How old are senior dogs?

Answer 1

It depends on the breed of dog, as well as its health. Smaller breeds mature faster, but age more slowly after reaching maturity. A small dog (such as a toy poodle, terrier, chihuahua, etc.) isn't considered "geriatric" until much later than a larger breed - maybe 10 to 12 years old, and the largest breeds are senior citizens at 5 or 6 years of age. Most vets, though, consider a dog 7 or 8 years or older to be a senior citizen.

Some 'senior' dog foods are basically marketing hype, with little difference between the regular food and the senior food. All young dogs should be fed puppy food as they have very different requirements to adult dogs, but whether or not an older dog is switched to senior food seems to be a matter of the owner's choice as often as the dog's health.

The switch to senior food should be considered carefully and your vet should be involved with this decision. Some dogs become less active as they age and therefore need fewer calories and nutrients. Other dogs need more due to poor digestion. Senior foods that can be bought in supermarkets rarely describe exactly what is in them compared to that brand's regular adult dog food.

If your older dog has specific health problems (such as failing kidneys, Diabetes or poor absorption) it will need a different blend of nutrients to healthy, younger adult dogs that may or may not coincide with senior foods. Senior foods may help older dogs to live happier and healthier lives, but they may also be unneccesary wastes of money. Also, the foods that contain less energy and nutrition may be detrimental to the health of dogs with poor digestion.

The age at which each dog should change food will depend very much on the individual situation.

Answer 2

Veterinarians generally consider a dog in the last third of his normal life expectancy to be "senior." For a dog the size of a Pomeranian, that would be at 10 or 11 years of age. Of course, there are many exceptions to this. If a dog is active and in good shape, he or she may be able to be fed an adult dog food formula and exercised as if he was a younger dog. Some older dogs benefit from more fiber in their diet (just as older people do!), if this is the case supplementing a dog's diet with some high fiber foods such as a couple of baby carrots, green beans, or an apple wedge (no seeds!) may be all that's needed.

Your veterinarian can best advise if you need to switch over to a senior dog food.

Answer 3

The life span of a dog depends on its size or breed. In general, the larger the breed or size of the dog, the shorter the life span. For example, in a study of lifespans, only 13% of giant breed dogs lived to be over 10 years old. Conversely, 38% of small breed dogs live to be over 10 years of age.

Dogs are considered senior in the last 25% of their lives. Here are some examples of when some Dog Breeds are considered to be "senior":

Chihuahua has a lifespan of 15-18 years, and is considered to be senior at 11-13 years of age.

An American Cocker Spaniel has a lifespan of 14-16 years, and is considered to be senior at 10.5- 13 years of age.

A Boxer has a lifespan of 9-11 years, and is considered to be senior at 6.5- 8 years of age.

A German Shepherd has a lifespan of 10-13 years, and is considered to be senior at 7.5 - 10 years of age.

A Great Dane has a lifespan of 9 - 10 years, and is considered to be senior at 6.5 - 7.5 years of age.

Answer 4

5 and older is usually considered "old". Others may say 7 till' the end of your furry friend's life.

Answer 5

Some people say 1 year old and some say 2 years old, I`ve always went with 2 yrs,just call your vet and hr/sh should be able to tell you.

Answer 6

Adult Dog Senior Food