Is my dog getting old?

Daledge

So I've a labrador pointer cross-breed who's about 8 years old. We've had him since he was a puppy and I was about 12 so basically as long can remember (give or take) and he's always been full of life and never shown any signs of aging, not that I'd know how to spot them anyway.

Now this may sound ridiculous to some but bear with me. Any time I'm making toast for myself no matter where I am the dog can hear it and comes because he knows I'll give him some. It's become like a tradition as he only comes when I make toast.

I usually throw a piece and he'd catch it in his mouth no problem, but recently I've noticed he just doesn't try. He'll still come out for the toast and he eats every bit of it, but he either lets it hit him in the face or moves away as if he's afraid (but he'll come back to eat it). It's like he just doesn't have the reflexes anymore, yet he's youthful and full of life in every other aspect.

I appreciate how ridiculous this post sounds but I have to ask, should I be worried?

(Edit: The life expectancy of this breed is 10-15 years according to Google so he should have a few more years)

VonVix

You know your dog better than anyone else, you will be the first to see any changes, big or small. There is no harm in getting him a check up at the vets to see if things are in working order with him. Nothing ridiculous about this post at all.

cocker5

Daledge wrote: »

So I've a labrador pointer cross-breed who's about 8 years old. We've had him since he was a puppy and I was about 12 so basically as long can remember (give or take) and he's always been full of life and never shown any signs of aging, not that I'd know how to spot them anyway.

Now this may sound ridiculous to some but bear with me. Any time I'm making toast for myself no matter where I am the dog can hear it and comes because he knows I'll give him some. It's become like a tradition as he only comes when I make toast.

I usually throw a piece and he'd catch it in his mouth no problem, but recently I've noticed he just doesn't try. He'll still come out for the toast and he eats every bit of it, but he either lets it hit him in the face or moves away as if he's afraid (but he'll come back to eat it). It's like he just doesn't have the reflexes anymore, yet he's youthful and full of life in every other aspect.

I appreciate how ridiculous this post sounds but I have to ask, should I be worried?

(Edit: The life expectancy of this breed is 10-15 years according to Google so he should have a few more years)

Yes you can notice some changes at 8, I did with my cocker , nothing too bad but yes small changes.

How are his joints in general? How is getting out of his bed? Jumping etc? His joints may be causing him some pain.. discomfort.

How are his eyes? Clear ? A little cloudy? His eyes may be getting a little older too.

Op as per the previous poster you know ur dog best! Any changes is worth a trip to the vet for further investigation ðŸ˜

maggiepip

You don't sound ridiculous at all, because any change in a dogs normal behaviour can mean a problem. My first thought is his eyesight.
My elderly dogs eyesight (15) has been slowly deteriorating for years, he hides it well and manages well. But if you toss a piece of food at him he can have obvious difficulty. It might be an idea to have him checked over with your vet.

pilly

My first thought was also eyesight OP, my springer was almost completely blind and the kids used to laugh at me throwing food for her cause he didn't get it until it was on the floor. He found it by smell.

Ms Doubtfire1

same here. definitely eyesight.
The most common eye disease in Labradors is a late-onset form of progressive retinal atrophy known as rod-cone degeneration...you can basically have a pre check yourself by shining a light into the eye - if it's greenish - milky or cloudy there's a problem. But also see the vet.

pilly

By the way OP, it's not a disaster if he is losing his sight, they adapt so quickly because they use their sense of smell to get around.

TerrorFirmer

pilly wrote: »

By the way OP, it's not a disaster if he is losing his sight, they adapt so quickly because they use their sense of smell to get around.

Yes, I have one 15 year old dog who went 90% blind, she still sees shadows but little else - she's also 80% deaf so when she first lost her sight she was so miserable that we thought it was the end, but after a few weeks she adjusted very well and she's now pretty happy and enjoys life again.

The other one is also 15 and though his eyesight is still relatively OK, like what you've described he can't catch or even see things being tossed to him anymore and hasn't been able to for a while.

It's really nothing to worry about most likely, just a slight degeneration in vision. I mean if you look at us humans, virtually everyone needs glasses of some description as they get older....dogs don't have that luxury!

TerrorFirmer

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

It's really nothing to worry about most likely, just a slight degeneration in vision. I mean if you look at us humans, virtually everyone needs glasses of some description as they get older....dogs don't have that luxury!

http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/finally-super-hip-affordable-prescription-eyeglasses-for-dogs

I particularly like the monocle

crossmolinalad

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

same here. definitely eyesight.
The most common eye disease in Labradors is a late-onset form of progressive retinal atrophy known as rod-cone degeneration...you can basically have a pre check yourself by shining a light into the eye - if it's greenish - milky or cloudy there's a problem. But also see the vet.

greenish?? Thought it would be normal
my old dog had greenish eyes now I have a new labrador dog a year old and just looked in her eyes they are green also
do I have to be worried now???

Ms Doubtfire1

crossmolinalad wrote: »

greenish?? Thought it would be normal
my old dog had greenish eyes now I have a new labrador dog a year old and just looked in her eyes they are green also
do I have to be worried now???

Greenish-milky. look at the picture