Senior Dogs

Galupy

Galupy

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It has just hit home that the beagles are getting on a bit. Both of them are 7, coming up 8 in the middle of this year (approx). It hit home because I just came back from the vet with Dakota (he was there for a thyroid test as he has a low one and takes pills so he has bloods drawn twice a year) and it said on his itemised bill "Senior Dog Examination" :(

They don't act like old dogs, they still run me ragged out on walks and Dakota has, after 3 1/2 years with us, only just learned about going scatty and has started to, every so often when we go through a field, run circles around me and occasionally buzzing by me in a flat out run with a big grin on his face ... he is so puppy-like with his delight of his new-found game that he looks anything other than an older dog.

So are they really now senior dogs? All things being normal they should live well into their teens so maybe they are more "middle-aged" dogs instead? Why are dogs considered senior as such a relatively young age? Most importantly, if they really are senior, is there anything anyone things I should be doing differently to account for it?*

*they are already on a good glucosamine supplement and have been for a few years.
 
It does seem a bit daft to me I would have thought 10plus would have been senior.

You are doing all the right things and no one has told your dogs how old they are so if they are still acting like mad things go with it. As time goes on they will start to slow down but just enjoy them as they are now.
 
I consider anything after 7 a 'veteran' so to speak but my old bitch lived to 14 and the one after was still doing mountain hikes at ten years old with not so much as a grey whisker...back when I last had oldies, there wasn't really such a thing as 'senior' food or many supplements marketed as such.

Depends on the breed, their lifestyle and of course, the individual dog :)

(B is on senior food at the mo, it's fishy, grain free and low protein :p)

His kinda cousin-y dog comes to club, he is ten and looks FANTASTIC, I keep wanting to take a pic and put it on here to show that old, large breed dogs don't need to be overweight, limpy and white :p
 
I certainly wouldn't consider 7 as senior. If they are fit and well and full of energy I wouldn't change anything with their diet , exercise etc. Buffy is 10 and I do consider her to be an oldie because she has had so much wrong with her over the last couple of years.:( She's not overweight or white though CC but is a bit limpy.:p
 
:p

It's a bit like Fugly Horse of the Day when she cracks up with people who think it's ok that their horse is skinny and lacks condition because they are old, bit of a bugbear with me :p

LOTS of people think B is old. No, he is grey because that's what colour he is supposed to be :p
 
Brig is 8 this year and I'd heard they're senior at 7, as CC says. Makes me PMSL! I met a springador (slight shudder at the name) aged 10 this week and apparently she's just starting to calm down! She and Brig ran rings round the puppies.

I wouldn't worry about age; it's just a number and you're the best judge of your dog and how much exercise etc they need.
 
I'm just going by age categories at dog shows by the way, like 6-9 months for minor puppy, 6-12 for puppy and so on. Anything over 7 is a 'veteran' but I have seen 12 year old dogs beat the 7 year olds :p
 
Regan is over 7, possibly 8 and she looks no different to the day I got her, she looks 2 teeth wise and bodily/fitness wise and she has not one grey hair, but rotts tend not the grey till they are ancient, she puts dogs half her age to shame, I never see her as a senior dog.
She acts like a pup and she was neutered when she was mature;) so cannot blame the whole "neuter to young" puppy limbo mumbo jumbo:p:D
 
Thanks everyone. I definitely prefer "veteran." It sounds so much more dignified. I think they are considered seniors over here at 7 ... I'm glad that others agree that 7 isn't old at all!

It sounds like I don't need to change anything though - possibly think about senior dog food when they start to show their age. Probably not any time soon knowing them :D. I'm with CC on not having the choice of dog foods the last time I had an older dog so that was really helpful to think about when that should happen.

Neither of the beagles have noticeable grey although I wouldn't see it on Dakota anyway because of all his white. Willie, however, does have some around his muzzle. He's a year younger than the beagles. Weight-wise Bella probably needs to lose a pound or two. I mentioned that to OH the other day that we should cut her dry food a little to get her where she needs to be. Teeth and everything else is good for them though.

I think it is regular exercise. It keeps us all young!
 
I say keep them on the food they have now and stick in extra supplements if needed. Brig's on numeric. That and the Trocoxil are keeping him happy. :)
 
About 15 years ago I worked for a vet that used to recommend "senior" treatment/bloods for anything over 5 years old! My old girl I have is 16....that's a lotta blood work annually!

I think that with the care and advances in diet and veterinary care, dogs are still "young" at 5, 7, or even 9! My border terrier is 9 years old and I'd be horrified to think of him as a "senior". HE doesn't think he's a senior! Or even a veteran!!! He's still a youngster at heart - though the poodle at 2 certainly shows him up now and again.

My old girl really only started BEING old about 2 or 3 years ago. She really IS senior! LOL
 
There is a vets practice near us (run by "famous" vets) who are always promoting health checks on "senior" dogs and cats over 8 years, and listing all the terrible things that can go wrong with older pets, just a bit of a money maker if you ask me.:(
Never mind senior pets, when I had my daughter I was listed on my medical notes as "elderly", I was 32 !:eek:
 
LOL MurphysMinder!!!! A bit older at 37 so I deserve it more, but I am also described as 'vieil' by the French gynecologist!!!

I am always shocked by dog feeds that are labelled 'senior' for over 7 year olds, but I suppose it depends on the breed as well. Betty is 15 and you can't see any difference in her despite her serious heart condition, Jakey is 14 and not as happy to go on long walks daily with his elbow displasia, but they are also a small breed of dog so likely to live longer. Dizzy is 8 and I think larger breeds have a shorter lifespan, so I am already freaking out although there is nothing wrong with him at all!
 
With "big" dogs, I'd class 8/9 as getting old, with something like a terrier mix, around 10/11.

Tink is 10 now and despite coming 4th in a veteran class ;) she doesn't seem that old to me! She's still as happy to run about everywhere all day, everyday, but she is now on a joint supplement, just in case. The only difference really is her face is a lot whiter than it used to be!
 
Someone needs to tell Stella she's a senior, as she acts more like eight-months-old than eight years. She has not slowed down one bit, and still plays a rapid game of fetch the entire time we walk around Central Park.

My friend has a nearly sixteen-year-old Boston who has cataracts in one eye, is deaf in one ear, yet the dog manages a couple of miles walking in the park every day.

Galupy, we should definitely take heart in the fact that smaller breeds generally maintain a better level of energy and limb health as they age.
 
PucciNPoni said:
About 15 years ago I worked for a vet that used to recommend "senior" treatment/bloods for anything over 5 years old! My old girl I have is 16....that's a lotta blood work annually!

I think that with the care and advances in diet and veterinary care, dogs are still "young" at 5, 7, or even 9! My border terrier is 9 years old and I'd be horrified to think of him as a "senior". HE doesn't think he's a senior! Or even a veteran!!! He's still a youngster at heart - though the poodle at 2 certainly shows him up now and again.

My old girl really only started BEING old about 2 or 3 years ago. She really IS senior! LOL
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MurphysMinder said:
There is a vets practice near us (run by "famous" vets) who are always promoting health checks on "senior" dogs and cats over 8 years, and listing all the terrible things that can go wrong with older pets, just a bit of a money maker if you ask me.:(
Never mind senior pets, when I had my daughter I was listed on my medical notes as "elderly", I was 32 !:eek:
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I'm pleased to say that the vet hadn't charged me for the senior pet examination, it said $0 but he had charged for the regular examination as usual which was also listed on there. I also didn't notice him do anything different over and above the usual eyes, teeth, heart, etc. He also didn't mention it at all and never has mentioned anything about their age. I'm sure he will at some point.

LOL at being called elderly at 32 MM ... how cruel when you were probably so hormonal ...
 
Booboos said:
LOL MurphysMinder!!!! A bit older at 37 so I deserve it more, but I am also described as 'vieil' by the French gynecologist!!!

I am always shocked by dog feeds that are labelled 'senior' for over 7 year olds, but I suppose it depends on the breed as well. Betty is 15 and you can't see any difference in her despite her serious heart condition, Jakey is 14 and not as happy to go on long walks daily with his elbow displasia, but they are also a small breed of dog so likely to live longer. Dizzy is 8 and I think larger breeds have a shorter lifespan, so I am already freaking out although there is nothing wrong with him at all!
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Tinkerbee said:
With "big" dogs, I'd class 8/9 as getting old, with something like a terrier mix, around 10/11.

Tink is 10 now and despite coming 4th in a veteran class ;) she doesn't seem that old to me! She's still as happy to run about everywhere all day, everyday, but she is now on a joint supplement, just in case. The only difference really is her face is a lot whiter than it used to be!
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prosefullstop said:
Someone needs to tell Stella she's a senior, as she acts more like eight-months-old than eight years. She has not slowed down one bit, and still plays a rapid game of fetch the entire time we walk around Central Park.

My friend has a nearly sixteen-year-old Boston who has cataracts in one eye, is deaf in one ear, yet the dog manages a couple of miles walking in the park every day.

Galupy, we should definitely take heart in the fact that smaller breeds generally maintain a better level of energy and limb health as they age.
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I think beagles get into mid-teens under usual circumstances. Other than Dakota's thyroid, they are generally healthy dogs as well which I think is another reason I've never thought of them as getting older. I guess the best way to be is not to worry about it until it starts to surface but to be aware at the same time that they are getting older so to be on the watch out for changes that might surface.

Willie is another story. He is a larger dog (usually around 55-60lbs) and I think I worry about him more than the other two even though he is a year younger. He has had some health issues including the two knee surgeries and some stomach issues that led to a two-day emergency room stay a few years ago when he was really ill. We also know already that he has hip dysplasia and have know since he had some issues at 18 months old so we are going to have to watch him carefully for signs that is acting up. So far we have managed it by treating him normally with exercise, including the swimming, and the glucosamine supplement they are all on and he's been fine but we know that it will catch up with him at some point as well as likely issues with the knees that some get later in like after the knee surgeries.
 
Our labx lived to be about 16, he really didn't seem to age untll he hit 14 and started to slow. our red setter died of cancer aged 11, and also she didn't slow down at all until right at the end.
 
Will (labrador) who I rehomed is 15 (we were told 12-13, vaccine card says 15 so going with that) and bless him he very much acts his age nasty arthritus etc.

He was originally on Bakers so took him off that and we have had issues since. Tried two different feeds JWB and then coughed up the cash for the royalcanin one and he was still sicky on that. So now hes just on chicken and rice, have just tried adding some of P@H senior mix (the one they had free if you had a consulatation) and so far hes been doing really well on this, So he gets a handful of mix, some rice and chicken and his coat is shiney and soft and he even tried running after a ball the other day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we have firm poops :D

He doesnt go on walks as such. He goes up to work with OH and has a potter about there but always ends up asking to get back in the car, where with the boot up he just watches people come and go and seems quite happy. He sometimes comes out if I go on a walk where I know I can turn round and meet him again. But never more than half hour which right now is ideal as thats all the puppy can do.
 
Toffee44 said:
Will (labrador) who I rehomed is 15 (we were told 12-13, vaccine card says 15 so going with that) and bless him he very much acts his age nasty arthritus etc.

He was originally on Bakers so took him off that and we have had issues since. Tried two different feeds JWB and then coughed up the cash for the royalcanin one and he was still sicky on that. So now hes just on chicken and rice, have just tried adding some of P@H senior mix (the one they had free if you had a consulatation) and so far hes been doing really well on this, So he gets a handful of mix, some rice and chicken and his coat is shiney and soft and he even tried running after a ball the other day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we have firm poops :D

He doesnt go on walks as such. He goes up to work with OH and has a potter about there but always ends up asking to get back in the car, where with the boot up he just watches people come and go and seems quite happy. He sometimes comes out if I go on a walk where I know I can turn round and meet him again. But never more than half hour which right now is ideal as thats all the puppy can do.
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Well done for rehoming an older dog and one with health issues too. That's another thing that concerns me. It's likely that calling dogs senior at 7 gives them a stigma that means that many don't want to adopt them. It would likely be beneficial for all to raise that age a little for that purpose alone. It just seems so archaic to make them seem old at that age when they aren't.
 
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