Utility dogs: senior

Utility dogs are a mixed group of mostly non-sporting breeds, many of which were selected for specific purposes outside the sporting and working categories. For an owner today, that variety means looking closely at the individual breed's exercise, coat and day-to-day management needs rather than expecting one utility pattern.

Example breeds in this group: Bulldog, Dalmatian, French Bulldog, Miniature Schnauzer, Poodle (Standard).

Senior utility dogs benefit from regular check-ins, gentle activity and attention to the breed-specific issues already seen earlier in life.

• BSAVA says its Ageing Canine Toolkit checklist covers dental health, mobility, weight changes, behaviour, confusion, quality of life and end-of-life concerns. It recommends working through the checklist at least every 6 months and using it to guide conversations with the veterinary practice.

  Source: The BSAVA PetSavers Ageing Canine Toolkit, BSAVA, 2023

• PDSA says senior dogs should keep exercise regular and gentle, with little-and-often activity because joints get stiffer when they have not been used. It also advises going at the dog's pace, using shorter routes if needed and checking the right exercise level with your vet.

  Source: Exercising your senior dog, PDSA

• UK VetCompass research on Shih Tzus reported periodontal disease, anal sac impaction and ear disorders among the most prevalent fine-level disorders, and highlighted oral hygiene as a healthcare priority for the breed. For an older flat-faced dog, that supports keeping dental checks and ear checks on the routine vet agenda.

  Source: Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, Canine Medicine and Genetics (Dale et al.), 2024

• The Kennel Club says older dogs can become less keen to exercise, more prone to putting on weight and more vulnerable to infections, and that their hearing and eyesight can deteriorate with age. It lists changes such as increased drinking, smelly breath, weight loss, lumps, lethargy and exercise intolerance as signs to raise with a vet.

  Source: Senior dogs, The Kennel Club