Sizes and Changes of Adult Dogs

Small, medium, large, and giant breeds of adult dogs

The range of the weight and sizes between different breeds of dogs is one of the widest in the animal kingdom. There are four distinguished groups of adult dogs. Small-breed weighs less than 10 kg, medium-breed from 10 kg to 25 kg, large-breed from 25 kg to 45 kg, and giant-breed from 45 kg and above.

The range leads to a difference in morphologies, physiologies, metabolism, and behaviors in the different breeds. In dogs, as in humans, maturity is not the same as old age. Advancing years do not automatically make a dog old; rather, the normal changes that occur during middle-age could be called the beginning of old age. While it is true that the aging of a pet is irreversible, and there are many theories about how it occurs, some effects of aging on the behavior, cells, and organic senses appear to be less well described. Some knowledge of these effects will allow the owner to improve the overall care and environment, helping their pet getting old graciously. Adapting your pet’s food is an essential part of this adjustment. It helps reduce the factors that exacerbate the normal aging process.

Senior age begins at different times in different breeds. Small-breed dogs are considered senior at about eight years of age, medium-breed dogs at seven, and large-breeds at six.

The following are changes that could happen once old age has set in:
• Reduce immunity
• Reduce resistance to cold and heat
• Slow demineralization of the skeleton
• Development of arthrose causing pain and leading to less mobility and willingness to exercise
• Increase tartar formation causing gum inflammation and infection leading to tooth loss
• Increase in cases of liver, kidney, and heart problem
• An obvious increase in the frequency of both benign and malignant tumor
• Hair turns gray and skin becomes slack
• Loss of visual acuity and hearing are common
• The sense of smell may diminish
• Becomes apathetic, weaker, or less hardy, which requires food with lower energy.

Progress in veterinary medicine, earlier diagnosis of certain diseases, and improved Veterinary Diets, as well as a better informed Pet Parent, has significantly increased the life span of dogs and cats in recent years. A new branch of veterinary science, Geriatrics, has developed to better respond to the specific aging dog problem. Here are some diseases and abnormal behaviors that could occur to senior pet:
• Heart disease – Senior dogs can suffer from heart failure. Although heart failure is not only related to old age, we see an increase in older animals. This disease causes the dog to run out of breath quickly, have a deep cough, and in their final stages decompensate by accumulating fluids. Diagnosis can be made via auscultation, X-ray, blood pressure measurement, ECG, blood analysis, and Ultrasound. Treatment has improved greatly in recent years and with regular check ups and adjustment of the medication, exercise regime and home care, the dog can still have many quality years with the owner, depending of the stage of the disease when it was diagnosed first. It is therefore important that the owner is aware of the problem as early as possible.
• (Chronic) kidney failure – kidney failure in dogs can be defined as progressive and irreversible loss of the kidneys’ excretory, regulatory, and hormonal function. This disease becomes apparent when more than 70% of the nephrons has been lost. Since the kidney has many functions, including the excretion of metabolic waste in the urine, the clinical symptoms associated with this chronic disease are quite variable ranging from polyuria (Frequent Urination) and polydipsia (drinking a large amount of water), through chronic diarrhea, significant loss of appetite, weightloss and anemia. These visible signs are associated with many changes in the blood, revealed through blood analysis (Urea, Creatinine, Phosphates, Calcium, Cholesterol,) as well as through urinanalysis. Most changes are already detectable prior to being visible, therefore a regular check-up and blood/urinanalysis is highly recommended in order to be able to stop the progress of the disease at the earliest possible moment.
• Tartar and periodontal Disease – As dog age, tartar tends to deposit in their teeth and cause inflammation or infection of the gums, bad breath, and tooth loss (periodontal disease) the consequences of this common disease can be much more serious for dogs since the gateways it creates give pathogens opportunity to enter the circulation and cause heart, liver, and kidney problems.
• Some senior dogs can become hyperaggressive. With no apparent reason, the dog becomes increasingly aggressive, beginning to bite. In seventy-five percent of cases, these dogs become bulimic. The only treatment is by medication, although obedience training and agility exercise can be helpful.
• Involutional depression, the dog gradually loses its skills, is no longer house trained, does not respond to commands, or eats everything within reach. It has difficulty sleeping and sometimes howls for no reason. Currently, medication exist which can be successful in treating this condition.
• Senior dogs can be affected by dysthymia, which causes it to have difficulty judging the relationship between its size and the size of the path it decides to take. A dysthymic dog tends to try to force its way through and may become stuck for hours, growling and whining. Today, only one medication seems to be effective in treating this condition.

Many other diseases increase in frequency as the dog ages. These may include eye and skin problems, as well as the development of both benign and malignant tumors. An owner owes it to his senior dog to take a specific approach to food or daily health care and the treatment of disease requiring regular geriatric veterinary examination. Check out also our blog on Behavioral Symptoms related to Senior Dogs to learn more. Remember that early detection can help our lovely pooch live longer. Prevention is always better than cure.

Contact ABVC at info@abvc.ae or call our clinic at 04 340 8601 for professional senior dog care.

Written by Mark Gutierez