Health Upp Dog Ages – Adding a fur baby to your family is a magical experience. Dogs make amazing companions and are incredibly empathetic animals. They know when their owners need a little extra love, and they’re happy to receive plenty of extra love in return.
Unfortunately, watching your dog age can be a painful process. Your once hyper puppy will become more tired and slow as they age. It can be a difficult time, and you may be worried about whether their health is deteriorating. Bivvy’s dog health insurance can help alleviate the burden of unexpected medical visits and offers coverage options that include routine vet checkups, orthodontic treatment, and protection in case of an accident or illness. This ensures your only concern is to care for your old furry friend.
There are a lot of common ailments that can affect dogs as they age, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what exactly they’re affected by. Here are 3 of the most common illnesses that dogs can suffer from as they age and the symptoms that you should look out for.
Arthritis
Arthritis is just as common in dogs as it is in humans. This disease causes swelling and tenderness in your dog’s joints. It can be very painful for them and very hard for you to watch. No one wants to watch their dog be in pain, and if you think your dog is suffering from arthritis, then you should plan a trip to the vet.
Some common symptoms of arthritis in dogs are limping, irritability, a reluctance to move, tiredness, licking, chewing, or biting near their joints. Of course, many of these symptoms can overlap with other illnesses, so it’s important to bring your dog to the vet if you’re concerned.
Your vet will be able to prescribe some medication to help your furry friend, and you may even want to consider trying CBD for your dog. It’s a natural way to help them manage their pain and may be gentler on their system than prescription medications.
CCL Tear
As your dogs age, their muscles, joints, and ligaments will weaken. It’s sad to watch your dog become more couch-bound and less eager to go for walks at the dog park, and it’s important to watch them and take note of when their behavior indicates that they’re suffering from something more than just old age weariness.
A CCL tear is incredibly common in older dogs. It’s a tearing of the ligament in their knees that can cause them to stop moving that joint entirely, limp, and become irritable. Your dog may yelp when you try to touch that knee and act very protectively toward it.
Unfortunately, a CCL tear is a serious condition that only a trained vet can handle. Your pet would likely need to undergo TPLO surgery to repair the damaged ligament. A trained vet will walk you through the process of the surgery and how to handle the delicate recovery period.
Vision Loss
Loss of vision as one age is incredibly common in most species, including dogs. Vision loss is a huge range and can be something relatively minor or lead to complete blindness. At the first sign of vision loss, you should contact your vet to have your dog assessed.
There are plenty of obvious signs that your dog may be struggling with vision loss. They may start bumping into furniture or doorways, have trouble eating and drinking from their food and water bowls, and have trouble locating their favorite toys.
If you suspect that your dog may have some vision loss, it’s important to contact your vet straight away. They can put into place medications that will help slow the process so your furry friend will retain his vision for as long as possible.
Dementia
Dogs can suffer from a form of dementia once they get on in a year, just as humans do. In dogs, this condition is known as CCD- canine cognitive dysfunction. It’s a serious illness that has no cure, just as the human equivalent doesn’t. However, there are some treatments that can help.
Symptoms of CCD can be difficult to pin down because they’re often behavioral. If your elderly dog has started changing the way they interact with you and others they’re normally comfortable around, have accidents in the house, seem disoriented, or have altered sleep cycles, then these signs could indicate that they’re suffering from CCD.
Only a trained vet can give your dog the assessment needed to diagnose him with CCD. Once you have the diagnosis, your vet can walk you through what treatment options are available and how you can prepare yourself for the progression of the disease.
Cancer
Cancer can affect many species, including dogs. Unfortunately, as dogs begin to get on in years, their risk for cancer increases. It can be very difficult to see the warning signs for certain cancers, but there are some general symptoms you can watch out for.
Some symptoms of cancer in dogs include lumps and bumps under their skin, unusual odors (especially from their mouth, ears, and eyes), wounds or sores that won’t heal, loss of appetite, lethargy, and increased frequency of urination.
This is another disease that can be very difficult to treat, and catching the disease early on will give your pet the best chance possible. If you have any concerns that your dog is acting differently, then it’s important to take them to their vet immediately.
Final Thoughts
Watching your beloved dog age can be a heartbreaking process. Along with the decreased energy and usual aches and pains that age brings, there are serious illnesses that pet owners need to look out for. These are 5 of the most common ailments that can affect dogs as they age and the symptoms that pet owners should be aware of. Always seek veterinary treatment whenever you’re concerned.