Old Dog Health Problems & Symptoms

Overview

As our dogs get older, it is more likely that they develop various health problems. As dog parents, we have to keep a close watch on any changes and symptoms, both physical and behavioral, that our aging dogs may exhibit. Such changes and signs often indicate that our senior dogs are developing some form of health problems.

As a quick index, the more common old dog health problems and the signs of these problems are listed in the following table.

Please also visit these pages for information on:

Old Dog Health Problems and Symptoms

(Click on respective links to see more information)

Possible Illnesses	Symptoms
Arthritis	Walking with a limp Afraid to be touched Stiffness, especially after rest Difficulty in climbing stairs Swelling/tenderness in limb or spine Lethargy Irritability
Bladder Stones	Frequent urination with small quantities Bloody urine Discomfort and straining while urinating "Dribbling urine"
Cancer	Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow Sores that do not heal Weight loss Loss of appetite Bleeding or discharge from any body opening Offensive odor Difficulty eating or swallowing Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina Persistent lameness or stiffness Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating
Cataracts	Cloudy eyes Vision loss - may bump into objects
Cognitive dysfunction	Sleeping a lot, especially during daytime Loss of appetite Lethargy, reluctance to play Peeing in inappropriate places in the house Staring at the wall or into space Restlessness, e.g. pacing, wandering around aimlessly. Aggression even towards family members and friends Disorientation - may appear lost or confused in familiar place Fails to respond to own name or learned commands
Dental and Gum Problems	Bad breath Swollen or bloody gums Difficulty eating or swallowing Excessive drooling Weight loss
Diabetes	Drinking lots of water Peeing a lot Dull, poor hair coat Listlessness Increased appetite Vomiting Weight loss despite a large appetite may also occur
GI problems	Vomiting Diarrhea Chronic constipation Appetite loss Black, tar-like stool Bloody stool
Heart Failure	Unproductive coughing, especially during the night or first thing in the morning Difficulty breathing; increased panting and puffing General fatigue and lethargy Intolerance of exercise Appetite and weight loss Fainting Swollen abdomen due to fluid buildup Grey or bluish gums
Hypothyroidism	Weight gain (without appetite increase) High blood cholesterol Lethargy and mental dullness Intolerance of exercise Intolerance of cold temperatures Dry hair Excessive shedding/hair loss Dry skin - more prone to infections and itchiness
Kidney disease	Increased thirst Frequent urination with large quantities of pale urine Poor appetite Weight loss Nausea Constipation Lethargy Fatigue Bad breath Mouth ulcers (in later critical stage)
Liver disease	Vomiting Appetite loss Yellow or pale gums Behavioral changes
Obesity	Overweight Inactivity / Lethargy Difficulty walking or getting up
Prostate disease (for male dogs)	House soiling Bloody urine Dribbling urine
Seizures	Muscle contractions Loss of motor control Fainting Loss of bladder or bowel control
Urinary Incontinence	Loss of bladder control Peeing in inappropriate places
Vestibular Disease	Irregular eye movements Unstable gait Head tilting to one side Nausea or vomiting (due to dizziness)

Resveratrol for Dogs?

You may have heard about resveratrol and its anti-aging effects on people.
How about giving resveratrol to our aging dogs? Will it be effective? Click here to find out!

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