Five Signs of Ill Health in Older Dogs: Changes You Should Not Ignore

Updated August 2026

Older dogs change.

They may walk a little more slowly, sleep for longer or prefer a gentle sniff around the local park to the energetic walks they enjoyed when they were younger.

But getting older does not make every change normal.

Weight loss, increased thirst, reduced appetite, difficulty exercising and new lumps can all have many possible causes. Some are relatively straightforward. Others need prompt investigation.

The important thing is to notice what has changed and speak to your vet rather than trying to diagnose the cause yourself.

This guide covers five changes I think every owner of an older dog should watch for.

Five signs to watch for in an older dog

• Slowing down, stiffness or reduced exercise tolerance should not automatically be blamed on age.
• Unexplained weight loss or significant weight gain deserves investigation.
• Drinking or urinating noticeably more can be associated with several medical conditions.
• Changes in appetite or difficulty eating may be caused by dental pain or wider illness.
• New or changing lumps should be examined by your vet rather than diagnosed by appearance alone.
• Changes are often easier to recognise when you know what is normal for your own dog.

Why noticing changes in senior dogs matters

One of the difficult things about caring for an older dog is that many health changes happen slowly.

You see your dog every day.

A slightly shorter walk this week may become a slightly shorter walk next month. Gradual weight loss can be difficult to see. Sleeping a little more can slowly become sleeping for most of the day.

That makes it easy to think:

“They’re just getting old.”

Sometimes they are simply ageing.

Sometimes there is more going on.

The BSAVA PetSavers Ageing Canine Toolkit was developed specifically to help owners distinguish changes associated with ageing from signs that should be discussed with a veterinary professional.

BSAVA recommends regularly monitoring your older dog and comparing changes over time.

That is a very sensible habit.

These are signs, not diagnoses

This distinction matters.

Drinking more does not mean your dog definitely has kidney disease.

Walking slowly does not automatically mean arthritis.

Losing weight does not automatically mean cancer.

A lump does not automatically mean cancer either.

Many different conditions can produce similar outward signs.

The purpose of noticing these changes is to give your vet useful information so they can decide whether examination or testing is needed.

1. Your older dog is slowing down

Slowing down is probably one of the easiest changes to dismiss as ageing.

Your dog may:

• walk more slowly
• stop more frequently
• turn towards home earlier
• hesitate before climbing stairs
• struggle getting up
• avoid jumping
• take longer to settle
• become tired much more quickly
• appear stiff after sleeping

Sometimes a dog simply needs their exercise adjusted.

But a meaningful change in mobility or exercise tolerance can also be associated with pain or illness.

The Blue Cross guide to caring for older dogs advises that slowing down can occur with age, but changes in behaviour and mobility can also indicate pain or illness.

Watch the beginning of the walk

Notice whether your dog is enthusiastic about leaving home.

Are they moving comfortably?

Do they hesitate before the walk even begins?

Watch them during the walk

Look for:

• falling behind
• repeated stopping
• sitting down
• turning towards home
• difficulty with kerbs
• heavy panting
• limping
• scuffing a paw

Watch them afterwards

This is just as important.

A dog may appear perfectly willing to continue while outside but become stiff later.

Look at how your dog moves:

• when they return
• later that evening
• after sleeping
• the following morning

If the same walk now regularly leaves your dog uncomfortable afterwards, something has changed.

Could it be arthritis?

Possibly.

Arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems are common in ageing dogs, but you cannot diagnose arthritis simply because your dog has slowed down.

Signs of discomfort can include:

• stiffness
• difficulty standing
• reluctance to climb stairs
• avoiding jumping
• reduced walking speed
• difficulty settling
• behavioural changes

My guide to helping your pet when movement causes pain looks more closely at the relationship between movement, pain and behaviour.

If your dog’s movement has changed, ask your vet to assess them.

Reduced stamina can have causes other than painful joints

A dog may slow down because moving hurts.

They may also slow down because they are finding exercise physically more demanding for another reason.

For example, changes involving the heart, lungs, hormones or other parts of the body can affect energy and exercise tolerance.

Do not try to work out which condition is responsible from a list of symptoms online.

Tell your vet:

• what has changed
• when you first noticed it
• how quickly it developed
• how much exercise your dog manages
• whether they cough
• whether breathing has changed
• how they recover afterwards

A short video of your dog walking normally at home can sometimes be useful too.

When slowing down deserves prompt veterinary advice

Contact your veterinary practice if your dog develops:

• sudden reluctance to walk
• persistent limping
• difficulty standing
• repeated falling
• obvious pain
• markedly reduced stamina
• coughing during or after exercise
• breathing difficulties
• collapse

Breathing difficulty or collapse requires more urgent veterinary assessment.

For broader emergency guidance, see my Dog Health and First Aid Guide.

2. Your dog is losing or gaining weight unexpectedly

Weight changes are particularly easy to miss when you see your dog every day.

A photograph from six months ago can sometimes make a gradual change surprisingly obvious.

Unexplained weight loss

If your dog is losing weight without an intentional change to their diet or exercise, tell your vet.

Weight loss can have many possible causes.

Your vet may want to consider your dog’s:

• appetite
• thirst
• digestion
• dental health
• muscle condition
• medication
• underlying health conditions

Do not simply feed significantly more food until you know why the weight is changing.

Look at muscle as well as weight

Body weight does not tell the entire story.

An older dog can lose muscle while gaining body fat.

That means the number on the scales may barely change while the dog’s body composition does.

Look at:

• thighs
• shoulders
• spine
• hips
• overall strength

Has your dog become noticeably thinner through the hindquarters?

Does their harness fit differently?

Are they struggling with movements that require strength?

Tell your veterinary team.

Weight gain matters too

Some older dogs exercise less but continue eating the same amount.

Gradual weight gain can follow.

Additional weight can then make movement more difficult, particularly for a dog already experiencing joint problems.

But unexplained weight gain should not automatically be treated by cutting food dramatically.

Changes in metabolism and some medical conditions can also affect weight.

Start with your dog’s overall health rather than assuming the solution is simply fewer biscuits.

My rebuilt Senior Dog Nutrition Guide explains how to monitor weight, muscle condition, portions, treats and appetite in more detail.

Weigh your senior dog regularly

You do not need to become obsessed with the scales.

The aim is to establish a pattern.

Depending on your dog’s health and veterinary advice, periodic weighing can help you notice changes much earlier.

Record the result.

If the number is moving consistently in one direction without an obvious explanation, speak to your veterinary team.

3. Your dog is drinking or urinating more

This is an important change to notice.

You may find yourself:

• filling the water bowl more frequently
• seeing your dog drink for longer
• hearing them drinking during the night
• letting them into the garden more often
• noticing larger amounts of urine
• dealing with accidents indoors

Do not deliberately restrict your dog’s water because they are drinking or urinating more.

Provide access to fresh water and tell your vet about the change.

Why might an older dog drink more?

There are many possible explanations.

One example is chronic kidney disease.

The PDSA guide to chronic kidney disease in dogs lists increased thirst and urination among possible signs, along with appetite changes, weight loss, vomiting and reduced energy.

Other medical conditions can also affect thirst and urination.

That is why the symptom requires investigation rather than guessing at the cause.

Keep useful information for your vet

If your dog’s drinking has noticeably changed, make a few notes.

Record:

• when you first noticed it
• whether drinking increased suddenly or gradually
• whether urination has increased too
• whether accidents have started
• appetite
• weight
• medication
• vomiting or diarrhoea
• other behavioural changes

Your veterinary practice may ask you to measure water consumption or collect a urine sample.

Follow their instructions.

Do not blame accidents on your dog’s age

A senior dog who starts urinating indoors is not being naughty.

They may:

• need to go more frequently
• be unable to reach the garden quickly enough
• find steps difficult
• have reduced awareness
• have a medical problem

Give them more frequent opportunities to toilet while arranging appropriate advice.

My guide to adapting your home for a senior dog includes practical ideas for making garden access easier.

4. Your dog’s appetite or eating habits have changed

An older dog does not automatically become a fussy eater.

Perhaps your dog:

• leaves part of a meal
• takes much longer to eat
• approaches the bowl and walks away
• drops food
• chews on one side
• refuses harder foods
• suddenly wants much more food
• stops accepting favourite treats

A persistent change is worth discussing with your vet.

Dental pain can be easy to miss

Dental problems are particularly important because dogs cannot tell us they have toothache.

Possible warning signs include:

• bad breath
• difficulty chewing
• dropping food
• chewing on one side
• bleeding gums
• pawing at the mouth
• avoiding harder foods
• reduced appetite

Do not rely on whether your dog still eats.

A hungry dog may continue eating despite dental discomfort.

Your vet needs to examine their mouth properly if you are concerned.

Appetite changes can have many causes

Dental disease is only one possibility.

Reduced appetite can also occur alongside many other illnesses.

Equally, becoming unusually hungry can sometimes be medically relevant.

That means repeatedly adding increasingly tasty foods is not always the right answer.

You may succeed in persuading the dog to eat without addressing why eating changed in the first place.

If appetite has changed significantly or persistently, contact your vet.

Watch how your dog approaches the bowl

Sometimes the difficulty is not actually the food.

An older dog may want to eat but find the physical position uncomfortable.

Watch whether they:

• hesitate before lowering their head
• repeatedly reposition their feet
• slip while standing
• eat briefly and move away
• struggle to remain standing

Improve grip around the feeding area and tell your vet if eating posture appears uncomfortable.

My Senior Dog Nutrition Guide covers feeding an older dog in more depth.

5. You find a new lump or bump

Older dogs commonly develop lumps.

Many turn out not to be dangerous.

But you cannot reliably decide what a lump is simply by looking at or touching it.

If you find a new lump, show your vet.

The Blue Cross guide to caring for older dogs recommends veterinary assessment of new lumps because different types can look or feel similar from the outside.

Check your dog regularly

Gentle grooming is a useful opportunity to notice changes.

Run your hands carefully over:

• head and neck
• shoulders
• chest
• sides
• abdomen
• legs
• paws
• tail area

You are not trying to perform a veterinary examination.

You are learning what normally belongs to your dog.

Keep a lump map

If your dog has several existing lumps that your vet already knows about, keeping a simple record can help.

Note:

• approximate location
• date discovered
• approximate size
• whether your vet has checked it
• any change you notice

A photograph beside a ruler may help with monitoring if your vet recommends it.

Do not repeatedly squeeze or manipulate a lump.

Changes worth reporting

Tell your vet if a lump:

• appears suddenly
• grows
• changes shape
• changes colour
• becomes sore
• bleeds
• ulcerates
• bothers your dog

But remember that even a small, soft, apparently harmless lump should be shown to your vet when first discovered.

Appearance alone cannot provide a diagnosis.

What about skin changes?

While checking for lumps, also notice:

• sore areas
• wounds that do not heal
• unexplained hair loss
• persistent licking
• new pigmentation
• inflamed skin

These may have many causes.

Persistent or unusual changes deserve veterinary advice.

There are more than five signs to watch for

The original version of this article concentrated on five easily observed changes.

They remain useful.

But senior health is much broader.

Other changes worth discussing with your vet include:

• coughing
• repeated vomiting
• persistent diarrhoea
• constipation
• panting without an obvious reason
• changes in sleep
• confusion
• altered behaviour
• reduced hearing
• changes in eyesight
• loss of balance
• seizures
• unusual discharge
• persistent scratching or licking
• difficulty passing urine or faeces

The BSAVA Ageing Canine Toolkit covers mobility, weight, dental health, drinking and toileting, behaviour, confusion, lumps and overall quality of life.

It is well worth looking through the BSAVA Ageing Canine Toolkit with your own senior dog in mind.

Behaviour changes can be health changes

This is something I think is especially important.

A dog who becomes:

• grumpy
• withdrawn
• reactive
• clingy
• restless
• reluctant to be touched

has not necessarily developed a behaviour problem.

Pain, sensory changes, illness and confusion can affect behaviour.

If an older dog suddenly behaves differently, I would want health considered before simply trying to train the behaviour away.

Confusion deserves attention

You may notice your dog:

• staring at walls
• becoming lost in familiar rooms
• pacing at night
• getting stuck behind furniture
• forgetting familiar routines
• seeming disorientated
• becoming unusually anxious

Do not simply assume they are senile.

Discuss changes with your vet.

My Signs Your Senior Dog May Be Slowing Down Guide explains how physical, sensory and behavioural changes can overlap as dogs age.

Keep a simple health diary

A few notes can be surprisingly useful.

You might record:

• weight
• appetite
• drinking
• toileting
• walk duration
• mobility
• sleep
• medication
• behaviour
• any new lumps
• unusual symptoms

You do not need to write something every day.

The value comes from being able to compare.

“She’s drinking more” is useful.

“I’m filling her usual bowl twice a day instead of once and it started about ten days ago” is much more useful.

Take photographs and videos where useful

Some changes can be difficult to describe.

A short video may help demonstrate:

• limping
• difficulty standing
• unusual walking
• trouble with stairs
• coughing
• pacing
• balance changes

Do not make your dog repeat a painful movement to get the perfect video.

Record naturally occurring behaviour where practical.

Regular senior veterinary checks

Ask your veterinary practice how often they want to examine your individual dog.

The answer may change according to:

• age
• breed
• medication
• existing conditions
• previous test results

BSAVA recommends working through its ageing-dog checklist at least every six months and retaining earlier copies so changes can be compared.

That does not replace your vet’s own recommended examination schedule.

What I notice when caring for older dogs

[ADD RELEVANT FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OR LOCAL EXAMPLE HERE]

When I am walking or house sitting an older dog, I cannot diagnose illness.

What I can do is notice change.

Perhaps a dog who normally comes straight to the door stays in bed.

Maybe their usual twenty-minute walk suddenly feels like hard work.

Perhaps they leave breakfast when they normally clean the bowl.

Or I refill a water bowl far sooner than expected.

Those observations matter because I know what the normal routine usually looks like.

With senior dogs, one-to-one care makes this easier.

There is no group of dogs setting the pace and no fixed route that has to be completed.

If something looks different, I can tell the owner.

Know your dog’s normal

This is probably the most useful message in the whole guide.

Know:

• how much they normally eat
• approximately how much they drink
• their normal body shape
• their usual walking pace
• how they stand up
• how much they sleep
• their normal toilet routine
• how they normally behave
• which lumps have already been checked

You are much more likely to recognise change when you know the baseline.

When should I call my vet?

I would contact your veterinary practice when you notice a new, persistent or unexplained change involving:

• weight
• appetite
• thirst
• urination
• toileting
• mobility
• breathing
• behaviour
• sleep
• lumps
• skin
• hearing or eyesight
• general energy

You do not have to decide whether it is serious before calling.

That is part of what your veterinary team is there to help you determine.

When is it an emergency?

Some situations need more urgent help.

Contact a vet urgently if your dog:

• collapses
• is struggling to breathe
• cannot stand
• develops sudden severe weakness
• has a seizure
• appears in severe pain
• repeatedly vomits
• has a suddenly swollen abdomen
• cannot pass urine
• becomes severely disoriented
• suffers a significant injury

My Dog Health and First Aid Guide explains how to prepare for emergencies and why first aid should support, rather than replace, veterinary treatment.

Do not give human medication

Never give an older dog human painkillers or other medication because you suspect they are uncomfortable.

Medicines that are routinely used by people can be dangerous for dogs.

Contact your veterinary practice for appropriate advice.

Looking at the whole senior dog

Health, nutrition, movement and behaviour are connected.

A dog in pain may exercise less.

Reduced exercise can affect weight.

Dental discomfort can affect eating.

Illness can alter behaviour.

Poor eyesight can make walking appear more hesitant.

That is why individual signs should not always be considered in isolation.

For the complete picture, use my Senior Dog Care Guide as the starting point for this whole cluster.

Supporting a senior dog’s daily routine

Some older dogs still enjoy a good local walk.

Others benefit from something slower.

I provide one-to-one solo dog walks in Finchley and Muswell Hill, with walks starting and finishing at the dog’s own home.

There are no vans, collection rounds or group walks.

For older dogs, that allows the outing to be adapted around that particular dog’s pace and routine.

You can also read about my dedicated dog walks for older dogs.

If I notice a meaningful change during regular care, I tell you.

I will not diagnose the cause, but good pet care includes noticing when something is different.

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Related senior dog guides

For the complete overview, start with Senior Dog Care: A Complete Guide to Supporting Your Older Dog.

Signs your dog may be getting older

If your main concern is slowing down or behavioural change, read Is My Dog Just Getting Older? Signs Your Senior Dog May Be Slowing Down.

For feeding, weight and appetite, read Senior Dog Nutrition.

For suitable activity, see Senior Dog Exercise and Enrichment.

For movement and discomfort, read Helping Your Pet When Movement Causes Pain.

For making everyday movement around the house easier, see Adapting Your Home for a Senior Dog.

For health emergencies and preparation, visit Dog Health and First Aid.

Frequently asked questions

What are common signs that an older dog may be unwell?

Changes worth noticing include reduced mobility, unexplained weight change, increased thirst or urination, appetite changes, difficulty eating, new lumps and changes in behaviour. None of these signs identifies a particular disease by itself.

Is slowing down normal in an old dog?

Some reduction in pace can occur with ageing. However, new or increasing stiffness, reluctance to exercise, difficulty standing or markedly reduced stamina should be discussed with your vet.

Is weight loss normal in old dogs?

Unexplained weight loss should not simply be attributed to age. Contact your vet so they can assess possible causes.

Why is my old dog suddenly drinking much more?

Increased thirst can have several possible medical causes, including kidney disease and some hormonal conditions. Do not restrict water. Arrange veterinary advice.

Why is my senior dog suddenly fussy with food?

Dental pain, nausea and other illnesses can all affect appetite. A persistent change deserves veterinary investigation rather than simply trying increasingly tempting foods.

Are lumps common in old dogs?

Lumps become more common as dogs age and many are benign. However, appearance and feel alone cannot reliably tell you what a lump is, so new lumps should be shown to your vet.

Should I measure my dog’s lumps?

A simple record of previously checked lumps can be useful. Ask your vet how they would like you to monitor them and report changes in size, shape, colour or comfort.

Why has my senior dog’s behaviour changed?

Pain, illness, reduced hearing, reduced eyesight and cognitive change can all influence behaviour. A new or unexplained behaviour change warrants veterinary attention.

How often should a senior dog visit the vet?

There is no schedule suitable for every dog. Ask your veterinary practice how often they want to examine your individual dog based on their age, health and medication. BSAVA also recommends owners work through its ageing-dog monitoring checklist at least every six months.

What should I record about my senior dog’s health?

Weight, appetite, drinking, toileting, walking, sleep, behaviour, medication and any lumps or other changes can all be useful. Notes, photographs and videos can help show trends over time.

Final thoughts

Getting older is not a disease.

Your dog may genuinely slow down as they age.

They may sleep more.

Their walks may become shorter.

But age should not become an explanation for every change.

Notice what is normal for your dog.

Pay attention when that normal changes.

Keep simple records when something is difficult to judge.

And if you are unsure, ask your vet rather than waiting for the problem to become obvious.

Early recognition gives your veterinary team the best opportunity to investigate what is happening and help your dog remain as comfortable as possible.

For the wider picture of caring for your ageing dog, return to my Senior Dog Care Hub.

Veterinary disclaimer: This article provides general information about changes worth monitoring in older dogs. The signs described can have many different causes and cannot be used to diagnose a medical condition. Contact your veterinary practice if you notice a new, persistent or significant change in your dog’s health, mobility, appetite, weight, thirst, toileting or behaviour. Seek urgent veterinary assistance for breathing difficulties, collapse, seizures, severe pain, inability to stand or another serious deterioration.