Senior dogs tend to sleep and nap a lot, getting 16-18 hours of sleep daily, says Dr. Amber Karwacki, DVM, a veterinarian with Heart + Paw. That's quite a bit when you consider there are only 24 hours in the day.
Senior Dogs
Dogs start to need more rest between the ages of five and 10 years old. According to Dr. Georgina Ushi Phillips, DVM, senior dogs sleep between 18 to 20 hours per day, much like they did as a puppy. If you see your older pooch napping for most of the day, it's probably not a cause for concern.
Small dogs are considered senior citizens of the canine community when they reach 11-12 years of age. Their medium-sized friends become seniors at 10 years of age. Their larger-sized colleagues are seniors at 8 years of age. And, finally, their giant-breed counterparts are seniors at 7 years old.
Most dogs' sleep patterns usually begin to change between five and seven years old. As dogs get older, their energy level starts to decrease. They need more sleep to recharge and be at their best during the day. For this reason, it is normal for a senior dog to sleep up to 20 hours a day.
In addition to being less active, many dogs at this age begin to develop digestive issues, kidney problems and other conditions that can benefit from diet modification. Only your veterinarian can accurately assess your dog's needs.
Walking is beneficial for any age dog, even senior dogs. Walking is low-impact exercise that helps promote overall health and helps dogs maintain their strength. Regardless of age, dogs need regular exercise and should be walked daily. However, as your dog ages you need to modify their walk a bit.
Pain and Mobility
Signs of pain in dogs tend to be very subtle. It usually starts as reluctance to do what they have done easily in the past, like jumping up on furniture or in the car, that then progresses to inability to do these things at all. Walks become shorter, or their gait changes during the walks.
And while your senior may not be up for the half-day hikes they used to do, if they're mobile, keep to a regular schedule of physical activity, including at least a half hour of daily walks.
If your dog is sleeping more now that they are older, that isn't a reason to worry for their health. If your dog doesn't sleep much more than they did when they were younger, that may be normal for your dog.
He has lost interest in all or most of his favorite activities, such as going for walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats or soliciting attention and petting from family members. He cannot stand on his own or falls down when trying to walk. He has chronic labored breathing or coughing.
Most dogs enter their senior years at around 7 years old, a little sooner for larger dog breeds. They begin to slow down, they may gain weight more easily, their senses start to dull. An older dog's behavior will give you plenty of hints as to what he needs, but sometimes it helps to put it in words.
Some signs of aging can be seen from the outside: Your hair turns gray, and wrinkles and age spots appear on your skin. Our bodies are less able to store fluid in older age, so our spinal discs shrink and lose elasticity, for instance. As a result, people get smaller as they grow older.
Some dogs don't need anything to find themselves running around the house and playing with their toys, others will snooze through a jackhammer no sweat. If you're working from home right now you might see your pet sleeps all day even with you right next to them! Dogs, like people, are unique.
Depressed dogs may show symptoms such as a lack of interest in activities, loss of appetite, increased irritability, and unusually clingy or needy behavior. You can help improve your dog's mood by giving them plenty of exercise, playtime, and mental stimulation.
You may notice that your dog is sleeping more than usual or isn't interested in activities, toys, or people they used to love. Depression is a common sign at the end of a dog's life as they lose mobility or experience pain.
Many frustrated pet parents observe their pet's ability to remember to go outside deteriorating as they get older, but it's typically not disobedience on the part of the dog. Senior dogs typically need a bathroom break every 4-6 hours.
Vestibular disease is the main reason why an older dog may experience a sudden loss of balance and an inability to stand or walk normally. How can you tell if a dog has a vestibular disease? A few of the signs include dizziness, stumbling or wobbly steps, and falling over.
Swimming, leash walks, and gentle games of fetch are all wonderful ways to maintain fitness. But there are also many strength and flexibility moves—canine calisthenics—that can be performed in the comfort of your home. The three easy exercises presented here will work problem areas for many seniors.
If you have an older dog who has started to slow down on walks and has difficulty getting up and down the stairs, your dog may be suffering from arthritis. This disease, most commonly seen in older dogs, can affect the legs, hips, back, and more—making everyday movements painful.
Enjoyment of Playtime and Walks
Happy dogs enjoy playtime and walks, and most even love rides in cars. While all dogs slow down with age, if your dog seems abnormally quiet, uninterested in favorite activities, or is less social, this may be a sign they're not feeling well.
Constant whining or whimpering lets you know that something just isn't right with your dog. Even more obvious than a whine, a yelp or crying out in pain when you touch your dog is his way of letting you know that he hurts.