Ripple turned nine this month. It may not seem like that’s a big deal. She’s every bit as playful, chases her ball, loves to swim and cuddle close at the end of the day. But nine is a significant age for dogs. This is when they become geriatric.
This doesn’t mean geriatric in the same sense as we use the word for people. It means we need to pay attention differently though.
What starts to change at nine
Even in very healthy dogs, there are subtle shifts:
- Metabolism begins to slow
- Eyes may show a bit of clouding
- Hearing can soften slightly
- Joints may feel a little stiff after activity
These changes are often gradual and easy to miss. That’s exactly why this stage matters.
Ripple’s geriatric check
I booked Ripple in for a full geriatric exam and blood panel.
This is something I recommend for every dog at this age. It gives you a baseline. It lets you catch small changes early. And just as importantly, it gives you peace of mind.
Ripple’s results came back exactly as I would expect for a dog raised the way she has been.
Strong bloodwork. Healthy organs. Balanced systems.
Her alkaline phosphatase was a bit low and her thyroid sat at the very bottom of normal. In a dog like Ripple, that is very likely just her normal baseline. We will simply monitor her thyroid with a recheck in a year.
Everything else told the same story. She is a healthy dog.
And that is not by accident.
The foundation matters
Ripple has been raised on a raw diet since birth.
Her coat is full and soft. Her energy is steady. Her eyesight and hearing are still excellent. She recovers well from activity and still chooses to be active every day.
This is what long term, consistent nutrition looks like.
Not quick fixes. Not supplements layered on top of a poor base. Just whole food, properly balanced, over time.
The things that look concerning… but aren’t
This is the stage where people often start to worry about things that don’t actually need intervention.
Tartar on the teeth
Ripple has some tartar. This is just cosmetic though.
There is no infection. No gum disease. No discomfort. Dental cleaning requires anaesthesia and the risks associated with anesthesia are higher than the reward of all white teeth. The tartar is not causing any issues for Ripple.
If there were a medical issue, that would be different.
If you want to manage tartar, you can use a simple hand descaler at home. These are readily available on Amazon.
Small bumps on the skin
Ripple also has a few small bumps. These are what your vet likely referred to as sebaceous cysts.
They look like little pimples under the skin.
They are extremely common and in most cases, completely harmless.
We do not remove lumps just because they are there. We remove them if they are in a location that could cause problems. A cyst on the tail for example may be more likely to become infected if it ruptures due to its proximity to the anal glands.
Otherwise, we monitor.
Staying active
Ripple still runs, swims and loves to chase her ball.
She also occasionally gets a sore shoulder.
When that happens, we adjust.
- If it is mild, she rests for a day
- If it lasts longer than 24 hours or affects her movement, she gets MetaCam
- We return to activity gradually
The goal is not to stop activity. The goal is to support it.
Movement is essential for long term joint health.
Less is more as they age
As dogs move into their senior years, I become much more selective about what goes into their bodies.
Parasite prevention
If you are using products like Revolution, ask yourself if your dog truly needs monthly dosing. In many cases it isn’t necessary.
These products remain in the system longer than stated. For many dogs, every second or third month is more than sufficient.
Ripple had Revolution in the past, never more than once every four months. Now she does not receive it at all.
Vaccination
Ripple had her core puppy vaccines and nothing further.
Instead, we run titre tests every three years. She was just tested again and still shows strong immunity.
We are not anti vaccination. We are thoughtful about it.
Where we live, the risk of rabies is extremely low, so we do not vaccinate for it. In other parts of Canada, that decision would look different.
Context matters.
The one thing that did change
Weight.
Ripple came in at 30.2 pounds. Her ideal weight is closer to 25 to 26.
Nothing about her activity changed. Nothing about her routine changed.
Her metabolism did.
That is what happens at this age.
She had been eating 4 ounces twice a day. That is now being adjusted to 3.75 ounces per meal.
Small gradual change that is easy for her to adapt to.
Excess weight is one of the biggest factors in long term health decline. This is one of the most important things you can manage.
So what does your dog need at nine?
Not more.
Better.
- A proper geriatric exam
- A full blood panel
- Thoughtful adjustments to diet
- Careful consideration of what you introduce into their body
- Ongoing, appropriate activity
- A willingness to monitor rather than overreact
An age of awareness
Ripple is nine.
She is not slowing down in any meaningful way. She is simply moving into a stage that requires a bit more awareness.
This is where good decisions come together and amalgamate.
This is where you protect longevity by making good, informed decisions. Where you choose to do what makes your dog comfortable and not try to capture lost youth.
A question for you
Has your dog turned nine yet?
If so, have you booked their geriatric check and baseline bloodwork?
If you’re not sure what that should look like, or you want help reviewing results like Ripple’s, you’re always welcome to reach out.
Because this stage matters more than most people realize.
