There are a lot of similarities that can be seen between human aging and dog aging. In fact, whether we're talking human or dog, you can almost count upon some things happening as the end of life approaches.
Despite those commonalities though, dogs and humans have significantly different life expectancies. You already knew this. You knew that your dog is not going to live to be 70. And, in fact, the life expectancy between different breeds of dogs is also different. The smaller dogs typically live a little bit longer than medium-sized dogs. And medium-size dogs typically live longer than bigger dogs.
If you're not sure whether your dog is small, medium, or large, you can use a breed calculator. They're usually fairly accurate and give you something to prepare for as your dog approaches the end of her life. These results are based upon the size of your dog and her breed.
A lot of people are under the impression that it is standard to have one dog year is equal to seven human years. One human calendar is seven years of aging in the dog. This is a generalization, but it does not necessarily hold up in reality. Different breeds have different rates at which they age.
Nonetheless, there are some commonalities between human aging and dog aging. As either of them gets older, they will first develop stronger muscles and will also see increased mental development. And as they age, both muscles and mental development begin to fail. And that's the end of the similarities.
While humans are typically not "put to sleep" in spite of the diseases that they may have, dogs may be euthanized if their illnesses get too bad. In fact, more than 60% of dogs are euthanized because of their diseases. That fact means that only about 8% of dogs live longer than 15 years and about 16% -- a sixth -- will die of heart disease or cancer. 64% are euthanized. And this is not always a bad choice. The time comes when we -- the human part of the partnership -- must take the pain of separation in order to spare our beloved companions the pain of physical disease.
There are some things you ought to be watching for in both dogs and humans. Typically, energy levels go down. Your dog may sleep longer and she may be less enthusiastic than she was in her younger years. She may not be as frisky in her age as she was in her youth.
Her skin condition will probably deteriorate. It won't be as bright and shiny. She may eat less. Her vision will probably decrease. You may notice her limb usage being affected -- more limping and less ability to do the things with her legs than she has been able to do in the past.
Older dogs, a lot like older humans, often experience stiffness. Some medications exist to correct some of these ailments for humans and for dogs. There are many more available for humans, and dogs are more likely to suffer. When the suffering becomes a serious problem, you may choose to relieve that suffering by euthanizing your beloved pet.
Dogs and humans have some things in common in spite of the fact that their physiologies are different. You cannot know when the age changes will occur in your pet any more than you can know when they will occur in you. But we have touched here upon some common signs of aging that will alert you to be aware that your dog's life is approaching its end.
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