As your dog ages, he or she will become more susceptible to health problems. It is important to closely watch dogs that have poor health in hopes of catching these problems before they become too serious. One of the most common problems that older dogs face is arthritis. Cartilage between joints acts as a butter to protect bones from damage. As pets get older, that cartilage can get damaged and as a result inflame the joint.

Pets that have arthritis may experience swelling, stiffness of the joints and pain. Symptoms may include limping or a change in gait or a pet may develop a reluctance to move. Some pets also have an aversion to stairs and may experience difficulty standing or walking. If your pet chews at aching joints or shows irritability or aggression because of pain, you may want to take the animal to the vet to be checked out for this condition.

Some older dogs suffer from kidney disease. The kidneys are supposed to remove waste and maintain balance within the body. If they are unable to perform, then waste and toxins can build up in the body and damage other parts of the internal organ system. Many things can cause kidneys to cease doing their job. Your pet may vomit, drink more water than normal, have a discolored tongue or suffer from weight loss due to these kidney issues.

Older dogs also often develop gingivitis. Gums can become inflamed when mouth bacteria turns into plaque on the teeth. The saliva can harden that plaque to create tartar, which results in swelling under the gum line. Eventually, this can turn into periodontitis, which can result in bone loss. If your dog's gums are bleeding or appear to be very tender, red or swollen, then you want to get the animal checked out. If you fail to treat this ailment, the disease may spread to your pet's blood stream and cause serious damage to the organs.

Sadly, some elderly dogs suffer from cancer. Blood tests often can't detect cancer at the beginning stages so it is important to notice if your dogs has any lumps or bumps on his body or changes in weight that cancer may be a culprit. Whenever you start experiencing the signs of an illness, don't hesitate to call a local vet. Other signs of cancer may be drooling, coughing, bleeding in the mouth, excessive panting, difficulty eating, and extreme tiredness.

Sometimes, older dogs are diagnosed with diabetes. This is the poor production and functioning of insulin, which is a hormone that is made by the pancreas. Insulin's job is to help move glucose from the blood into the body's cells where it is used for energy. Some dog breeds like miniature schnauzers, pugs, toy poodles and samoyeds are more prone to diabetes. This illness includes frequent thirst, increased urination, irritability, blurred vision, fatigue and more.

In some pets, blindness is a repercussion of old age. Most often, blindness starts with the forming of cataracts on the eyes. While it may sound sobering to have a blind pet, rest assured that blindness is often a part of the normal aging process for dogs. If your pet has dilated pupils and red or irritated eyes, you may want to take your animal to the vet for a checkup and to make sure that he or she has not gone blind. Make sure to carefully observe your ailing dog for any signs of illness. Always have a local vet's contact information on hand in case you start to see issues and are concerned.