Continued from last week
After having spent some time last week discussing canine chronology and positing that the ‘7 human years = 1 dog year’ opinion should not be taken as gospel, let us now have a more serious look at the physical and psychological (behavioural) changes in the elderly dog as well as those things that influence his wellbeing and longevity. Before we go any further allow me to make some general remarks.
Clearly, before any medical symptoms become apparent, behavioural changes can serve as important indicators that something is changing in an older pet, which may be due to medical or other reasons.
As your pet’s owner, you serve a critical role in detecting early signs of disease, because you interact and care for your pet on a daily basis and are familiar with your pet’s behaviour and routines. If your pet is showing any change in behaviour or other warning signs of disease, contact your veterinarian and provide him/her with a list of the changes you have observed in your pet. Sometimes, the changes may seem contradictory – such as an older pet that
