Dog Health and Dog Trivia

With the onset of old age, animals can suffer from the same aches and pains as humans and it is up to us, their watchful companions, to ensure their continued health and happiness. The old dog - like the old human - will slow down. His bodily functions are likely to be less efficient than they were when he was a puppy.

Like us humans, the elderly dog may begin to suffer from impaired sight, hearing, taste and smell. Although he should still enjoy his daily walk, he won't be as energetic as he used to be. It is important that he is encouraged to get out and about and not overeat because the fat dog is likely to suffer from a variety of conditions affecting his heart, his lungs and other organs. Fat dogs are particularly prone to diabetes, which can be a very unpleasant condition because of its numerous complications.

How to tell if a dog is feeling his age? He'll have less energy, his joints may be stiff, his muzzle will start going grey, he may develop fatty lumps on his body (these should always be checked out by a vet). He may sleep a lot by day and prowl around the house at night... unable to find a comfortable spot to settle and possibly confused in the darkness.

On the whole, small dogs live longer than large dogs, but it's not set in stone.

Trawling through an alphabet list of dog breeds is fascinating. The list provides answers to all those odd questions as well as much information of the type quiz enthusiasts will love, for example regarding dogs in The White House.

George Washington (1789 – 1797) had 10 dogs, Theodore Roosevelt (1901 – 1909) had five, Calvin Coolidge (1923 – 1929) had at least 12, Herbert Hoover (1929 -1933) had nine and Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933 -1945) had seven.

Laddie, the Airedale belonging to Warren Harding (1921 – 1923) had his own chair to sit on at cabinet meetings) and Pete, the bull terrier pet of Theodore Roosevelt (1901 – 1909) ripped off the French ambassador's pants during a White House function.