Signs of a Senior Dog
By the most common definition, dogs cross into their senior years when they enter the final 25% of their expected life span. Life span, in turn, is linked to breed size – in general, the smaller the breed, the longer the life span.

However, as a good rule of thumb, you should start looking for the "Seven Signs of Senior" at about seven years of age (5 years for large breeds). Those signs include:

• Graying muzzle or coat – or other coat conditions that weren’t there before
• Slowing down and staying down – less energy, trouble getting up or limping
• Sleeping more – a common side effect of aging
• Changing habits – including play preferences and eating or drinking habits
• Change in weight – some dogs gain weight as they age while others lose
• Bad breath – a sign of dental and gum problems, sometimes exacerbated by age
• Hearing or vision changes – like humans, senses can dull over time

If you see these signs, you should consult your veterinarian. There may be options to treat or help reduce the symptoms. Also, these signs could also be related to an issue besides aging.

Feeding A Senior Dog
If you have a generally healthy dog over seven years of age (or five years for large breed dogs), your dog may benefit from a properly balanced senior dog food. Older dogs sometimes have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and there are foods tailored to help meet those needs. Consult your veterinarian for more information.

One changing need that should be tracked is reduced activity level, a common sign of aging. Less active dogs may have reduced energy requirements. Over-feeding may predispose dogs to obesity, which is associated with certain health conditions. For these reasons, it is particularly important to feed older dogs according to their individual nutritional needs and to maintain a healthy, ideal body condition.

Also note that older dogs may have difficulty chewing as a result of dental issues. In this situation, you may want to moisten dry food to make it easier to chew.