Page 77 - Chow LIfe - Winter 2019

Your Geriatric Chow Chow

AKC Gazette Excerpt

By Love Banghart
CCCI Gazette Columnist
How old is your Chow Chow? Are you amazed that he never seems to show any signs of illness or aging?
The AKC standard for the Chow Chow includes a definition of temperament that recognizes the Chow’s
keen intelligence, independent spirit, and innate dignity, aura of aloofness and the Chow's nature to
be reserved and discerning with strangers. These elements of the Chow personality make the geriatric
companion a wonderful and incredibly stoic housemate. Due to this personality, as the Chow Chow
progresses into the normal geriatric (usually 7 years and older) healthcare challenges, you may be totally
unaware of his discomfort or ailments. The average lifespan of the Chow is documented to be from 9 – 10
years, but with awareness and care, many Chows attain the age of 13 – 16 years.
There are several things that you can do to increase his comfort as your chow ages. Please protect your
Chow Chow from uncomfortable weather conditions. Heat, humidity, rain, snow and cold will become
less tolerable for your dog as he ages. Monitor your chow’s diet. Many chows will not overeat, but as he
ages, you should change his food to a good, well –balanced senior diet and reduce the number of treats that
he receives on a daily basis. Regular moderate exercise is very helpful in keeping your chow healthy. Nice
short walks during the day or evening are a wonderful experience to share. Groom your chow regularly,
even if it is while you are both sitting on the floor watching television. As you groom, feel for lumps or
unusual skin conditions and please do check the length of his nails and trim them if required. It is very
important to carefully observe your companion for any of the following symptoms that may indicate the
presence of a medical problem:

• Sudden change in disposition
• Intolerance to touch (especially if consistent to a specific area of the body)
• Weight changes
• Lack of response to vocal commands (more than his usual approach of ignoring your requests)
• Bumping into objects that are not in their normal place
• Hair loss, lumps or growths on or under the skin

• Unusual lethargy
• Changes in pigmentation of the skin or mouth, any abnormal discharge
• Reluctance or inability to move normally
• Coughing or labored breathing
• Onset of bad breath

• Changes in appetite, urination or bowel movement patterns

This list is not all inclusive, but hopefully will serve as a reminder of changes which may signify that your
companion is suffering the onset of a medical condition. Should you notice any of these changes for more
than a day or two, please contact your veterinarian and request a medical evaluation. Early detection
of geriatric problems may enable you to manage your Chow’s health condition via dietary or medicinal
protocols, thus minimizing his discomfort and prolonging the years you will happily share

(This article first appeared in the December 2005 AKC Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To read the online
Gazette, visit www.akc.org/pubs.)
75