Every loving dog owner wants their canine companion to live a long, happy life, right to the very end. As our puppies grow up past adulthood and edge into their senior years, it is important to make certain adjustments in caring for them since—like the human elderly—older dogs require more attention in maintaining a physically healthy lifestyle. Each dog ages differently due to various factors, therefore the approach to senior care for your pet will be unique.

Aging Dogs

It is important to determine how old your dog actually is in order to figure out if you should begin to seek senior care. Aging dogs may be considered “seniors” (old) or “geriatrics” (very old) based primarily on weight in relation to age. Size makes a huge difference when it comes to longevity; it is well-known that dogs smaller in size tend to have life-spans exceeding those of larger breeds. Small dogs (twenty pounds or less) are deemed geriatric at age nine; medium dogs (between twenty-one and thirty pounds) at age eight; large dogs (fifty-one to ninety pounds) at age seven; and giant breeds (weighing greater than ninety-one pounds) at age six.

The breed of your canine also determines his life-span. Like humans, what is called the “longevity gene” can come into play regardless of animal size. For instance, collies and boxers tend to have shorter life expectancies than their breed size predicts—it seems that they are missing this “longevity gene”. Another peculiarity is the tendency of mixed-breeds to outlive purebreds thanks to “hybrid vigor”.

Many studies have shown that a pet’s environment—where and how he or she was raised—has much to do with how quickly he or she will age. Particular environmental factors play significant roles in longevity: frequency of veterinarian visits, the amount space outside the dog has to roam in, frequency of walks or other physical activity all affect a dog’s lifespan.