Contact your veterinarian.
People have a wide range of attitudes about getting older, from optimism to pessimism.
But when it comes to pets, people tend to have a negative attitude about aging says William Fortney, doctor of veterinary medicine and clinical instructor at Kansas State University. The tragedy of getting old is that we attribute the problems pets face to old age, and don't bring them to the veterinarian. Fortney says that there are a series of physical changes affecting aging pets' bodies. These may include graying of the muzzle, a thinning coat, toenails becoming brittle, developing arthritis, eyes becoming white or blue indicating cataracts, difficulty hearing, or weaker teeth. Veterinarians have medications to ease the pain of arthritis and even replace hips if necessary to relieve the pain.