This document is a non-working example of a set of exploratory questions to help identify changes in a senior dog as they age. To show any additional detailed question supporting text and the allocated response options tap on the question's blue bubble.

A dog nose injury refers to any damage to the sensitive skin on a dog's nose, such as cuts, scrapes, abrasions, or a broken nose, and common causes include
  • collisions with hard objects or other animals
  • fighting or rough play with other dogs
  • an adverse reaction to insect bites or stings, spider bites, animal bites or scratches
  • foreign objects becoming stuck inside the nose
  • damage resulting from rough or dangerous terrain.
The most common causes of nasal skin disease in dogs include
  • bacterial infections
  • red, crusty and scaly skin and hair loss caused by parasitic demodex mites
  • fungal infection of skin, hair, or claws caused by ringworm
  • autoimmune disorders.
Symptoms of nose problems include
  • loss of pigment of the nasal planum, the hairless surface of the external nose
  • hair loss on the snout
  • inflammation of hair follicles
  • skin redness and inflammation
  • lesions, areas of abnormal or damaged tissue caused by injury, infection, or disease
  • crusting or scabbing, with or without lesions
  • excessive skin dryness, cracking, or peeling when the skin's outer layer flakes off
  • small flat areas of colour change that have a visible line around them
  • small pus-filled blisters
  • oozing skin with fluid that may appear bloody, clear, or thick and milky
  • skin ulcers, stubborn deep sores or open wounds on the skin
  • unpleasant odour caused by fungal rhinitis, an infection involving the nose and sinuses, the air spaces within the skull.
Nosebleeds are often caused by trauma or upper respiratory tract infections. A dog with a bloody nose may swallow some blood and this can cause a black stool or vomit that contains blood clots. However, if bleeding persists or the dog is having difficulty breathing then urgent medical attention is recommended.

To what extent has your dog been affected by nose injury or shown any symptoms of a nose condition?


Dog eye injuries includeThere are many conditions that can affect a dog's eyes, and more common ones includeSymptoms of problems with either eye includePrompt medical assistance is recommended for all eye problems to avoid further damage.

To what extent has your dog been affected by injury to either of their eyes or shown any symptoms of an eye condition?


Gradual loss of vision is not always obvious in a dog because of their ability to adapt, but it may become more noticeable as a result of behavioural changes.

Examples includeHow would you rate your dog's current eyesight compared to that of a normal healthy animal?


A dog's ear is divided into three major compartments Common ear problems in dogs includeIf your dog is suffering from a problem with their outer or middle ear they are likely to display any of these symptomsIf your dog is suffering from vestibular disease, a condition that affects the inner ear, they will displayIf both of your dog's ears suddenly become very swollen, red and puffy, and they also develop swelling elsewhere in places such as their face, eyes, nose, or feet, it could signal the beginning of a severe allergic reaction and you should seek urgent medical advice.

To what extent has your dog been affected by injury to either of their ears or shown any symptoms of an ear condition?

Dogs have extremely sensitive hearing and, when it is functioning correctly, they canCommon signs of hearing loss includeHow would you rate your dog's current hearing compared to that of a normal healthy animal?

Dogs will not always display symptoms of oral pain or dental disease so inspection of the mouth area is necessary to establish gum and tooth health.

Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm of bacteria that constantly grows on surfaces within the mouth. Left unchecked it causes tartar, a pale yellow to brown covering on the teeth. The accumulation of dental plaque and tartar can trigger inflammation of the gums, resulting in gum infections, cavities, tooth and bone loss, and other serious oral health complications.

Causes of dental disease includeSymptoms of tooth or gum disease can includeHow would you describe the condition of your dog's teeth and gums?

A dog's teeth should be clean and strong with no cracks or chips. They should be bright white, but they may become paler as the dog moves towards old age.

Extrinsic discolouration is caused when stains accumulate on the outside surface of the tooth. Teeth that are stained yellow or brown are the result of extrinsic discolouration, common causes beingIntrinsic discolouration is caused by an internal health issue with the tooth, normally as a result of impact trauma. Teeth that are entirely pink, purple, grey, or black are the result of intrinsic discolouration.

When a tooth is fractured the tissue inside may become damaged. A pink colour indicates that the pulp is bleeding and blood is seeping into the structure of the tooth from the inside. As the inflamed pulp restricts blood flow within the tooth, the tooth can turn purple, grey, or black. If left untreated it can eventually result in the death of the tooth and infection in the bone leading to an abscess.

Pain linked to intrinsic discolouration can have a profound impact on a dog's behaviour and quality of life, and urgent medical attention is advised.

This question is measured on an increasing scale of concern by colour as you go down the list.

Looking at your dog's individual teeth, what colour is the worst one?

Healthy gums appear as a light bubblegum pink colour, although some dogs have naturally dark gums or spots. The gums should be moist, slippery, and smooth to touch with your finger.

What sort of overall colour would best describe your dog's gums?

This question is concerned specifically with retching and vomiting, as opposed to regurgitation, which occurs when a dog brings up undigested food with no retching or signs of feeling sick. It usually happens as a one-off event a short time after eating as a result of eating too fast, but if it is regular then it can be a sign of something more serious.

Retching is when a dog gags and strains as if going to be sick but then brings very little up. A single retch is no cause for concern, but continuous retching is more serious.

A dog repeatedly dry retching along with excessive drooling, rapid breathing, abdominal pain and a swollen stomach can be a sign of gastric dilatation-volvulus, also known as bloat, where a dog's stomach fills with gas, food or fluid and twists. It is a life-threatening condition that very quickly becomes fatal without immediate medical treatment.

Nausea is the medical term for feeling sick, and signs that your dog is feeling nauseous include

Vomiting happens when your dog shows signs of nausea, abdominal heaving, retches and is sick, so forcefully ejects the contents of the stomach or the upper intestine. It is generally considered more serious than regurgitation.

If your dog unexpectedly vomits once but shows no other signs of distress and continues eating with normal bowel movements, there may be no cause for alarm.

Frequent vomiting can be a sign of a serious condition, and symptoms can includeRegular vomiting is often preceded by a wave of nausea whereas projectile vomiting can come on without warning and is expelled with much more force.

How would you describe the worst episode of your dog showing signs of nauseousness or vomiting?

The gastrointestinal tract, also known as the digestive tract, is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus.

The anus is the opening at the end of the gastrointestinal tract and is where stool leaves the body. The rectum is the end part of the large intestine that connects the colon to the anus. It is directly above the anus and is where stool is held before leaving the body.

The most common problem with a dog's anus concerns the anal glands, two small sacs located on either side of the anus and about the size of a pea, and issues includeSymptoms of a problem with the anal glands includePerineal hernia is a swelling adjacent to the rectum on one or both sides, the contents of which can be can be pushed back into the pelvic cavity. If it is enlarged and the skin covering it is stretched, tight, bluish-reddish and weepy it could be considered a life-threatening emergency.

Strictures are narrowings of the rectum and anus caused by scar tissue or from swellings outside of the digestive tract such as tumours.

Perianal fistula is characterised by chronic and foul-smelling wounds in the tissues surrounding the anus or extending into the rectum or anus.

Perianal tumours are cancerous growths that develop in the tissues surrounding the anus and can spread to other parts of the body.

Rectal polyps or tumours, signs of which can includeRectal prolapse is a condition in which one or more layers of the rectum protrude through the anus, presenting as an elongated, cylinder-shaped mass protruding through the anal opening.

Rectal or anal tears, caused by a dog swallowing a sharp object or from injury such as a bite. Signs includePrompt medical attention is recommended for rectal or anal problems.

To what extent has your dog shown any symptoms of a problem in their anal or rectal region?

Faeces, also known as stool, is the solid or semi-solid waste that passes through the body during a bowel movement.

A dog should evacuate their bowels at least once a day, but the actual frequency may match the number of meals they have eaten, and a healthy dog stool should beProblems to be aware of can includeHow would you describe the overall consistency of your dog's most recent stools?

The colour of your dog's stool is a good indicator of the health of their gastrointestinal system.

The exploratory colour range includesIf a dog becomes poorly very quickly with diarrhoea that looks like strawberry jam and is vomiting, it is a strong indication of the potentially fatal disease hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Urgent medical attention is required.

How would you describe the colour of your dog's most recent stools?

Conditions that can cause an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or quantity of stool includeConditions that can cause discomfort during defecation so change the pattern of bowel movement and urgency to eliminate, includePsychologically, indoor elimination can be related toHow would you describe your dog's ability to control their bowel movements?

It is important to be aware of both the overall volume of water your dog is taking in and whether they are drinking more at each visit to a watering station.

If a dog is drinking an excessive amount of water it can be linked to a number of factors, such asDogs may drink from unusual places. This can be innocent, in the case of drinking bath water or from a hose pipe, but there are risks attached to stagnant water that has been contaminated with animal faeces or urine and can be infected withThe blue-green algae found in some bodies of water during hot temperatures can be also toxic to a dog.

Adipsia, where a dog loses their sense of thirst and stops drinking altogether, will be fatal if allowed to continue.

How would you describe your dog's drinking habits?

The colour of your dog's urine can be an additional indicator of their physical health, and the exploratory colour range includesHow would you best describe the most common colour of your dog's urine?

An inability by a dog to hold the contents of their bladder excludes incomplete house training, unaviodable house training lapses, or communication or marking behaviours.

Diseases or medications that can cause excessive drinking and increased urination includeThere are also conditions that can cause discomfort during urination so change the pattern and urgency to eliminate, such asPsychologically, indoor elimination can be related toHow would you describe your dog's ability to hold their bladder?

The most common cause of skin problems in dogs is fleas and ticks, but as dogs age they can become more susceptible to skin diseases, such asExcessive licking or skin nibbling that is more than grooming can be an indication of underlying pain or psychological disturbances such as boredom, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

To what extent has your dog been affected by a recognisable skin condition?

Developmental joint problems are present in a dog from birth and often rooted in their genetics, and examples includeDegenerative joint issues are most often caused by injuries, stress fractures or osteoarthritis but they are more common in larger dogs whose greater body weight places more stress on the joints. Tissues wear over time from repeated joint use and particularly affected areCranial cruciate ligament issues are the most common degenerative joint condition affecting dogs.

Joint pain in older dogs may be misinterpreted as them slowing down naturally with ageing, but there are many signs that a dog may be in distress, includingTo what extent has your dog suffered from a recognisable joint problem?

Lameness refers to the inability of a dog to properly use one or more of their legs. It is often called a limp if only a single leg is affected.

Acute lameness refers to something that comes on suddenly, and causes can includeChronic lameness describes a condition that has existed for an extended period of time, and causes can includeCommon signs of lameness in dogs includeWeight bearing lameness describes when a dog is reluctant to put weight on a leg or reduces the amount of force they apply through it.

Non-weight bearing lameness occurs when it is impossible for the dog to put any weight on a specific leg. It is a critical situation involving very high levels of pain and requires urgent medical attention.

How would you describe your dog's pattern of lameness when manoeuvring over a solid surface?

A dogs paws provide traction and improved balance, and their cushion-like design provides shock absorption for the limbs as the dog stands or moves.

Behavioural signs of paw injury includePhysical symptoms of paw injury includeHow would you describe the condition of your dog's paws?

Common types of heart disease in dogs includeSymptoms of heart problems includeTo what extent has your dog suffered from any of the recognisable symptoms of impaired heart function?

Healthy normal breathing can be characterised as open-mouthed and relaxed when calm after physical exercise and when the dog is feeling comfortably warm, with signs including The respiratory rate, the number of breaths taken per minute, is best counted when the dog has been at rest or asleep for at least five minutes. Anything over forty breaths per minute is cause for concern.

Common respiratory diseases and conditions that directly affect a dog's lung includeCommon symptoms of respiratory problems includeHow would you describe your dog's normal breathing?

As dogs age they often begin to pant more frequently and more heavily than before, including when resting, and excessive panting can be a sign ofHow would you describe your dog's need to pant when they breath?

Canine cognitive dysfunction, sometimes referred to as “doggy dementia”, is an incurable disease that causes an affected dog to gradually mentally weaken as they approach the end of their life expectancy. It is often compared to Alzheimer's disease in human beings.

Brain cells called neurons send essential messages throughout the body and control everything from breathing, eating and toileting to thinking. As a dog reaches older age the neurons in their brain can slowly and unpreventably stop functioning properly or die off and the brain progressively loses its capacity for storing and processing information.

Potential warning signs associated with cognitive dysfunction are described using the acronym DISHAA

How much has your dog been affected by forgetfulness and behaviour or personality changes?

As they navigate their senior years', assessing your dog's quality of life can be a difficult and potentially upsetting experience.

This set of questions-within-a-question aims to help you make sense of how well they are coping.It is important to be aware that a dog's quality of life may have deteriorated considerably before it becomes unavoidably obvious through behavioural changes such as them stopping eating or drinking.

Being completely candid, how would you rate your dog's quality of life now compared to when they were younger and at their happiest and most capable?

As your dog ages their body weight and condition may begin to change and they may gain or lose weight.

Here is set of descriptions for a dog's weightInexplicable or sudden weight loss or the dog developing a pot-belly are particular cause for concern and urgent medical intervention is recommended to establish the cause.

How would you describe your dog's current body weight?

As your dog ages their body weight and condition may begin to change and they may gain or lose weight.

Here is set of descriptions for a dog's weightInexplicable or sudden weight loss or the dog developing a pot-belly are particular cause for concern and urgent medical intervention is recommended to establish the cause.

How would you describe your dog's current body weight?

As your dog ages their body weight and condition may begin to change and they may gain or lose weight.

Here is set of descriptions for a dog's weightInexplicable or sudden weight loss or the dog developing a pot-belly are particular cause for concern and urgent medical intervention is recommended to establish the cause.

How would you describe your dog's current body weight?

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