In addition to dental disease, dogs are susceptible to diabetes, making some dependent on twice-daily insulin injections that their owners must administer. And with the enormous increase in canine obesity, mirroring the rise in obese people, dogs are now developing Type 2 diabetes at alarming rates. Be alert to signs of diabetes in your dog: increased thirst and a more frequent need to pee, as well as weight loss despite a hearty appetite.
Another treatable cause of increased thirst and urination in older dogs, especially large female dogs, is Cushing’s syndrome, an adrenal gland disorder. But rather than feeling the urge to urinate, the dog is likely to pass urine without realizing it and may even soil her bed, the Tufts vets reported. Older male dogs, primarily those that are not neutered, may develop an enlarged prostate that makes bowel movements (not urination) more difficult.
Osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear kind that makes people and dogs creaky, is another common affliction as dogs age. It often develops as a result of a malformed joint the dog was born with, prompting some owners to opt for corrective surgery. Operating on a young dog with a congenital malformation may delay the development of arthritis though not necessarily prevent it indefinitely. There are also well-tested veterinary medications to reduce inflammation and pain in dogs with arthritis. Signs to watch for, especially in older dogs, include a tendency to favor a limb, difficulty standing or sitting and stiffness when walking.
Chronic Lyme disease has become an all-too-common cause of debilitating arthritis in dogs as well as people. Max-I acquired it before vets were savvy to the infection and before there was a veterinary vaccine to prevent it or monthly pesticide treatments to repel Lyme-carrying ticks. But we minimized his arthritic symptoms with regular activity and a daily supplement of Cosequin, a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin originally developed for horses. Thus far, although we summer in tick country, Max-II has remained free of Lyme with the aid of a yearly vaccine and monthly tick preventive.
Kidney disease, another common affliction of older dogs prompting them to produce copious amounts of dilute urine, is most often detected during an annual checkup. The Tufts experts advise minimizing the dog’s stress, providing constant access to water and feeding a diet reduced in protein and phosphorus as soon as the kidney problem is noted.
In caring for older dogs, experts urge owners not to assume that changes in behavior result from age and nothing can be done to help them. Veterinary science has taken many leads from human medicine that can enable aging dogs to live fuller, happier lives.
Source : Nytimes
