What to Expect When Your Dog Turns 9

Once you notice white or gray fur on your pup’s sweet face, you know they have officially arrived in their senior years. Just like people, dogs can go gray. Unlike people, they don’t pluck it or dye it. Instead dogs wear their silver coat proudly. The beautiful white and gray fur normally shows up around their eyes and on their muzzle. Along with this pawsome color change, your dog’s coat may thin out or become lackluster. And underneath your dog’s fur, their skin gets thinner. Older doggos also tend to have dry and flaky skin. To restore their coat’s natural shine and reduce dander, add some Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to their diets. Supplements like alpha-linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, and linolenic acid can do wonders for their skin and coat. If there is significant hair loss or lots flaking, take your pooch to the vet. They may have a more serious condition.

After years and years of running, playing, walking, and roughhousing, it’s common for dogs to develop arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. It happens when the cartilage between joints wears down and the bones rub together. If your dog sleeps more than normal, avoids activity, limps, or gets irritated when touched, it’s time to ask your vet about arthritis. Treatment for arthritis is all about pain management and helping your pup become mobile. Medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), steroids, and chondroprotectants are pawsome, but can have long term side effects. Weight management is super impawtant, so is regular exercise. Even though your pal may resist, they need to get up and move. You can take a more holistic approach and try doggy massages, acupuncture, or physical therapy. Work together with your vet to find a treatment plan that will help your beloved pup.

If your doggo seems to have forgotten some of their training, they aren’t hitting a rebellious stage. Instead they may be a victim of old age. Surprisingly, dogs can get forgetful as they grow older. Rather than losing your cool, help them out by regularly reviewing basic commands and introducing new games and tricks. Stimulating games are a puptacular way to get their mind going. Be consistent though. One training session every few weeks won't do them a lot of good.