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 The Senior Dane

Like it or not, our youthful bouncing, 'zoomy' dane eventually become a 'senior dane'. It's often difficult to accept that our friend has aged, and we sometimes overlook that fact because we still see those 'zoomy' moments and acts of silliness. Taking the time to observe more closely, we can note those times are increasingly further apart while the quite, resting times are longer, and maybe even observe them eating a little less than they did. Like people, dogs are individual in the way they age. Genetics, nutritional, and environmental factors all play a role in the ageing process. It's encouraging to realize that the average life span of the dane today has increased dramatically in the last 10-20 years, in part due to research leading to better quality foods and the genetic research which allows breeders who care, to be more selective in their breeding stock. To that end; On the basis of your knowledge, you'll be better able to identify and approach health problems in an early stage, when they may be more easily treated.
We all remember the old theory of 1 year of a dogs age equal to 7 human years, however, we now know that isn't the case. Dogs generally age quicker during their early years, with a 2 year old dane being equal to 24 human years of age. Of course the actual weight of a dog has a lot to do with the ageing process. The chart below shows the approximate human years of a dane 100 pounds and over, Red Numbers considered to be senior :: Blue numbers considered to be geriatric

Age of dog Human years
5 42
6 49
7 56
8 64
9 71
10 78
11 86
12 93
13 101
14 108
15 115

One of the first signs of aging is slowing down. It will take your dane a little longer to get up and get started from a lying position, longer to climb stairs (one at a time, rather than two or hoping). Some of the changes are natural, but it's important not to overlook changes that may be symptoms of a condition needing treatment. Never assume that a change in behavior or habits is simply due to old age; it may be due to a treatable condition. Diseases occur in older danes that are not usually seen in younger pups, such as arthritis, diabetes, Cushing's disease, cancer, and kidney, heart, and liver diseases. Blood tests done by your veterinarian will screen for many of these diseases, which is the reason that your veterinarian will do such tests during an annual visit. However, you can also be instrumental in keeping your older dog healthy by doing the things on the list below:

As your dane ages from senior to geriatric, you may see some behavioral changes such as:

Exercise for older danes is as essential as it is to humans. It's profoundly tied to a dog's physical, mental, and emotional health. A sedentary dane is a bored dane, often overweight, and, in general, less-than-optimally-healthy. In older danes, obesity is the most common condition that vets see, and lack of exercise is a critical component of it.
As danes age, they still need their exercise to benefit their heart, lungs, circulation, digestive system, and joints -- as well as to fight obesity. With older danes, you need to adjust the type and duration of the exercise. You really need to be very observant in assessing your particular dane's abilities, natural inclinations, and current state of health. Keep alert to your dane being excessively out of breath, or to a drooping head and tail. If your dane coughs or does not get their breath back after five minutes of rest following exercise, have the vet check the heart. If your dane is over 7 and has not had a check-up to include a geriatric screening in the last six months and has not been exercising regularly, get the check-up before beginning a new exercise program.
Other basics to keep in mind: It's best to exercise your dane at least 1 hour before meals and to wait 1 hour an hour after the meal to begin exercising. Keep your dane out of the sun on a very hot day, it's probably best not to exercise outdoors at all during a hot day. Very cold, wet days are also times when indoor exercise is more appropriate. If your dane has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, check with your vet for recommendations on an exercise program. Usually walking and swimming (If they aren't afraid of the water) are the best activities. For walking, use a leash so that you can control the duration and strenuousness of the exercise. Two shorter walks will be less stressful on aging joints than one long walk. The walks can be brisk, provided the vet has given approval. When swimming, remember that an older dane will tend to become chilled much more quickly than a young dane. Take big towels along, and use them to dry off your dane as soon as they get out of the water.

In home exercise is a good alternative for older danes. Use a carpeted area for playing, and one of your dane's favorite toys. You can play a modified game of fetch in a small area. The idea is to keep them active and moving in a physically non-stressful way. Keep in mind that your dane will do anything to please you. That will mean they may tend to become over exerted in running or playing simply because they thinks that's what you expect. You'll need to judge carefully and adjust the strenuousness and duration of the exercise accordingly.

Grooming a senior dane is not just for looks. The coat and skin are the dane's first line of defense against environmental problems from such enemies as fleas, wetness, and cold. When the coat and skin are in poor condition, your dog becomes susceptible to disease or illness. An older coat and older skin just can't take care of itself like it used to because circulation and muscle tone aren't as good as they when they were younger. You can make up for the decrease in these functions with a grooming routine which includes not only the skin and coat, but also, the ears and nails.

An older dane tends to sleep more, but that doesn't mean they should be left alone more. Their nose still tells them when they have human company, even as they sleep. They still hear your voice or sense your presence through vibrations, even though they looks like their dreaming. Give your older dane the benefit of as much human companionship as they've had throughout their life, maybe even increasing it, if possible. Keep them near you and take them with you when you go places, it will increase their sense of security and involvement with life, which will make their lives last longer.

In general, danes like routine and sameness. Older danes like it even more. To the extent possible, keep your dane's home environment and routines the same. Their water and food bowls should be in the same location and they should be fed and walked at the usual times and in the usual places. Of course, individual danes will vary in their ability to deal with change in their surroundings. Danes with decreased vision will be more stressed if the furniture is changed around. Be alert to signs of stress in your dane that you may have inadvertently caused by a change in home environment.
The hustle and bustle of holidays, people coming and going, and you rushing around to get everything done does not necessarily coincide with your dane's idea of a good time. Try to set aside a period every day during a holiday season to spend quality time with your older dane. Reassure them that, even though things in the house aren't exactly the same, your love and devotion to her are unchanged.
Slippery floors will become a problem as your dane ages. You'll notice that they will begin to have trouble getting up from the bare floor, or walking across a bare floor. Cover the problem areas of the floor with a rubber-backed/non-skid runner or area rug.

We hope this page has some information you'll use as your dane ages. If you would like to contribute to this page with additional information, please Contact Us, and we'll be happy to add it !

Below are a few links to some books pertaining to the older dog, that you might find helpful and enjoy reading:


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