Keep your ageing dog comfortable

Provide your dog with a warm, draught-free and quiet place to rest. Older dogs tend to sleep more and need a quiet area away from the noise, children, and other pets to rest. 

Older dogs can start to lose bowel and bladder control, for example, due to kidney disease or cognitive dysfunction. Bedding should be easily washable if they develop incontinence. By providing soft bedding, such as a memory foam dog bed, this will prevent sores from forming on your dog’s elbows and hocks.

If your dog doesn’t get up to greet guests as much, please leave them undisturbed in their bed to rest. 

Groom your senior dog regularly 

Elderly dogs may not groom themselves as well or as much as they used to, so daily grooming is important to keep your dog’s skin and coat in good condition. Regular grooming will aid blood circulation and give you the opportunity to check for any lumps or irregularities. If you do find any lumps, monitor them for any changes in shape or size. Veterinary health checks or treatment may be required.

Take care of your senior dog’s oral health 

Dental care and regular oral health checks are important as your dog gets older to keep their mouth and teeth comfortable and healthy. Possible signs of dental disease or health issues are:

• Excessive salivation
• Foul-smelling breath
• Difficulty eating
• Pawing at the mouth

If you do see any of these signs, book an appointment with your vet to examine your dog's mouth. Your vet will recommend any required treatment and the best ways to look after your dog's teeth. 

Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth helps promote good dental health. You can also provide your dog with dental chews or specialised toys that are designed to clean your dog’s teeth and help dogs prevent plaque build-up. Some brands of dental chews may be very high in calories and others may be too hard and lead to tooth breakage, so be careful which brand of dental chews you choose.

On a day-to-day basis feeding your dog only dried food can also help. There are some prescription foods designed specifically to clean your dog's teeth, which your vet can advise you on.

Veterinary care and health checks for older dogs

It’s likely that your more senior dog will need to see the vet more frequently to monitor your dog’s health. We recommend that dogs over the age of nine need regular check-ups with your vet who can give advice on senior dog care. Guide Dogs receive three monthly checks after nine years old. Don’t hesitate to speak to your vet if you have any concerns about your pet’s health in between regular appointments, for example if they experience any sudden weight loss. 

When does a guide dog retire? 

You should carefully consider what is best for your guide dog ahead of their retirement. While many guide dogs retire between ten and eleven years old, this is very much dependent on the dog’s needs and individual health and wellbeing. We’ll always make sure the decision is in the best interest of your dog.

The main issue to consider is that ageing dogs need extra care and attention and can develop new health problems. You will need to think about what will be manageable for you, especially if you have a new working and younger dog in your home.

Remember, keeping a retired dog is not necessarily the best decision for everyone or every dog. There is no right or wrong way. If the right decision for you and your dog is to allow them to go into a new home, rest assured we’ll support you through the process and make sure your dog is rehomed to a suitable, comfortable, and loving place.