10,460 answers about dogs
From a puppy’s first feeding schedule to a senior dog’s comfort care, dog owners ask it all — this page gathers the dog library of KinsLe Answers in one place. Browse by topic below, from feeding and training to health, grooming, safety and travel. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
739 answers in Senior Pets — page 4 of 31
Weigh an elderly Staffordshire Bull Terrier every two to four weeks and check him over by hand once a week, watching especially for the Staffy pattern of gaining fat while losing the heavy muscle that used to define his shape. His short coat makes lumps and skin changes easy to spot, so use the weekly check for skin,…
Weigh an elderly Siberian Husky every two to four weeks and run your hands over her properly once a week, because that dense double coat can hide both weight loss and gain long after the scales would show it. Use the same scales, at the same time of day, and part the coat to feel ribs, spine, and hips rather than…
An elderly Shih Tzu should be weighed once a week and checked over at the same time, because a long, flowing coat can hide both weight change and skin trouble on a small body, and this breed's prominent eyes and short face need regular watching. Weigh before breakfast, part the coat to feel the ribs and skin, check…
An elderly Rottweiler should be weighed every two weeks and checked over once a week, using a scale that can take the full weight honestly, because this heavy breed's joints carry a large load and condition changes can be masked by a broad, muscular frame. Feel past the muscle for rib covering, watch for hind-end…
An elderly Poodle should be weighed every two weeks and checked over once a week, working through the curly coat by hand because clipped curls can hide a thinning frame, matted skin, and lumps alike. Part the coat to feel the ribs, check the long ears and tear-stained eye area, review the teeth, and note appetite and…
An elderly Labrador Retriever should be weighed every two weeks and checked over by hand once a week, because Labradors gain weight readily in old age while sore joints quietly reduce the exercise that once kept them lean. Feel for ribs under the coat, check the ears and the thick tail base, watch rising and stairs,…
An elderly Jack Russell Terrier should be weighed every week and checked over at the same time, because this small, determined breed often hides slowing down behind habit and bounce, and a modest weight change is a large one on a terrier frame. Do the check after a walk when your dog is calmer, feel the ribs and…
An elderly Golden Retriever should be weighed every two weeks and checked over by hand once a week, because this breed gains weight easily in old age and its thick coat can hide both fat and new lumps. Feel the ribs under the coat, run your hands slowly over the whole body for lumps, check the ears, and watch…
An elderly German Shepherd should be weighed every two weeks and checked over by hand once a week, with particular attention to the hind end, where this breed often shows ageing first. Feel for muscle loss over the hips and thighs, watch the rear feet for scuffing or knuckling on a straight walk, and check the dense…
An elderly French Bulldog should be weighed once a week and checked over at the same time, because even a small gain makes breathing harder for a flat-faced breed, and skin folds need regular attention as activity slows. Weigh before breakfast on a scale the dog can stand on fully, check the face folds, ears, tail…
An elderly Doberman should be weighed every two weeks and given a thorough hands-on check once a week, watching condition, gait, and stamina together rather than the number alone. This large, deep-chested breed can lose muscle while the scale barely moves, so feel over the ribs and hips, watch for a wobbly hind gait,…
An elderly Dachshund should be weighed every week and checked over at the same time, because extra weight loads a long spine that is already this breed's vulnerable point, and early back trouble shows in small gait changes first. Support the chest and rear together when lifting onto the scale, feel along the ribs…
An elderly Collie should be weighed every two weeks and checked over by hand once a week, because that heavy double coat can hide both weight loss and muscle loss until they are advanced. Part the coat to feel the ribs and hips, work through the feathering for mats and lumps, and watch the hind gait on a straight…
An elderly Chihuahua should be weighed once a week and given a gentle hands-on check at the same time, because on a dog this small even a few ounces gained or lost is a meaningful share of total body weight. Weigh at the same time of day, before breakfast, and run your hands over the ribs, teeth, eyes, and knees while…
An elderly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should be weighed about once a month and checked over gently once a week, with ears, breathing, and exercise tolerance watched closely. Her long, silky coat hides weight change in both directions, so feel for rib coverage rather than judging by her outline, and weigh on the…
An elderly Bulldog should be weighed about once a month and checked over gently once a week, with breathing, skin folds, and ease of movement at the centre of that check. Extra weight is especially costly for a Bulldog, whose breathing and joints already work hard, yet weighing must stay calm and unhurried so it never…
An elderly Boxer should be weighed every two to four weeks and checked over by hand once a week, paying particular attention to his skin and any lumps. A Boxer's short coat makes lumps easy to feel early if you actually run your hands over him systematically, and his deep chest and athletic build mean weight shifts…
An elderly Border Collie should be weighed about once a month and checked over by hand once a week, with special attention to how she moves after exercise rather than during it. A Border Collie will work through discomfort and look sound while running, so the honest evidence comes later: stiffness on rising, a…
An elderly Beagle benefits from being weighed every two to three weeks and checked over by hand once a week, because this food-obsessed breed gains weight quietly and extra pounds punish ageing joints. Use the same scales before a meal, and keep a written line of figures rather than trusting your eye, since a Beagle's…
For an elderly Australian Shepherd, weigh her every two to four weeks and give her a relaxed hands-on check about once a week, with a slower nose-to-tail look once a month. Weigh at the same time of day, before breakfast, and write the number down, because an active, thick-coated Aussie can lose meaningful weight…
A senior West Highland White Terrier should generally have a vet checkup about every six months, compared with once a year for a healthy younger adult. Westies often carry ongoing skin and ear niggles that can smoulder quietly, so the senior visit is a chance to review itch level, ear health, teeth, weight, and…
A senior Staffordshire Bull Terrier should usually be checked about every six months, twice as often as the once-a-year visit that suits a healthy younger adult. Her solid, muscular build can conceal both weight gain and muscle loss, so regular hands-on checks of body condition, joints, teeth, skin, and any lumps…
A senior Jack Russell Terrier should generally be checked about twice a year, roughly every six months, while a healthy younger adult usually goes once a year. The shorter interval matters because a Jack Russell's energy can mask early change: he may still race around while losing weight under a wiry coat or…
Life gets easier for an older Yorkshire Terrier when everything shrinks to her scale and nothing depends on jumping or being grabbed unexpectedly. Block or ramp the sofa and bed edges she once leapt from, use a harness instead of a collar for walks, offer small frequent meals in a quiet spot, and keep grooming in…
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