Senior dog health can be tricky. Older dogs may slow down but they can't tell you when they need help, or the help of a veterinarian. As your senior dog ages, it's smart to get familiar with the diseases, conditions and symptoms he might experience. Doing so will only help the long-term health of your older dog. Use our list of serious symptoms that require an immediate vet visit to help you figure out just what constitutes a senior dog health emergency. If you sense Fido is suffering from something, but can't quite put your finger on it, use our common conditions table to help get a baseline of the more common ailments that are likely to affect your senior dog. We'll help you learn the basics of senior dog health, and your veterinarian can help you and your dog with the rest.
Signs of Serious Older Dog Health Problems
See a vet immediately if your older dog displays any of these symptoms. They may be signs of a serious health issue.- Blood in stool or urine
- Convulsions
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty passing stool or urine
- Diarrhea lasting over one day
- Drooling lasting over two days
- Excessive panting
- Foul mouth odor
- Hair loss in patches
- Inability to chew dry food
- Loss of bladder control
- Repeated vomiting
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Significant decrease in appetite
Common health conditions affecting older dogs
Sense your senior isn't himself, but can't put your finger on why? If you're suspicious that something isn't right with your older dog, Petside can help. Find below a list of health conditions common to older dogs, as well as the flag-raising health symptoms that pet owners should be aware of. If you see a condition you think your dog might be suffering from, click it to find a full explanation of what your pet could be facing.
| Condition | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Arthritis | Fever, Sluggishness, Limping, Lack of appetite |
| Blindness (Vision Loss from Glaucoma, Cataracts) | Bumping into furniture, Easily startled, Thickened, cloudy appearance in the eye, Dilated pupil, Squinting |
| Cancer | Collapse, Lack of appetite, Sluggishness, Weight loss, Inappropriate defecation, Inappropriate urination, Limping, Bad Breath, Bloody oral discharge, Coughing, Difficulty eating or swallowing, Growing mass, Nasal discharge, Retching, Salivation |
| Cognitive Dysfunction | Abnormal Behavior, Disorientation, Sluggishness, Inappropriate defecation, Inappropriate urination |
| Congestive Heart Failure | Abdominal discomfort, Difficulty breathing, Increased respiratory rate, Muscle weakness, Sluggishness, Weak pulse |
| Cushing's Syndrome (A Hormone Imbalance) | Blackheads, Hair loss, Increased appetite, Increased thirst, Increased urination, Muscle weakness, Panting, Pot belly |
| Diabetes | Increased urination, Increased thirst, Weight loss, Increased appetite |
| Dental Disease | Bad breath, Red swollen gums |
| Gastric Dilatation (Bloat) | Abdominal discomfort, Pale mucous membranes, Retching, Praying posture |
| Hearing Loss | Disorientation, Sluggishness |
| Hip Dysplasia (Bad Hips) | Bunny hopping walk, Difficulty rising, Difficulty walking stairs, Limping, Pain |
| House Soiling (Indoor Pottying) | Inappropriate defecation, Inappropriate urination |
| Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid Disease) | Exercise intolerance, Obesity, Sluggishness |
| Obesity (Overweight Dog) | Loss of visible "waist", Ribs not easily felt under layer of fat, Visible excess body fat |
| Pancreatitis (Inflammation of the Pancreas) | Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Lack of appetite, Sluggishness, Vomiting |
| Renal Failure (Kidney Failure) | Diluted urine, Increased urination, Increased thirst, Lack of appetite, Vomiting |
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