Why do some dogs stay active in old age, but mine is slowing down?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a good question, and we do not definitively have the answer. The reason why is still unknown, though some suggest that there are several possibilities, including that larger dogs may succumb to age-related illnesses sooner. Also, larger breeds grow from puppies to adults at an accelerated rate, and this may lead to a higher likelihood of abnormal cell growth and death from cancer. I hope this is helpful!

Hello there! The average age of dogs, in general, is 8-12 years. This can vary greatly depending on the dog's breed, size, and medical conditions. Larger breed dogs, for example, tend to have shorter lifespans as their size takes a bigger toll on their bones and joints. Popular purebred dogs, like labs, boxers, and golden retrievers, also have a higher incidence of certain conditions and types of cancers which may shorten their lifespan. There are so many factors that determine how long a dog will live - your vet can give you a better idea of your dog's estimated lifespan as he or she knows Bruno's personal medical history. The oldest dog I've ever encountered was 21 years old, so there's nothing that says a dog can't live a healthy life past 10 years old. I hope this helps! :)

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Don't beat yourself up! You can only do what you can do and most dogs do not have shortened life spans from decreased exercise, stress and mildly cold temperatures. Exercise is a very good thing to provide, maybe you can increase the walks and play time. The biggest health risk for inactivity is obesity and it has been proven that leaner dogs live longer. I would also provide comfortable enclosures and do not keep Joshie out in very cold weather or very hot weather. Any changes you can make, no matter how small, will benefit Joshie. I hope this helps and I wish you both the best!

We can always help our four-legged friends age as gracefully as possible by staying on top of their wellness care. This includes regular visits to the veterinarian for physical exams and blood tests, as well as staying active and healthy at home. Keep your dog at a healthy body weight. Overweight dogs have additional strain placed on their joints, which can exacerbate existing arthritis, and are at a higher risk for developing diabetes or heart disease. Feed your dog a high quality diet and avoid offering too many treats or table foods since these can quickly pack on the pounds. A general guideline is that treats should represent less than 10% of your dog’s total food volume. Routine veterinary care is also critical for picking up on small problems before they become larger concerns. Although age is not a disease, our aging dogs are more prone to developing a variety of health conditions. Once your dog reaches “senior” status, it is recommended to increase the frequency of visits to the veterinarian from once a year to every 6 months. For an average-sized dog, this happens at 7 years of age, but for giant breeds like Great Danes and Newfoundlands, this occurs early, at 5 – 6 years of age. During this time, your veterinarian will be able to perform a full physical exam and routine blood tests to assess overall health of the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, mouth, and joints.

At 3years of age he would generally expected to be more active but every dogs character is different and some are very placid. If his behavior has changed over the last 3 months I strongly recommend a full health check by your vet to rule out medical or painful conditions which may be reducing his mobility

I would definitely recommend some blood work, if this hasn't been done recently. Older dogs are prone to a number of health issues that can cause decreased appetite along with being less active - chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism are two possibilities that are both very common. In many cases, these issues are treatable (at least to some extent) once a diagnosis is made, so it's well worth checking for them if you can - hopefully, there are some things you can do to make him feel better for as long as possible, even though he's getting older.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on the breed and size of the dog to some extent. For a small breed dog it would be like 10 years of age and for a large breed dog it would more like 8-9 years of age. Have a great day!