back strain and aid digestion.
Daily grooming will enhance blood circulation and help deduct rashes, sores and lumps. Frequent grooming is essential for senior dogs. Brushing improves circulation, skin condition, and helps keep the coat shiny and tangle-free. While grooming, examine your dog from nose to tail.
Display better understanding than usual. Shower lots of love and encouragement.
Inference:
Dogs are fabulous to have as pets and bring great joy to your life. Every dog like its human counterpart is unique and different and needs to be handled differently. Once we realise that, like humans, they too go through the aging process accompanied with all its uncertainties then we will be well prepared to handle and accept what comes and things becomes easy. Geriatric care for dogs is not an easy process but something that we all should be aware of, in order to help these wonderful creatures have a comfortable life when they most need it.

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