How to tell if your dog has entered its 'third age' and urgent changes to make at home

Identifying when a dog enters its senior years is crucial for adapting its care, according to veterinarian María Vetican. She shared practical advice on TikTok, explaining that the aging process isn't uniform and depends heavily on a dog's weight and breed.

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The aging in dogs does not occur uniformly, as it strictly depends on the weight and breed of each specimen.

Vetican detailed that larger breeds typically enter their senior years earlier. For instance, giant breeds may start aging around six years old, while those weighing 25-45 kilograms might begin around seven to eight years. Medium-sized dogs (10-25 kg) generally become seniors between eight and nine years, and smaller dogs (under 10 kg) enter this stage between 10 and 11 years.

Recognizing these signs early enables owners to proactively adjust their pet's diet, increase the frequency of veterinary check-ups, and modify their physical environment. This proactive approach aims to identify potential chronic conditions or degenerative processes, ensuring a better quality of life during the animal's final years. The veterinarian stressed that owners should pay close attention to changes in behavior, mobility, and appetite.

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The main objective is to precociously identify possible chronic pathologies or degenerative processes that affect the dog's health.

For cats, the veterinary consensus places the start of their senior stage around nine to ten years of age, irrespective of breed. Similar to dogs, owners should monitor for shifts in habits and physical condition to provide appropriate care.

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Once these ages are reached, the owner must increase attention to the animal's diet and carry out veterinary check-ups more frequently.