Did you know that they have recently dispelled the myth the every dog year is equal to 7 human years. Although it is close, dogs age a different rates. Check out this chart to learn how old your dog is in human years!
Once you discover their human age, keep this in mind when considering how much activity you think they should be able to to tolerate. An adult in their 60's (Senior) vs an adult in their 90's (geriatric) have very different mobility patterns and expectations. Download your age chart below. |
What is the ideal body condition for my dog?
Based on the Purina Body Condition System (pictured on the right), ideal body condition is 4-5 out of 9. This is described as a well-defined waist with abdominal tuck. The ribs are easily felt without excessive fat covering. Why is it important to keep your dog at the ideal weight? Obesity has been linked to several chronic conditions in dogs just like humans. Overweight dogs are at increased risk of arthritis, respiratory issues, and diabetes. One study even found that dogs that maintained their ideal body weight lived 2 years longer than those that were overweight! Click the button below to get your body condition score chart and instructions to help you determine your dogs body condition. |
If you want to be able to detect early signs of aging you will need to first know what is normal for your dog. This will look very different for each individual dog depending on their age and season of life. All too often we go through our day to day lives without noticing the subtle changes going on around us. If we want to be able to better care for our senior dog we must first step back and reflect on their normal behaviors, by paying more attention to the quantity and quality of movement. |
Irritability in your dog can be a clear symptom of something else. Like arthritis, dental disease, cancer, impaired senses, pain etc. Pain can show up in many different ways. Check out this comprehensive pain scale to learn other behavioral changes that could be signs of pain. This is a fillable PDF!
Do some of these surprise you? Let us know below! |
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