It is a fact. Our dogs are increasingly managing to reach an age that until a few years ago was quite unthinkable. Improved living conditions, advances in science, proper nutrition and recent discoveries in veterinary medicine have led to a progressive lengthening of dogs' life expectancy, also enhancing their quality of life. It is in this light that prevention and information become essential to ensuring our friend enjoys a long and peaceful old age.

When a dog ages

It is generally considered that an animal ages according to its build, weight, previous illnesses, the activities carried out over the course of its life, and its conformation. A large-breed dog, for example, will age sooner than a toy-breed dog. An individual that has led a healthy life will age more slowly than dogs that have undergone operations or spent their life with major or minor health problems. Sometimes, especially in pedigree dogs, the longevity or otherwise of parents and grandparents also plays a role — just as it does in humans. We can nonetheless do a great deal to try to slow the ageing of our companion: by monitoring their health, the small behavioural changes in daily life, adjusting their diet, paying greater attention to physical hygiene, and understanding the mood swings that a dog may be subject to as they get older.

Nutrition for the older dog

Older dogs tend to put on weight due to reduced movement and a greater appetite. Dogs that are getting on in years eat more slowly, sleep longer and more deeply, see less well, hear less well, drink more and move little. They often have problems with oral hygiene, tartar, gingivitis and hair loss, they go grey, and their skin becomes more fragile. Benign tumours may appear, calluses develop, nails grow more quickly, some individuals suffer from arthritis and painful movement, and they progressively lose muscle tone.

Older dogs should therefore be given physical exercise, though gentler than when they were in their prime, so as not to tire them out. All of this serves above all to keep their spirits up and to stimulate their vitality. Diet should always be monitored and, where necessary, supplemented with glucosamine, fatty acids and vitamins. For this reason, the labels on prepared foods should be read very carefully (various types are available on the market under the "senior" label, designed specifically for older dogs).

"An important symptom to watch for in an older animal is a change in water consumption. Excessive consumption can in fact indicate the onset of certain conditions such as diabetes mellitus, urinary infections, diabetes insipidus, and others," explains Dr Angela Ricci, veterinary surgeon.

Attention should also be paid to the development of malignant tumours: it is always advisable to have skin growths and abnormalities checked. "Arthritis is a very widespread problem in older dogs," Ricci continues, "dogs, especially large breeds, often develop problems with the spine. This makes going up or down stairs, getting in and out of the car, and walking on snow an effort. For precisely this reason, physical exercise in the older dog is fundamental. It keeps muscles strong, improves heart function, aids digestion and balances intestinal function, keeps morale high, and, not least, keeps boredom at bay."

The behaviour of the older dog

An older dog, in addition to the classic health problems, may also experience behavioural problems. Cognitive dysfunction in older dogs is very similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. But — as with humans — it is sometimes not easy to distinguish the boundary between what is physiological and what is pathological. It is obvious that ageing leads to a slowing of psychomotor activities, but this should not entail the loss of acquired social behaviours and established habits.

"Forms of senile dementia initially manifest themselves with memory lapses, loss of habitual behaviours, and disorientation," explains Dr Donatella Lotti, veterinary surgeon, "and it is often a progressive decline in mental faculties generally linked to short-term memory that affects all cortical functions to the point of causing disorientation and difficulty in coordinating."

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It is known with certainty that dogs experience a degeneration of nerve structures that can lead to dysthymia, problems with aggression, and altered sociality. The animal often fails to recognise familiar places, the owner's car, or the home garden. For all of this there is currently no remedy. Some results can be achieved with natural therapies (Bach flowers, for example) and with naturopathy. The older dog should nonetheless be kept moving, encouraged to play, and motivated to engage with life. Motivation is a fundamental part of a dog's life, and depriving an ageing animal of input in this regard could worsen their condition. An individual accustomed from an early age to working — agility dogs, various qualifications, dog shows — should not have the pleasure of work taken away simply because they are getting older. Quite the contrary!

Activities carried out at a pace suited to the animal's physical and mental state help our friend to stay active and young. In summary, the symptoms of degenerative syndrome in the older dog can be outlined as follows:

• confusion, spatial disorientation, poor attention
• altered reactions towards humans and other animals
• increased repetitive motor activity (wandering) and disturbed sleep
• reduced activity and apathy
• anxiety
• disrupted sleep/wake cycle
• problems with memory and learning
• altered appetite
• increased irritability

To help the vet, it would be a good idea to note down all changes in your dog's behaviour, so as to arrive at a swift and accurate diagnosis if needed. An older animal is a wonderful gift that can still give so much, perhaps more than we are able to fully appreciate. And even if their eyes are a little cloudy and they sometimes look at us with a confused expression, they remain, always and without question, our best companion in life.