An Old Golden Retriever used to live to around 16 or 17 years a few decades back, nowadays it’s sadly more likely to lose your dog at 11 or 12 years. Golden Retrievers are therefore considered old from 8 years onwards. Today we’ll share the signs of aging to look out for, and what changes you might need to make to keep your dog happy. We’ll talk about food, ramps, bedding and veterinary checks. And we’ll share vital health information from sore joints to eyesight, hearing and cancer risks.
Watching your dog age is difficult for any owner. Unfortunately, it is an unavoidable part of life. Older dogs have very different care needs from younger dogs. They face many challenges. Like us, they start to have less energy, more aches and pains, and become more vulnerable to diseases and infections. Today we look at the aging process in Golden Retrievers and what to expect, providing information on how to care for your elderly dog.
Contents
- Signs of aging in Golden Retrievers
- Old Golden Retriever care
- Grooming, teeth and dental care
- Exercise and play time
- Sight and hearing problems
- Making changes at home
Do you have an old Golden Retriever? Is your loyal companion starting to slow down? Let’s look further as to how to you can make your pet’s golden years more comfortable.
When is a Golden Retriever Officially Elderly?
Larger dogs age quicker than smaller dogs, so they have a shorter lifespan. A few decades ago, Golden Retrievers lived to approximately 16 to 17 years old. These days, their average lifespan has significantly reduced to between 10 and 12 years. This is believed to be because they are more susceptible to cancer than any other breed.
A Golden Retriever is considered officially old at about 8 to 9 years old, which is the equivalent to 61 to 68 years in humans.
Signs That Your Golden Retriever Is Getting Old
Indications that your dog is aging include:
- Increased fatigue
- Difficulty getting around
- Stiff joints and arthritis
- Cloudy eyes
- Incontinence
- Lumps or other skin issues
- Hearing loss
- Slowing down
- Sight loss
- Gaining weight
- Coat losing condition
- Bad breath
- Drooling
- Greying around the face and muzzle
- Muscle atrophy
- Cognitive dysfunction
Many of these changes are normal in an aging dog. However, be careful not to write them off, as some may be symptoms of a health condition requiring veterinary treatment.
Caring for an Old Golden Retriever
Your elderly Golden Retriever will require certain lifestyle changes as he follows the path into old age. As a caring pet parent, it is up to you enhance your senior dog’s well-being through specialized care, making lifestyle adjustments as necessary.
Veterinary Care
It is advisable that once your dog becomes a senior, you should visit the vet twice a year for a check-up. The veterinarian will carry out a thorough physical examination of your Goldie that includes a dental check, discussing any changes you may have noticed.
Tests include a blood count, urinalysis, fecal flotation and chemistry screening for the kidneys and liver, identifying and treating any health problems. Many diseases are often only seen in older dogs. These include:
- cancer
- diabetes
- arthritis
- heart, liver and kidney diseases
In between your twice-yearly check-ups, stay alert for any changes in your Goldie such as weight loss or gain, loss of appetite, increased thirst, or difficulty moving around.
Grooming an Old Golden Retriever
Older dogs find it hard to groom themselves as their mobility decreases. Brushing your geriatric Goldie promotes a healthy coat and skin as well as acting as a massage, relieving pressure. It also allows you to monitor any unusual lumps or bumps. Make sure you brush gently as skin is more sensitive on an older dog.
Bathing your Golden Retriever keeps them clean and healthy. However, if they have mobility issues, take your pet to a groomer where they won’t have to deal with a bathtub. Trim nails once or twice a month to prevent possible injuries.
Check the toe pads for excess fur as this can cause your Goldie to slip. If you have slippery floors, place rubber matting or use non-slip dog boots or socks if your dog will wear them!
Old Golden Retriever Dental Care
Practicing good dental hygiene is vital, especially with an older Golden Retriever. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly, checking for bad odor, bleeding gums or broken dentures. Give him safe toys to chew. Your vet will check the teeth as part of your Goldie’s regular check-ups.
Exercise
Dogs of all ages need to exercise. Elderly Golden Retrievers are prone to obesity which can lead to more serious medical conditions. Whereas a younger dog can easily walk for 30 to 40 minutes in one go, consider breaking down your Goldie’s walks to two 15 to 20 minute periods of exercise per day.
Observe any changes in your dog such as becoming tired more often, having trouble breathing, or coughing. Swimming is excellent exercise for older Golden Retrievers, especially those with joint conditions or arthritis. Discuss your dog’s exercise program with your vet. She may recommend pain medications or hydrotherapy if walking is painful.
Old Golden Retrievers Have Different Temperature Requirements
Older dogs feel the cold more keenly. During winter, give your old Golden Retriever a coat when you go out walking to keep him warm. In summer, watch that your aging pet doesn’t become overheated. Exercise during the coolest parts of the day.
Playing with an Old Dog
Food puzzle toys are excellent for helping your old Golden Retriever move around and make him work for his food, as well as keeping him stimulated mentally. Modify any games you play with your dog, such as fetch or tug-of-war, so that he doesn’t overexert but still has fun.
Do Old Golden Retrievers Go Deaf?
Loss of hearing is common in older dogs, but many successfully adapt to it by relying on their sense of smell and touch. If your aging Golden Retriever responds well to voice commands, he can also learn hand signals with the correct training, although it is a challenge and requires lots of patience.
When he is outdoors, make sure you keep him on a leash and close to you.
Loss of Sight in Elderly Dogs
If your geriatric Goldie is losing or has lost his sight, keep your furniture, his feed and drinking bowls and his bed in the same familiar places so he doesn’t become disoriented. A fountain style dog bowl is a good idea as it makes a sound, enabling your dog to find it.
Look for anything dangerous around your home that your elderly pet could bump into. Cover sharp corners and any other areas that might cause possible injury.
Make a path using floor mats and rugs made from various textures to help him find his way around. Circular halos are now available for blind dogs, worn on a harness or vest. The halo provides protection and gives confidence to a pet when moving around the home.
Incontinence
Your Golden Retriever may become incontinent as he ages. This is something he cannot help. To avoid a mess around the house, you can use diapers specially made for dogs or disposable puppy pads. Trim any hair in the areas which are likely to be soiled and consult your vet about treatment options.
Golden Retriever Ramps
As he ages, your dog may find it hard to climb up steps and stairs or into the car. Golden Retrievers are big, heavy dogs, so it is difficult to lift them. Invest in some ramps for the home and car to make life easier for your pet.
Bed
Golden Retrievers are susceptible to hip and joint problems and arthritis. It is essential you provide a good quality bed to keep him comfortable in his twilight years. An orthopedic bed with memory foam is an ideal choice for your aging pet.
(paid link) Elevated Feed Bowls
Older dogs, especially those with stiff joints or arthritis, may feel pain when eating or drinking from a regular bowl as they must lean forward and down.
Use elevated bowls for food and water to let your aging Golden Retriever have a more comfortable feeding position. This reduces the stress on his back and forelimbs and encourages him to eat and drink as necessary.
Old Golden Retriever Diet
As your Golden Retriever starts to slow down, their nutritional requirements change. Your elderly Golden Retriever requires a balanced diet that is low in calories due to their declining metabolic rate and lower exercise requirements, but with an adequate amount of protein and fat, and which is high in fiber.
You may continue to give their regular food in smaller quantities, or choose a specially formulated senior dog food. Many good commercial brands contain low amounts of calories and carefully balance the nutritional requirements needed for your old friend.
The addition of glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate is good for the joints. When switching to a different food, introduce it gradually by adding it over a period of seven to ten days to avoid causing your Goldie an upset stomach. Always follow the feeding guidelines.
Many dogs have two meals a day, but it is a good idea to feed your dog smaller amounts more often. Speak to your vet about the right diet for your Golden Retriever, especially if he has other conditions such as obesity or joint issues.
Your Aging Golden Retriever
Just like humans, some Golden Retrievers age quicker than others. Let’s look at how the aging process progresses in Golden Retrievers and what you can expect.
10 year old Golden Retriever
- The equivalent age of a 75-year-old human, a 10-year-old Goldie will have graying around the face and muzzle, and the coat will either be lighter or darker depending on his coloring.
- Although he may still enjoy long walks, he is not as energetic as he once was and may start to sleep more.
11 year old Golden Retriever
- An 11-year-old Goldie is comparable to an 82-year-old human and shows signs of slowing down.
- He will no longer jump around, and stairs will be a challenge due to stiffness in the joints.
- Reduction of exercise is now necessary.
12 year old Golden Retriever
- A 12-year-old Goldie is the equivalent of an 89-year-old human.
- Once a mild-mannered dog, he may become less tolerant when around children and anxious when he is left alone or hears loud noises. Alternately, he may not respond due to vision or hearing loss or the start of dementia.
- The vet will carry out a full range of tests, including for Cushing’s disease and hypothyroidism, during health checks.
13 year old Golden Retriever
- A 13-year-old Goldie is equivalent to a 96-year-old and will now find it painful and difficult to move around.
- He may require medications to help him stay mobile and remain comfortable.
- He will sleep more and take longer to rouse.
- Behavior changes are likely such as barking or growling for no apparent reason which may be due to anxiety or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, which resembles Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
14 year old Golden Retriever
- Now the equivalent of a 103-year-old, a 14-year-old Goldie will sleep most of the time and may become incontinent and less interested in food.
- Watch for signs of excessive panting and reclusive or aggressive behavior which indicate pain.
- He may have digestive issues or kidney problems requiring a diet change as advised by the vet. During health checks, the vet carries out other tests, evaluating the organs and heart.
15 + Golden Retriever
- A 15-year-old Golden Retriever is now the equivalent of a 110-year-old and reaching the end of his life.
- Signs that your dog is dying include extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, incontinence, vomiting, twitching and loss of interest in his surroundings.
Ashley says
I lost my beloved golden retriever, Levi on June 8 of this year. He was healthy, and so loved by many. He had a normal morning, ate his reakfast, then went to cuddle with my friend, then collapsed on top of her and broke into Cluster Seizures, one after another. Learned that day he likely had a brain tumor we had no idea about. Normal one minute and gone 12 hours later. Im still reeling because it was.so sudden. He was 9 1/2 years old. This dog was my constant companion, travel buddy, and always with me day after day. Its worse than losing a relative because their always there 😔 😭💙
Angela DiMare says
Hi I just lost my golden on June 14th he was amazing dog just like a person. He was my child and we took such good care of him. I cry every day cause I can not believe he is gone. I know it will take time for me but he is in my mind 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Thanks for sharing story be well
Angela DiMare
Paul Benoit says
We just lost ours on July 27th, he was fine two weeks ago the. Stopped eating and walking, found out he had a very aggressive form of leukemia, then he was gone!! It’s been the most difficult thing in my life loosing him!! I can’t seem to get by it!!
Jacaranda says
I am so sorry to hear of these sudden losses, they are such a shock and so hard to accept. We also recently lost our 9yr4month Golden very quickly, all was well when suddenly one day she would not eat and started vomiting. She was diagnosed with acute kidney failure the next day and 3 days later had to be euthanised. It still hurts so much!
Gayle Wilson says
I have a 16 yr old boy he eats well and likes to be inside but he barks for no reason sometimes in the middle of night I put him out then he comes in but still keeps barking it’s hard to know what he wants
Aria Noelle says
My 14-year-old Luthien is the last of her siblings. Most of her siblings lived past 10 (I kept in contact with every home they went to). Her mom, who was mine, lived to 13.5, though her dad died of a very rare cancer at just 5. She’s half blind and somewhat deaf, and doesn’t move as well as she used to, and sleeps a lot, but otherwise, she’s still her same ol’ self. She’s never been intolerant with anyone. If anything, she’s aggressively tolerant. No matter what, she insists on being chill. 🙂 While my heart is scared of losing her (a little over two years is the longest we’ve gone without a pet-loss, which comes with the territory of having over half a dozen at any given time because this is a pet-house), I really think there’s a chance she’s got more years in her. As long as she’s not in pain and still has some quality of life left, even if that means sleeping 23 hours a day, then we’re happy she’s here. When pain becomes the #1 thing, then we’ll reevaluate. But for now, she’s plodding along.
In 2019, though, she was doing VERY badly, as in, I was saying we needed to put her down. She was almost 12, and clearly sick, and if we’re honest, life-saving measures in dogs this old tends to be uncomfortable for them just to buy us a few more months, and I won’t do that to a dog for my sake. She’d lost most of her fur, had developed lipomas all over, and was bone-thin and not eating. My husband was adamant about not letting go yet. He couldn’t do it. She was so bad off that, if I showed you a pic and said we did nothing, you’d probably consider it to be abuse, as I did. It led to a lot of fights. I won’t put an animal in this house down without him and our daughter on board. So Lu wasn’t put down. But then it’s like she aged backward. Only one lipoma remains, and her fur is the thickest it’s ever been. She’s eating very well, drinking, etc. It’s honestly the biggest miracle I’ve ever see in in a dog. Even if she was a much younger dog, this kind of turn-around wouldn’t be expected, no matter the level of care. She’s a miracle dog, and we’re hoping for a few more years of her being happy and our precious lump on a log.
Loren Arbaiza says
My almost 16 yr old golden retriever has slowed down. Her health is good. She just got teeth cleaned and removed a little lump she had in her gums. She sleeps most of the day but goes on occasion walks. She mostly plays with my 2 yr old son. Her hearing isn’t great but she still enjoy life.
Melanie Bosch-Reitz says
Sasha left for rainbow bridge on 11.11.19. Will never forget that day. She stopped at the door and looked at me as the vet took her out the back to put the port in her paw. Then she brought Sasha back into the room. I lifted her up on the table. She didn’t want to lie down in the end her front legs slipped and she was lying down. Her tongue was hanging out after she died. It happened so quickly
Meg Austwick says
I’m so sorry for your loss, it sounds like Sasha was an amazing friend.
Melanie Bosch-Reitz says
Sasha was my north south east and west. I miss her everyday. I still cry for her.
Melanie Bosch-Reitz says
Just lost my 15 year old golden retriever Sasha she was the light of my life. I miss her so much. My heart is shattered into a million pieces. But I know she was so ready to go. You have to assess whether your baby still has quality of life.
My vets found a mass in her stomach and said I need to start thinking about letting her go. I took her on the following monday and said goodbye. It’s so hard.
Olivier Boëls says
I have a goldenlab who is almost 16 and has cancer and almost doesn’t walk. One thing I’m so sure, is that most of the food available on the market, is garbage. Most of them are made with transgenic soya and corn flour, which are treated with pesticides. This is why, so many animals feed with this kind of food, get cancer. But for some reasons, nobody talks about this. When my dog was diagnosed with cancer, I had the chance to meet a very different vet who changed radically his diet for organics food and lots of different supplements. As I live in Brazil, we have also easily access to Pau D’Arco, which is the bark of the ipê tree, which is known to be excellent to fight cancer, for both animals and humans. My dog was given few weeks to live and two years later, he is still around, heathy, if it wasn’t for the devastating fact that he can’t almost walk anymore, but he seems to feel, that life is still worthy, and as you suggested, he receives lots, lots of love and care.
Soundarya says
What food u give him can u please tell me
Michele says
I had the same thing happen with my old German Shepherd. She had a good healthy life, but got slow, lost eyesight and became disoriented. She also wanted to sleep closer to me, when she had always been a daddys girl. I was the trainer and caretaker. I woke one morning to a dead dog. I was sad, she had been with us so long. I was also glad that she had a good death. No pain, sudden, she was just very old. I love dogs so much, I got another pretty quickly.
Evelyn Becker says
My 11 year old very large female Golden Retriever (105) pounds, even the paws wear as large as my hands, just died unexpected. She was ok that day before but than after bedtime came to the side of my bed and stayed there almost all night, sleeping. Wen I got up at 8 am in the morning I found hear in the hall way dead. What could have happened to my Sara, I still wonder and now cry missing her badly. I noticed also that during the night she must have gone to the other bedroom and vomited the treat I had given her ad bed time. Are there some answers? She looked dead peaceful, as if a sleep with her eyes half open. Maybe a heard attack?