? Aging suddenly - 7.5 years old

JenInIndy · #1 24th April 2012, 12:12 PM

In the past few months, I have noticed Odie seems to be aging rapidly. He seems to have gotten slower in his step and the gray hairs seem to be arriving faster as well.

He had his yearly checkup in February and the vet found him to be in perfect health. Our vet loves him to pieces (used to be a neighbor) and calls him the greatest boxer ever (Odie loves him too).

We adopted Odie from a rescue when he was 9 months old and we know that he had a hard time at the beginning of his life. Since we rescued him, he has been eating high quality grain free food, regular exercise and regular vet care.

Yesterday, he got off the couch and yelped. He limped for the rest of the night. He injured his left front paw getting off the couch. I felt for any obvious injury and he did not yelp at any touch and even checked his nails to make sure he didn't hurt a nail bed. Nothing. The limp is just about gone today.

He also makes more "noise" than he used to. He never barked at anyone coming to our door. Now he announces loudly to anyone coming to the door that he is here. Even if it is a family member coming to the door - it's almost like he is having trouble seeing us, yet can catch a small treat in the air or a frisbee without difficulty.

He still loves to run in the backyard and play, but the sessions are shorter with him taking his frisbee after 5 or 6 throws and going and laying down in the shade.

Thanks for reading all that. So, should I be worried, or this the normal aging issues? (Ok, so I am worried about him) This is the first dog I have had since I was a kid....

x19er · #2 24th April 2012, 02:21 PM

Our Dino is about the same age, has started to go really grey, still loves going his walks but doesn't play as hard in the garden any more. He does tire a bit quicker and even has been known to want to go back into the house! He also is happy to sleep more preferably somewhere warm

He's our third boxer to get to this age and they've all slowed down a bit, although still have that playfulness but not quite as exuberant.

trc4941 · #3 24th April 2012, 02:21 PM

Rocco just turned 9 last week. I have noticed in the last year or so that he has really turned into an old man. He still gets around fine and goes on walks, but he does sleep a lot more and a lot more soundly. When Dino spots a bunny or chipmunk and takes off after it, Rocco just kind of watches and is like "been there done that". All of his color seems to be fading away. I just looked at a pic of him from 5 yrs ago and it was like looking at a different dog. His beautiful black "panda" mask is completely gone and now his fawn coloring is also graying. He is still my sweet, beautiful baby, but it is so sad to see him age.

mymagicfairy · #4 24th April 2012, 02:43 PM

Nina is turning 8 in august
And i notice the same
Max who is 2 seems to agrevate her more
She naps more in the day
And doesnt play as much as she used to
Now playtime is more ...once in a while thing

Sablegirl · #5 24th April 2012, 06:24 PM

Our Sable will be 10 in Nov and she really started slowing down about 2 years ago...She is content to watch the birds and squirrels in the yard; not bothering to try and make them leave or catch them. She is very much vocal when someone comes to door, even family. Once she smells them she is fine but really seems to be more propriatery now. Her once beautiful panda black mask is now a beautiful silver, down her back is silver and she is getting silver down her thighs and legs too.

She gets excited at times but the twists, dances and burns are more mellow and don't last as long. She is gracefully aging and slowing down and we are enjoying every minute we can with her; don't want to think about the fact that she may be enjoying her senior days and that time is going by way to quick.