 As dogs age, their bodies experience many changes, including changes in their senses. Vision, hearing, taste and smell all may deteriorate or diminish to some degree.
Vision changes can occur for several reasons. Nuclear sclerosis is a condition which makes the eye lens appear cloudy and bluish which may make it difficult for your dog to focus on objects close up. Cataracts and glaucoma are other conditions which can be more serious and can even lead to blindness. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following signs or any sudden changes in the appearance of your dog's eyes or his vision: cloudy appearance to the eyes, dilated pupils, glowing appearance to the eyes, red eyes, tripping or knocking into furniture or walls.
Hearing loss is not uncommon in dogs as they age. If your dog is experiencing hearing loss, there are several things that you can do to keep him safe and comfortable, including the following: begin combining hand signals with commands that your dog already knows; take care when waking him as dogs with hearing problems sleep very soundly; and keep him from wandering freely in open areas. If your dog appears oblivious to noise or if he is slow in responding to you, he may have a hearing problem. Also, dogs who experience sudden hearing loss may bark frantically in response.
The senses of taste and smell commonly decrease as dogs age. While this may not seem like too much of a concern, it actually can be as dogs may find their food less appealing and thus lose weight. There are simple things that you can do to make your dog's food more appealing. You can mix in some canned food with his dry food or even warm up his food to improve the aroma. |
