Senior Dog

Like people, dogs are living longer. This is great news! We all treasure the companionship we share with our dogs. We hope to provide them with the longest, happiest lives possible.

How Old is your Dog?

Dog’s Age	Dog’s weight in Pounds
	0-20	21-50	51-90	> 90
5	36	38	40	42
6	40	42	45	49
7	44	47	50	56
8	48	51	55	64
9	52	56	61	71
10	56	60	66	78
11	60	65	72	86
12	64	69	77	93
13	68	74	82	101
14	72	78	88	108
15	76	83	93	115
16	80	87	99	123
17	84	92	104	–
18	88	96	109	–
	Equivalent Human’s Age
Adult	Senior	Super Senior

Caring for your dog means more than treating problems as they arise. Preventive care is the most important component of healthcare in all of the life stages. At seven years most dogs are considered seniors. At this life stage changes in physical condition and behavior inevitably occur.

What signs should I look for in my senior dog?

• Change in water consumption (especially an increase)	• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Change in appetite	• Change in weight
• Lethargy or depression	• Bad breath or difficulty eating
• Change in urine production (especially an increase)	• Lumps or bumps on the skin
• Constipation	• Decreased hearing or vision
• Loss of housetraining	• Stiffness or difficulty rising
• Change in attitude (irritability or confusion)

What can my veterinarian do?

Gresham Animal Hospital recommends a Senior Wellness Program for all dogs over seven years of age. The non-invasive tests in the program help us care for your senior dog in two ways. First, this program can identify possible health problems before they become life-threatening. Early testing and detection of medical problems allows for a more favorable outcome, or prognosis, and more cost-effective options. Second, these tests will provide a baseline with which your veterinarian can measure changes should your dog become ill in the future.

Test	Frequency	Reason
	Senior	Super Senior
Doctor Exam	Every 12 months	Every 6 months	Detect early signs of disease such as periodontal disease, obesity, heart disease, cataracts, arthritis, and cancer
Blood tests	Annually	Every 6 months	Identify liver, kidney, pancreatic and thyroid disease, anemia, and cancer
Urinalysis	Every 12 months	Every 12 months	Identify kidney disease and failure, infections, and diabetes
Blood pressure measurement	Annually	Every 6 months	High blood pressure may lead to strokes, eye, or kidney disease
Tonometry	Annually	Annually	Screening for glaucoma
Baseline X-Rays/ECG	Annually	Annually	Detects heart and lung disease, arrhythmias, enlarged organs, and cancer

The Goal of Senior Care

The goal of senior care is simple. We want to help you maintain the highest quality of life for your dog and thereby enhance the bond that we all share. Together, we can make the senior years the most rewarding years for you and your dog to share with each other.