Learning About Older Dog Health: What Are the Signs of an Older Dog?
By: Kelly Marshall
Submitted: 2009-02-11 06:53:56 | Word Count: 558
Much though the general notion is that one year of dog life is equivalent to seven years of human life, the actual evaluation says that it is around eight years. Hence you must learn about the health aspects of an older dog such that you can tend to your dog in his or her old age.
Since different strains of dog have different aging speeds, hence the major health problems cannot be predicted. The common idea is that larger strains age at a faster rate than smaller strains like the Chihuahua and the Maltese.
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The wonderful Saint Bernard has ages very quickly. Their health starts worsening from an age of six. For Golden Retrievers, the age is eight and they need to be looked after carefully during their old age. However strains like the Yorkshire terrier starts aging only after thirteen years of age.
Most people do not understand the time that their dog touches the old age. Hence they are unaware of the right things to do. The alterations in the dog are gradually visible and hence the pet owner might miss them initially.
Here is one instance that indicates the old age of your dog and yet you might overlook: the fur around the muzzle area gradually become white. This takes place over a few years time. People often ignore this taking this to be just a mere alteration in fur color.
Again, the fact that your dog’s fur has lost its shimmer, its elegance and is rather dirty in appearance will strike you only after a long time. These depict that your dog is aging. However, you do not have to be nervous or worried
Instead of fretting and worrying, learn methods to keep your dog fit and well in his or her old age. We all age. We all die. It is the natural cycle. So give into these alterations lovingly and adore your dog as much. Do all that you can to keep your dog happy.
Older Dog Tumors
The older dog does not generally suffer from tumors of the brain and spinal cord. However brain tumors are sometimes found in boxers and Boston terriers. The general indications are stupidity, leaning on the wall, going round and round in the same place, difficulty in walking, fits and also frailty of the legs. However, these indications alter with respect to the position and the dimensions of the tumor.
Experienced and skillful vets can cure tumors provided that they have not reached the stage where the spinal cord has been irreparably injured. A surgery is done and then chemotherapy applied. Brain tumors are generally problematic as they are difficult to get rid of owing to their position as well as dimensions. Hence in very few cases they can be taken out of the brain.
TiTi, my adorable darling poodle suffered so. He abruptly changed over a week he was more violent, howled and barked incessantly, ate excessively and all these led to a terrible fit. When I got in touch with a doctor, the doctor said that he has an incurable brain tumor. Though medicines kept him under control and enhanced apparently cured his attitude for a month, he was not to live long. Fits recurred shortly but this time they were more violent and destructive. Medicines failed and TiTi had to undergo euthanasia.
