The life of a dog is very short. It only lasts for more than ten years. A dog that can live to be over 20 years old is considered a long-lived dog! If a dog has the following 7 characteristics, it means it is an old dog!
So at what age does a dog reach old age, and how should it be taken care of?
Comparison table of dog age and human age (refer to the following table)
As can be seen from the above table, small dogs do not enter old age until around 10 years old, while medium and large dogs have already entered old age around 8 years old due to precocious maturation. For giant dogs, it starts even earlier, reaching old age at about 7 years old.
What are the characteristics of dogs getting older?
1. Hair turns white
The hair will begin to turn white slowly, usually starting from the hair around the mouth, and slowly spreading to the entire face, until white hair appears on the hair on the body. White hair appears on the dog's body and the hair becomes rougher and coarser. This is a characteristic of older dogs.
2. Lethargy
The older the dog gets, the more he likes to sleep. Because he no longer has the energy to play and is not interested in anything, he would rather lie down than move and sleep all day long.
3. Slow movement
The dog's movements have become slow and dull, and it is difficult to respond to the owner in time, because the joints and bones have become fragile, so when your dog's walking slows down significantly, it means that it is old.
4. Teeth Loss
If your dog’s teeth become loose or even fall out, it means that it is getting older. The teeth of older dogs will become less sharp, their chewing function will become worse, and they will suffer from loss of appetite.
5. Cloudy eyeballs
Puppies' eyes are bright and lively. When dogs get old, their eyes will not be as lively as before, and their eyeballs will become cloudy, and even glaucoma and cataracts may occur.
6. Decreased appetite
When dogs get old, they don’t eat as much as before, and their appetite and appetite decrease significantly. Even if they eat, it takes a long time to finish them.
7. Frequent shivering
Dogs are becoming more and more afraid of the cold, often shaking hands and feet, twitching limbs, etc. This is one of the characteristics of dogs as they age, and their ability to resist and withstand the cold is not that strong.
How should we take care of our dogs as they age?
① Pay attention to keeping warm: Dogs are particularly afraid of the cold when they get old. In winter, they should keep warm, add a few more blankets when sleeping, or let the dog bask in the sun more during the day. It is best to prepare a quiet, clean and tidy place for the dog to rest.
②Regular physical examination: After your dog enters old age, it is best to take it for physical examination regularly, at least once a year, to prevent potential diseases in advance. Otherwise, you will really regret it when your dog has some physical problems.
③Groom your dog more: When your dog is old, you can comb it more, which is beneficial to the health of the hair and promotes blood circulation.
④Appropriate exercise: When a dog gets old and does not like to exercise, it will be particularly easy to gain weight. Pet owners should lead elderly dogs to exercise appropriately, which can improve their physical fitness, increase their metabolism, and make them healthier.
⑤Adjust the diet structure: As dogs get older, their gastrointestinal digestion capacity will decrease