Generally speaking, dogs gradually enter old age when they are 8-10 years old. More than half of a dog's life has passed, and the dog's body organs, physical fitness, and appearance will undergo great changes. Their skin may become loose, and the hair around the face and mouth may gradually turn white. They may also gradually become less active. Because of the reduced resistance, many diseases are easy to find them.

Common diseases of elderly dogs

1. Aging of the eyes - cataracts, dry eye syndrome 　With age, the dog’s lens will also begin to age and become cloudy, leading to cataracts. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays will also accelerate eye aging and accelerate the formation of cataracts in dogs. There are also genetic diseases and diabetes, which are all causes of aggravating cataracts in dogs. In addition, if the eye is hit, it will also increase the chance of cataracts in the dog.

Common symptoms of cataracts include cloudiness or white matter in the eyeballs, it is easy to bump into things when walking, and vision is often unclear. In the final stage, the eyes may become red, and secondary uveitis may cause pain to the dog until it is completely blind. However, cataracts do not mean that the lens of the eye turns white. The appearance of cataracts can easily be confused with nuclear hardening that causes the lens to become cloudy due to aging. If a dog’s lens is found to be white, it must be confirmed by a veterinarian for further examination.

Improvement and Suggestions: Unfortunately, cataract is an irreversible disease. But for early-stage cataracts, specific eye drops can be used to delay their progression. If the cataract has become mature, you should go to the ophthalmologist regularly to monitor whether the cataract is stable, because in addition to losing vision, late-stage cataract may even cause a series of problems around the lens, such as secondary glaucoma, uveitis, lens dislocation, etc. Problem occurs. You can also consider cataract surgery to give your dog a chance to restore his vision through phacoemulsification.

Dry eye syndrome is related to the gradual atrophy or degeneration of the dog's tear glands, which can be checked through the Schirmer Tear Test (STT). Common symptoms of dry eye syndrome include thick secretions, congestion of the whites of the eyes, and dry eyeballs. If dry eye syndrome occurs repeatedly, it may also cause conjunctivitis. Improvements and Suggestions: Use special dry eye eye drops to promote tear gland secretion and regulate abnormal immune responses. If serious secondary infections and trauma problems have occurred, it is also recommended to use antibiotic eye drops, artificial tears and other other products at the same time. Adjuvant treatment.

2. Degeneration of teeth - periodontal disease 　The cause of periodontal disease is mainly tartar and the bacteria in the tartar. It is usually caused by the oral cavity not being cleaned in time, causing bacterial infection and gradual inflammation. It is a kind of disease involving periodontal, periodontalAcute or chronic inflammatory process of ligaments and alveolar bones. Periodontal health will affect the dog’s eating, and thus its nutritional intake. Common symptoms of periodontal disease include bad breath, frequent drooling, difficulty eating, teeth covered with calculus and other mineralized substances, gums that are swollen, congested and prone to bleeding, and gum recession with exposed tooth roots.

Improvement and Suggestions: If your dog has not had the habit of brushing its teeth since childhood, or if periodontal disease has gradually developed, ask your veterinarian to diagnose whether teeth cleaning is needed. Since teeth cleaning for dogs requires anesthesia, corresponding examinations must be done in advance, and a professional veterinarian must evaluate whether the dog's physical condition is suitable or how to safely administer anesthesia.

3. Degeneration of liver function The liver is a very important organ for dogs because it is responsible for as many as 1,500 functions. Once liver function deteriorates, it means that more than 1,500 functions will be weakened together. Common symptoms of liver disease include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, and weight loss. In severe cases, it may also be accompanied by jaundice, ascites, abnormal coagulation function, neurological symptoms, or epilepsy. Improvements and suggestions: The early symptoms of chronic liver disease are often not obvious. Even if there are symptoms, they may be similar to ordinary gastroenteritis, so they are often ignored and treatment is delayed. It is recommended that elderly dogs should undergo a complete health examination every six months to one year to facilitate early detection and control of the disease.

4. Decreased immunity As dogs age, their immunity will gradually decline. Once the immunity is weakened, dogs are more susceptible to bacterial infections and various diseases. Improvements and Suggestions: The most basic thing is to maintain regular exercise every day, do not give your dog food that is too oily or salty, and you can also appropriately supplement pet-specific nutrition, health products, etc. In addition, it is also important to vaccinate your dog regularly.

5. Inflammation caused by degeneration 　Degenerative inflammation refers to chronic, mild inflammation in the absence of obvious infection. Mild inflammation is related to many aging-related diseases. The cataracts and arthritis mentioned above are actually inflammatory symptoms caused by the degradation of body functions. Improvements and Suggestions: Owners should first ask a veterinarian for physical examination and evaluation, and then make supplements based on the nutrients that different dogs lack. Dogs with joint problems can supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin. Dogs with skin or inflammation problems can supplement with omega-3, astaxanthin, etc.

Precautions for caring for elderly dogs

1. Groom your hair regularly 　RegularlyCombing your dog's hair can speed up blood circulation, enhance immunity, and reduce the chance of disease infection. At the same time, pay attention to whether there are abnormal secretions, lumps and other changes on the skin. In order to maintain the health of your dog's hair, you can supplement essential amino acids, vitamins A, E and minerals to help hair growth and skin cell metabolism.

2. Feed well-absorbed food Old dogs have weaker teeth and reduced gastrointestinal function. Do not give them hard food. You can buy special feed for senior dogs. If feeding fresh food, it is very important that the nutrition of the diet must be balanced. It is recommended to refer to the recipes of veterinary nutrition professionals. Otherwise, nutritional deficiencies or excesses may occur in the long run. It is necessary to pay attention to the amount of animal liver fed to avoid easily causing vitamin A poisoning.

3. Get more sun and exercise 　More exposure to the sun can help synthesize vitamin D and maintain coat health. At the same time, combined with appropriate exercise, it can prevent elderly dogs from becoming overweight or degenerative arthritis.

Dogs are getting older, which means they spend less and less time with us. In order for dogs to spend their old age peacefully, we should take our dogs for health checkups every six months to one year, so that they will suffer less from diseases and may be able to stay with us for a longer time.