As your dog ages, the likelihood he will develop various changes in the function of his body systems increases. Some of these will be normal changes due to the aging process, others may be indicative of disease. To be more easily alerted to possible signs of disease early in the disease process:
- Monitor food consumption: how much is being eaten?, what type of food is being eaten (e.g.; does your dog leave the hard kibble and only eat the canned)?, any difficulty eating or swallowing?, any vomiting?
- Monitor water consumption: drinking more or less than usual?
- Monitor urination and defecation: color, amount, consistency and frequency of stool; color and amount of urine; any signs of pain while urinating or defecating?, any urinating or defecating in the house?
- Measure weight every 2 months: for small dogs use an infant or mail scale, or use the scale in your veterinarian’s office; for medium-size dogs, weigh yourself holding the dog, then weigh yourself and subtract to find the difference; for larger dogs, you may need to use your veterinarian’s scale.
- Groom, check and clip nails, look for any lumps, bumps, or non-healing sores; any abnormal odors?, any change in size of abdomen?, increased hair loss?
- Monitor behavior: sleep patterns, obeying commands, tendency to be around people; any house soiling?, easily startled?, anxious when left alone?
- Monitor activity and mobility: difficulty with stairs?, inability to exercise without tiring quickly?, bumping into things?, sudden collapses?, seizures?, any loss of balance?, any lameness or change in gait?
- Look for any changes in respiration: coughing?, panting?, sneezing?
- Provide home dental care: brush your dog’s teeth, regularly examine the inside of his mouth; any excesive drooling?, any sores?, bad breath?, are the gums swollen, yellow, light pink, or purplish?
- Monitor environmental temperature and the temperature at which your dog seems most comfortable.
- Schedule regular appointments with your veterinarian.
- Some of the more common signs indicative of diseases are shown in the table below. Remember, just because your dog has a sign of a disease does not necessarily mean he has the disease. What it does mean, is that your dog should be examined by your veterinarian so a proper diagnosis can be made.
| Signs and Symptoms of Common Diseases in Older Dogs | Associated Diseases |
|---|---|
| Behavior Changes | Pain associated with arthritis, Loss of sight or hearing, Cognitive dysfunction, Hypothyroidism, Liver disease, Kidney disease |
| Weakness or excercise intolerance | Mitral insufficiency/Heart disease, Anemia, ObesityDiabetes mellitus, Cancer, Hypothyroidism |
| Change in activity level | Hypothyroidism, Arthritis, Pain, Obesity, Anemia, Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease, Kidney disease, Cancer |
| Weight gain | Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, Obesity, Arthritis |
| Weight loss | Cancer, Kidney disease, Liver disease, Gastrointestinal disease, Decreased food consumption, Oral or dental disease, Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease, Diabetes mellitus, Inflammatory bowel disease |
| Abnormally colored mucous membranes (gums) | Anemia, Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease, Liver disease |
| Coughing | Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease, Respiratory disease, Heartworm disease Cancer |
| Increased thirst and urination | Cushing’s disease, Pyometra (uterine infection) Diabetes mellitus, Liver disease, Kidney disease |
| Vomiting | Kidney disease, Liver disease, Gastrointestinal disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, Cancer, Diabetes mellitus |
| Diarrhea | Gastrointestinal disease, Sudden changes in diet Inflammatory bowel disease, Kidney disease, Liver disease |
| Seizures | Epilepsy, Cancer, Kidney disease, Liver disease, Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease |
| Haircoat changes | Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, Obesity |
| Bad breath | Dental disease, Oral cancer, Kidney disease |
| Lameness, difficulty rising | Arthritis, Nervous system disease, Obesity |
| Urinary incontinence | Kidney disease, Pain from arthritis, Hormone responsive incontinence, Bladder stones, Cancer Prostate disease |
| Lumps, bumps | Cancer, Benign tumors |
| Appetite changes | Diabetes mellitus, Cancer, Liver disease, Kidney disease, Gastrointestinal disease, Stress, Pain, Reaction to medication(s), Oral or dental disease, Cushing’s disease |
| Cloudy eye | Nuclear sclerosis, Cataract, Glaucoma |
© Foster & Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from PetEducation.com (http://www.PetEducation.com) On-line store at http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com Free pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208
This really is a great website to find out about various diseases and conditions.
