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Tiny dogs have a longer life expectancy while giant and large breeds are on the other end of the spectrum biologically, aging faster. When you are caring for an aging dog, there are some things you can do to improve or even extend her life

As dogs age, their nutritional needs and dietary preferences may change. Dog food recommended for senior dogs is usually soft, wet, or canned. The wide variety of soft foods on the market makes it easy to find one to fit your senior’s specific needs, as you will see here.

Low-maintenance and low-energy dog breeds may be the answer for some older adults, but not for everyone. You need to adopt the dog you want and can handle safely.

As you see your beloved old dog’s muzzle beginning to gray, it’s natural to consider adding a puppy to the household. You’d love for the next generation to learn from the best, and honestly, you’re thinking it would soften the eventual loss to have another dog already in the family.

I had the opportunity to read a pre-publication proof of WDJ contributor Kathy Callahan’s newest book, co-authored with Helen St. Pierre, and I can’t recommend the book strongly enough. Old Dog, New Dog helps dog owners anticipate the potential pitfalls of bringing a new young dog into a home already inhabited by a senior dog—and adroitly steer around them in order to seamlessly create a joyful, trauma-free blended canine family.

Sundowners syndrome in dogs is officially called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, abbreviated CCD or CDS. It is a degenerative disease that it will steadily get worse over time. Activities, supplements, and medications can help to slow the progression of the disease.

A quietly shocking truth sneaks up on the luckiest dog people, and it’s this: Nothing compares to the companionship of a senior dog.

It can be challenging to tell how old a rescue dog is, especially if not much is known about her history. However, there are some strategies that help narrow down a dog’s approximate age.

Tooth extraction dogs is complicated with teeth having multiple deep roots and recovery can take time, but most dogs are happier after having a problem tooth removed.

A dog’s heat cycle is different from a human “period.” Both involve bleeding, but for a dog, it signals a start to a fertility period whereas in humans it is the opposite.

For 2025, we’ve named the dry dog foods we like best in a number of categories, such as best adult maintenance food, best puppy food, best budget food, best lower-fat food, and more. But keep in mind that the most important selection criteria is not whether a food is one of our favorites, but whether a food works for your dog.

As with so many health problems in our dogs, the prognosis is better if kidney failure is detected early. While kidney disease can’t be reversed, the progress of the disease can be slowed, giving your dog extra lifetime with good quality.