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Like us, a dog's requirements changes as he nears middle age. If you are 50 plus, then you will realise that your dietary requirements are different to when you where in your teens. This is the same for dogs. As a rule of thumb, a dog who is 7 years old is really 50 years old in dog years.

These days, with the higher quality of veterinary care and nutrition available, our pets are living longer which is great. However, the down-side of this is that they are at a higher risk of developing age-related conditions such as arthritis, kidney disease and canine Alzheimer's.

Warning signs of these problems can include bad breath, sleeping more, increased urination and drinking and changes in weight and behaviour. I, for one, can definitely relate to this. Therefore, when your dog reaches 7 years you must look for these signs but it is even better to take precautions.

The best and easiest precaution is switching dog food. This switch should be to a dog food specially formulated for older dogs, which can slow down aging and help prevent the development of age-related diseases.

A 7 plus dog food should contain higher levels of antioxidants, high quality protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and optimum levels of fibre. It should also be enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate to help support healthy joints and cartilage.

Symptoms of age-related diseases are usually only detected when there has been significant damage, so don't wait until you actually notice something wrong with your dog. As an example, kidney disease is one of the most common diseases among older dogs, but the symptoms will only show once 75% of kidney function has been lost.

Therefore, it is of great importance that once your dog reaches 7, you look seriously at his dog food and make the necessary changes to his diet.

Interesting Facts.

1. A dog becomes a 'senior citizen' at about 7 years of age which is equivalent to a 50 year old human.

2. Switching to a dog food specially formulated for older dogs can slow down the development of old-age diseases.

3. Mature dogs run a higher risk of developing diseases like arthritis, kidney disease and canine brain aging
(Alzheimer's).

4. A dog which is well cared for can live between 10 and 15 years.

5. Approximately 40% of pets are seniors.

6. The oldest recorded canine, an Australian Cattle Dog, lived to 29 years. That's about 203. Unreal!!

REMEMBER - Prevention is better than cure. Don't wait until it is too late. When your dog reaches 7 review his dog food and make sure you switch to a 'senior' dog food.

In closing, if you notice any changes in your dog or discomfort, PLEASE immediately seek veterinary advice. If you follow these few simple points, then you and your best friend will share many wonderful years together.