You are here:
Ask the Veterinarian/my dog Tex
Advertisement
Question
My dog Tex i think he is getting old. He does not want to do lots of activities anymore. How can i tell if is is really getting old? Also,how many years it is until a dog turns a year old
Well that all depends on the breed of dog Julie. Great Danes and Rottweilers are old at 5 but a chihuahua is not really old until they are around 9. The veterinary profession however, classifies smaller dogs as seniors at the age of 7, large breed dogs at the age of 5.
There are more reasons why a dog might not want to do things anymore.
Heartworm disease, heart disease, arthritis, hip pain, all over joint pain and things such as that might make him feel bad and not want to do things.
You should get him to a vet and have him be given a good examination and some blood work. The vet can determine why he is sitting out on the fun.
My dog is 13 and wants to go go go all the time. Rarely does she want to lie around and do nothing. So you dog, no matter the age, isn't feeling well if he isn't active.
Get him to the vets and find out what is going on.
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Jana Connell RVT, CVT
Expertise
PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!
Experience
I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina.
I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.
Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT.
Certified Veterinary Dental Technician
Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).
Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.