9 year old boxer

Question
I have a 9 year old boxer named Joe, and within the last week his behavior has changed....he is not following me from room to room, and he is sleeping on my bed more than usual...during the day I will be out in the living room and he will be sleeping on my bed.... typically he is always where I am....he is eating, drinking, and going potty...but he does do this swallowing thing and seems to do it more at night...

I am just trying to find out if this is normal for boxers when they start aging of if I should take him in for tests...trips to the vets really stress him out so I was trying to avoid it if possible...

Thank you for any insight you might be able to provide.

Andrea

Answer
9 years old is old for any dog, especially a Boxer.

There will be a multitude of health problems now, just in our own old people.

I don't know is you have stairs or not, but walking and especially getting up from a laying position is painful and difficult.

I would imagine he has arthritis, especially in his hips and knee joints. If you'll notice, he walks different, and possibly limps or favors one leg over the other.

Hip Dysplasia is another issue to consider; and with that, comes arthritis anyway.

Also, the "swallowing thing" is a dry mouth and throat issue from age and foods, and lack of water: in other words, he won't get up to go get a drink when he needs it because it is painful.

I suggest keeping a bowl of fresh water in your bedroom where is is sleeping, which might make it more enticing to get a drink when he needs it and a shorter trip to the water bowl.

Yes, take him to the vet and test his blood for any disorders, test his fecal matter, which if possible, you can collect when he goes outside right before the vet appointment, and bag, and have the vet x-ray his hips and leg joints for arthritis and hip dysplasia.

Any tests the vet can do with help you care for him better in his later years. A comfortable bed at all times, handy near-by water and food, and speaking of food, try giving him wet food once a day for a change, and mix some in his dry once and awhile, and you should give him bone and joint supplements everyday. Ask your vet about pain medication if he does have arthritis, etc.

But, caution: pain meds are symptomatic; they can make him legarthy and can harm his liver eventually. Maybe an alternative med or one with less risks. Talk to your vet.

(you can add whole, plain yogurt (no flavors and store generic okay) to his dry dog food for better digestion and health. They love it.)