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Aging Pups: When is a Dog Considered a Senior?

Oct 05, 2022
dog playing with toy outside

While your aging pup will always be your baby, eventually your faithful companion will become a senior dog. If you think time flies quickly, it’s even more so with your dog because of shorter lifespans. Universally it is understood that one year of a human’s life is equivalent to seven dog years. Assuming that is true, your 5 year old pup is actually a 35 year old dog. This leaves you with the question: When is a dog considered a senior? 

Understanding Dog Years Compared to Human Years 

To state that one year of human life is equal to 7 dog years is an oversimplification when determining at what age is a dog considered a senior. Factors such as the size and breed of your pup will affect how quickly your pal becomes a senior dog. Small breeds have longer life spans than larger breeds. Different breeds have different life spans as well. Even though Great Danes and Bulldogs are both large breeds, Great Danes tend to outlive Bulldogs. Further complicating the determination of dog years compared to human years is the fact that dogs develop faster before they turn two. During the first two years of a dog’s life, the acceleration of dog years is more like 10.5 compared to ours. 

At What Age is a Dog Considered a Senior?

Knowing at what age a dog is considered a senior is important so you can give the care that leads to the best quality of life for your faithful companion. With knowledge and observation, you will be able to determine when senior dog care is appropriate. 

Small Dogs 

A small dog, (less than 20 Lbs.) will reach the age of maturity quicker than larger dogs; small dogs are considered adults around 6 – 8 months old. Small dogs speed up to adulthood and then afterward age slower than larger breeds. As a general rule, a small dog is considered a senior dog around 12 years old; but that’s not a hard-fast rule. Even within the small dog category, one needs to consider the breed as well. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed with a shorter lifespan and is considered a senior dog around 8 years old. 

Large Dogs

Typical large dog breeds will become senior dogs around the age of 8 – 9 years with a lifespan of around 12 years old. Here again the type of breed your large dog is will determine when a dog is considered a senior. A Mastiff has a shorter lifespan (6-8 years) than most other large breeds, so they are considered a senior dog at 4-5 years of age. 

Signs Your Dog is Aging

Knowing that small dogs live longer than larger dogs and different breed’s age differently is helpful to determine when a dog is getting old. Knowing the signs your dog is aging is also essential to know at what age is a dog considered a senior. Look for these signs to know if your dog is getting old: 


  • Does your dog appear to be suffering from stiff joints- especially in the morning? 
  • Are your dog’s movements slower than they used to be? 
  • Is his or her muzzle turning gray? 
  • Is your dog less patient around other younger pups in the house? 
  • Does your dog have hair or tooth loss? 


Sadly, you may also see signs of doggie dementia. Signs of cognitive dysfunction include loss of smell, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and night-time activity. 

Taking Care of Senior Dogs 

Regular veterinary care will make all the difference for taking care of your senior dog. Your veterinarian will guide you to the proper nutrition, exercise programs, and mental stimulation activities to give your senior dog the best quality of life for as long as possible.   

Visit Your Local Veterinarian

The first step in taking care of your senior dog is to visit your local vet. Veterinary dog care is even more important for your senior dog because s/he will be more prone to disease, cancer and osteoarthritis. Health issues can accelerate more quickly in a senior dog so it’s important to have a physical exam at least once a year. Prevention and early treatment will give your senior dog the best quality of life. 

Update Your Dogs Nutrition Plan 

Senior dogs can easily gain weight as they age and slow down. Arthritic dogs with extra weight will experience more pain and will stop their activity even more. Check with your veterinarian about your dog’s ideal weight and follow their instructions for nutritional guidance. 

Physical & Mental Exercise 

Even though your senior dog is slowing down, they will still need exercise to keep their bodies as mobile as possible. Your veterinarian can recommend a good exercise plan. Introduce the exercises to your pooch and see which one they like best – let them show you the way. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks and training will be good mental exercise for your pooch. You can also introduce puzzle feeders that when figured out will reward your senior dog with a treat. 

If You Have a Senior Dog in Lee’s Summit, Visit Chipman Road Animal Clinic

If you live in Lee’s Summit and have concerns about your senior dog, give us a visit at Chipman Road Animal Clinic. No appointment is necessary, just walk in and we‘ll be happy to visit with you. We know how much your dog means to you and will offer the best plan for taking care of your senior dog.

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