7 years old black lab

Question
QUESTION: Since it is so cold outside, he only love to eat, or sleep all day.  He will keep asking for treat, if I don't give it to him, he will go to bed.  Is it normal behavior, or something wrong with him?


ANSWER:
Hi Maria,

You didn't say if your dog seems to be having trouble moving around, or standing up after he's been laying down for a while. You also didn't say if he's eating as usual at his regular feeding times, and drinking water throughout the day.

At seven years old, it's possible your dog is having some joint pain, which would make him not want to move around as much, or he just might be more sensitive to the cold than he was when he was younger. A simple fix would be to see if wearing a dog coat or sweater helps him when he's outside.  If that doesn't seem to help, your dog should be examined by your veterinarian to rule out a joint condition, or another medical problem.

Best of luck,

Patti

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He doesn't have trouble moving around, or standing up.  We still take him out twice every day, and he eats as usual at his regular feeding times.  Since this cold weather came, he is inactive.
Is 7 years old lab considered senior?

Answer

Hi Maria,

Thank you for getting back to me with the additional info. It's good your dog is eating and going outside like usual!

The life span of a dog depends on its size or breed. In general, the larger the breed or size of the dog, the shorter the life span. For a Labrador Retriever, it's average lifespan is 10 - 13 years, and would be considered to be a "senior" from about 7.5 - 10+ years. None of this is cast in stone, there are many 7 year old Labs who don't act anything like a senior dog, it all has to do with the individual dog and his genetics.

Dogs are pretty stoic about showing pain, so you still should have your vet examine your dog to rule out a joint problem. Hip dysplasia is common in the Labrador Retriever breed. Treatment may be as simple as a buffered aspirin on an as-needed basis, or a prescription medication for pain and inflammation may be called for.

Like I said before, a sweater or coat can also be helpful, older dogs need to work harder to regulate body temperature, and just like older people, older dogs can be sensitive to colder temperatures. When it's cold outside, it might be helpful to take your dog out on shorter walks, more frequently than you usually do (to ensure he fully relieves himself).

I hope I've been a help.
-Patti