The Home Health Check for Aging Dogs

You can play an important role in keeping your dog healthy and happy as he ages. Giving him routine health checkups at home will help you identify any changes that could signal problems sooner rather than later.

Here are five basic areas that you should examine:

1. Weight check
If your dog is overweight, switch to a dog food that is specially formulated for less active or overweight adult dogs. These foods--such as PEDIGREE® Weight Maintenance Formula for Dogs and PEDIGREE® Lean TRADITIONAL GROUND DINNER®--tend to have fewer calories are low in fat, but are still filling, so your dog feels satisfied. As long as he's not limited physically, try and increase the amount of exercise you give your dog. This will help burn off that extra fat and distract him from excess snacking.

Since many older dogs experience a decrease in their sense of taste and smell, the food that they once loved no longer has the same appeal. They may also be experiencing dental pain that makes chewing hard food painful. Either one of these scenarios could be keeping your dog below a normal weight. Try warming up soft food to bring out its flavor and aroma. If hard kibble is the problem, you can soften it by mixing it with wet food or by adding low-salt beef or chicken broth.

If you notice that your dog has lost weight, visit your vet immediately. It could be a sign of illness or disease.

2. Coat and skin
A dog that is well-groomed has a better chance of keeping away enemies like fleas, dampness, and cold. It's especially important with older dogs, since aging coats and skin aren't always able to take care of themselves like they used to.

Check for the signs of fleas, such as black flakes or specks, at the base of the tail, on the rump, and on the stomach. Fleas can be treated with special spot-on treatments and other medications.

A dull or matted coat may signify that your dog isn't getting the nutrients he needs, or that he may have a disease condition.

In addition to keeping your dog's coat and skin healthy, incorporating a grooming session into your daily routine will help maintain that special bond through physical contact-and when your dog feels loved, it's reflected in his overall sense of well-being.

3. Eyes and ears
People aren't the only ones who have problems with eyesight and hearing when they get older. It's also normal for dogs to experience hearing loss and reduced vision as a result of age. While you really can't do much to prevent it, there are things you can do to ensure the optimum health of your dog's ears and eyes.

Ears: Keep your dog's ears as clean and dry as possible to avoid ear infection. You'll know there's an infection if you notice bad odors or discharge coming from an ear, scratching or rubbing of the ears, or shaking the head. Older dogs don't have the strong immune system they once had, so any indication of infection should be treated right away.

Eyes: With age, some dogs' eyes will start to get cloudy and vision may decrease. While a certain amount of cloudiness is normal, be on the lookout for the whitish appearance of cataracts, which can lead to blindness. You can test your dog's vision by tossing him a treat and seeing if he can catch it. If your dog does have impaired vision, try to leave the furniture in the same place. That way, he won't hurt himself if he stumbles into something that wasn't there yesterday.

4. Teeth and gums
Studies have shown that 85% of dogs over the age of four suffer from dental problems, so you'll want to closely monitor your dog's teeth to prevent discomfort and/or disease. Lift your dog's lips away from his gums, and press a finger firmly over an upper tooth. When taken away, the white color of the finger imprint on the gum should always return to pink.

Be on the lookout for yellow or dark-brown tartar buildup on the teeth, which can lead to periodontal disease, making chewing difficult and painful. If you find tartar, it will need to be removed by your veterinarian. Along with getting your vet to check your dog's teeth on a regular basis, you should be implementing your own brushing routine at home. Specially designed pet toothbrushes and toothpaste are available to help reduce the buildup of harmful plaque.

5. Spot checks
Check for unusual lumps or bumps by placing both hands on top of your dog's head and moving them down under the chin. Next, move your hand behind the front legs, under the shoulders, down the back, over the hips, and down the legs. Inspect your dog's claws and foot pads for cuts or cracks. If you come across anything that seems unusual, report it to your veterinarian immediately.

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