It is considered that one year of life of a dog is equivalent to 5 years in human chronology, and, so and there live our canine friends 5 times smaller. Life expectancy of a dog, her health throughout this life and a physical state depend not only on breed, but also on those subjective conditions in which the dog contains. But there are also objective criteria of approach of a dog old age.
Breed and age of dogs
Of course, her size, and, so breed remains the main criterion defining life expectancy of a dog. Dogs of small breeds on average almost for 5 years live longer, than such giants as mastiffs and mastiffs. Respectively, the lap dog in 12-14 years still "will be young and good herself" while the boxer or a hound will already grow old.
The first signs of the coming old age at dogs are shown already at "middle age" which for big dogs is 5 years, for just large breeds – 7 years, for breeds of the average sizes – 8-9 years, and for kids – 9-10 years. This period is especially dangerous that any serious disease can just be not noticed, having taken it for one of symptoms of the coming old age. Loss of weight, small appetite, the increased thirst, frequent desires to urination, the complicated breath, chronic diarrhea or vomiting, a putrefactive smell from a mouth or the inflamed gums can indicate problems with health. Painful manifestations should be distinguished from signs of aging.
The healthy nutrition and active lifestyle at young and middle age can prolong life of a dog. In old age it needs to correct a diet to exclude the obesity connected with delay of a metabolism.
Signs of approach of an old age at dogs
Decrease in her activity and muscular tone in a neck and a trunk become the first symptoms of aging of a dog. The animal can lose a little in weight, his skin droops, muscles do not support a stomach any more and it sags, as well as the ridge in a back. Joints of forepaws are slightly developed outside, there is a tremor of muscles, the sight begins to fall, hearing is lost. The old dog, as a rule, has problems with teeth and gums.
With age at dogs the activity of sebaceous glands decreases, their skin becomes dry, there can be dandruff, wool grows dull, gathers in koltuna and begins to drop out, some breeds on a muzzle have a gray hair. Pillows on paws of old dogs are thickened and lose the elasticity, can begin to burst, causing lameness. An animal any more not such flexible as in youth, it becomes difficult for it to be bent and carry out hygienic procedures in an anus and a groin. Heat exchange is broken therefore old dogs transfer a heat worse.
Try to protect an old dog from stresses, to pay her more attention and to provide due care, exclude the strengthened physical and emotional activities.
The behavior of a dog also changes – she becomes quieter and less curious. If aging of an organism is followed by any diseases, the character at her can also exchange – the dog becomes irritable and can even begin to bite if careless touches hurt it.