Here are eight common health problems in senior dogs:

Simple health checks you can do with your dog at home

1. Look and feel your dog’s nose. Your dog’s nose may not be cold and wet!
2. Look at your dog’s eyes. The eyes should be bright.
3. Look and smell inside both ears. Learn what is normal for your dog.
4. Teeth and gums.
5. Your dog’s skin.
6. Nails.
7. Your dog’s bottom.

Note: The Pet Health Checker tool is designed to help you understand the level of urgency associated with seeking veterinary attention for your pet’s signs and symptoms. It does not provide diagnosis or treatment advice. Only a veterinarian who knows your pet can diagnose illness or disease.

• Hearing and Vision Loss. Tissue degeneration in the eyes and ears can cause varying degrees of deafness and blindness in older dogs, says The Spruce.
• Joint Problems.
• Dementia.
• Cancer.
• Heart Problems.
• Obesity.
• Gastrointestinal Issues and Incontinence.
• Kidney Issues.

Here are the common canine diseases:

• Rabies — Transmitted by bites from infected animals.
• Distemper — Transmitted by contact with secretions from an infected dog’s nose.
• Parvovirus — Transmitted by exposure to contaminated feces.
• Hepatitis (Adenovirus) — Virus is found in feces and saliva.

Parvo” is a virus that kills many dogs each year in the North Country and around the world. It typically causes vomiting and diarrhea that often contains blood and has a very sour smell to it. The puppy gets very lethargic and dehydrated.

The most commonly reported causes of death were old age (13.8%), unspecified cancer (8.7%) and heart failure (4.9%); with 5.1% of deaths reported as unknown cause. Overall median age at death was 10.33 years (interquartile range: 7.17–12.83 years).

How to Protect Your Pet from Common Causes of Sudden Death

• Heart Disease. “Heart-related diseases are the most common causes of sudden death in pets,” according to Dr.
• Internal Bleeding. Internal bleeding can cause a pet to die suddenly.
• Toxins.
• Heartworms.
• Bloat.

Sadly, few dogs die peacefully in their sleep at home. Most reach a point when their quality of life is unsatisfactory, and a decision for euthanasia has to be made. Living with a chronically ill dog can be emotionally (and financially) draining. Often there is a substantial time commitment involved in care.

But when their time is up, many dogs seem to understand it somehow. Countless stories exist of dogs who let their owners know when they’re entering their final moments. They appear to have some sort of sixth sense, be it supernatural or physiological, that tells them they’re about to die.

Separation anxiety may begin in a pooch that was once okay when their owners had time away. This dog will howl and bark when their pet-parent leaves the home….Signs your dog is heartbroken include:

1. Chewing.
2. Howling.
3. Lack of focus.
4. Whimpering.
5. Licking.
6. Pupils dilated.
7. Sleepiness.

If the pet owner lives alone with the pet they might be moved to a new home. In these cases, the owner should plan for the care of the pet after the owner’s death. The owner’s wishes can either be part of a will or simply included in written instructions left with a trusted friend or family member.

A study from the ASPCA suggests that two-thirds of dogs show symptoms of separation anxiety when their owners have passed away, including whining, loss of appetite and depression. Many stories show dogs’ unwavering loyalty, though not necessarily traditional mourning, for their human owners after they die.