From Puppyhood to Senior Years Caring for Your Lifelong Companion.

Do you remember the first day we brought our little one home? As time passes and our little one grows up and enters their senior years, along with physical changes, their health changes with age too. That's why we need to pay extra attention to them, whether it's their diet or various illnesses. Let's get to know the diseases that can affect senior dogs.

• Cloudy Eyes or Cataracts

As our dogs get older, it's normal for their eyesight to decline. Cataracts cause the eye's lens to become cloudy and white, most commonly seen in dogs 5 years and older. Owners can spot the symptoms themselves, such as bumping into objects, a white haze over the eye's lens, difficulty going up or down stairs, and increased irritability or aggression.

• Kidney Failure in Dogs

This is a particularly concerning disease in senior dogs, since organ function declines with age. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and regulating mineral levels such as potassium and sodium, as well as the body's water balance. Symptoms dogs commonly show include more frequent urination, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, black or bloody stool, and noticeable weight loss.

• Myasthenia Gravis (Muscle Weakness Disease)

This condition occurs when the body produces antibodies that block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from being received properly, preventing the nervous system from signaling the body to function normally. This results in muscle weakness similar to paralysis, making it hard for the dog to move as they want.

• Oral and Dental Disease

Dental health in dogs is something that's unavoidably neglected over time -- plaque and food debris left in the mouth are the main culprits behind oral and dental problems.

• Heart Disease

Heart disease is another very concerning condition for senior dogs. As dogs age, blood circulation decreases, meaning other organs in the body don't receive adequate blood supply. In the worst cases, this can lead to complete organ system failure.

• Blood Parasite Disease

This condition doesn't require old age to develop -- it's caused by infection from various blood parasites, carried by the dreaded tick as the vector for this disease.

Degenerative Joint and Bone Disease -- As dogs age, just like humans, their bones and joints deteriorate with age. Owners can easily spot this through symptoms like loss of balance, unsteady walking, weak legs, and clear signs of leg pain.

• Diabetes

A disease that isn't as sweet as its name suggests -- diabetes is a condition of excess blood sugar, caused by abnormal insulin production. This disease commonly occurs in older animals. If your dog is drinking more water than usual, urinating frequently, or eating a lot but losing weight, these symptoms indicate a risk of diabetes, and you should take your dog to see a veterinarian right away.

There's really only one reason we want to take the best care of them -- because we want them to stay with us for as long as possible. Caring for a senior dog isn't difficult; we just need to handle the various illnesses that come with age well, by bringing your dog in for regular health checkups.