14-year-old dog in human years: age, stage and care

A 14-year-old dog is about 72 in human years if it is a small dog, 78 if it is medium, 84 if it is large and 96 if it is a giant breed. The number rises with size because bigger dogs age faster.

At 14, a dog of almost any size is in the geriatric stage, the last stage of life. Many 14-year-old dogs are still comfortable and enjoying their days, but they need closer watching than they did even a year ago. The pet age calculator gives the figure for your dog's breed.

How old is 14 in dog years?

The sum is 15 human years for the first year, 9 for the second, then 4, 4.5, 5 or 6 for each of the next 12 years, depending on size. The dog years to human years chart shows every age from 1 to 20. Multiplying by seven would give 98, which is close only for a giant breed.

Is 14 old for a dog?

Yes. For a small dog, 14 is a good age but not an unusual one, and plenty of small breeds live beyond it. For a medium dog it is old. For a large dog it is beyond the usual lifespan of most breeds, and very few giant dogs reach it.

Nobody can tell you from age alone how long a 14-year-old dog has. That depends on its breed, its health and what your vet finds. See when a dog is considered a senior for how the senior and geriatric stages are set for each size.

What is normal at 14

• Sleeping most of the day, with short spells of activity.
• Slow, stiff movement, especially on getting up, and shorter walks.
• Poor hearing and fading sight.
• Less muscle over the hips and back legs.
• Needing to go out more often, and the occasional accident.
• A fussier appetite and feeling the cold more.

Common is not the same as untreatable, or harmless. Stiffness, accidents and appetite changes often have causes a vet can help with, so mention all of them at checkups, and sooner if one appears suddenly or your dog is drinking much more than before.

14-year-old dog barks all the time

Constant barking in a 14-year-old dog is rarely stubbornness. Usually something has changed in what the dog can hear, see, feel or understand. The common reasons are:

• Hearing loss. A dog that cannot hear itself or you may bark more and louder, and startle easily. See why old dogs go deaf.
• Dementia. Barking at nothing, often in the evening or at night, along with pacing, staring or getting stuck in corners, can point to cognitive decline. Compare what you see with the dog dementia signs checklist.
• Pain or discomfort. Arthritis, a sore mouth or an upset stomach can make a dog vocal, particularly when it lies down or gets up.
• Anxiety. Old dogs often cope less well with being alone, with the dark and with changes in routine, especially once sight and hearing fade.
• A need. Needing to go out, thirst, or hunger driven by a medical condition.

Start with a vet visit, and take notes on when the barking happens and what stops it. At home, a steady routine, a night light, a bed near you, a late trip outside and gentle activity during the day can all help. Do not punish the barking, and do not give any calming product, supplement or human medicine unless your vet has confirmed the exact product and amount for your dog.

My 14-year-old dog keeps falling over

Falling is not a normal part of aging. A 14-year-old dog that keeps falling over should see a vet soon, and the same day if it started suddenly. Possible causes run from common to serious:

• Weak back legs. Arthritis and muscle loss make the hind end unsteady, and smooth floors and long nails make it worse.
• Vestibular disease. A sudden loss of balance with a head tilt, flicking eyes, circling or rolling. It looks like a stroke and is frightening to watch. Many dogs improve over days to weeks, but a vet needs to rule out other causes. Read more about vestibular disease in senior dogs.
• Spine or nerve problems. Scuffing the toes, crossing the back legs or standing on the tops of the paws.
• Heart problems. Fainting or folding at the knees during excitement or exercise.
• Seizures, which can look like a fall followed by paddling or stiffness.
• Sudden internal illness, such as bleeding or low blood sugar, where weakness comes with pale gums or collapse.
• Medicines. Some cause wobbliness. Tell your vet, and do not stop or change a prescription on your own.

Until your dog is seen, keep it on one level, block the stairs, put down rugs or mats, and support the back end with a towel slung under the belly for trips outside. A video of an episode is very useful to the vet. Our guide to why old dogs fall down goes through the causes in more detail.

Call the vet today if

• Your dog suddenly cannot stand, tilts its head, or its eyes flick from side to side.
• It collapses or faints, even if it recovers quickly.
• Its gums are pale, white or blue, or it is struggling to breathe.
• It has a seizure.
• Its belly is swollen, or it retches without bringing anything up.
• It has not eaten for a day, or keeps vomiting.
• It drags its back legs, or cannot pee.
• It cries out, pants hard at rest or cannot get comfortable.

If your own clinic is closed, call an emergency clinic.

Care checklist for a 14-year-old dog

• Frequent vet checks. At least every six months, and vets often suggest every few months for a geriatric dog. Ask what tests are worthwhile.
• A pain review. Never give human painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen or aspirin. They can seriously harm or kill dogs. Only your vet can decide what is suitable, taking your dog's kidneys, liver and other medicines into account.
• Grip underfoot. Rugs or runners on smooth floors, and nails kept short.
• Easy access. Food, water and bed on one level, with a ramp where there are steps.
• Warmth and a thick bed away from drafts.
• Short, gentle walks at your dog's pace, with plenty of sniffing.
• A monthly weight check, and a call to the vet about any steady loss.
• A regular look at quality of life. The quality of life scale for senior dogs gives you a way to track good and bad days and to talk them through with your vet.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. The human-years figures are estimates based on averages for a dog's size and do not predict how long an individual dog will live. Barking, falling and other changes in a 14-year-old dog can have many causes, and only your veterinarian can examine your dog, find the cause and advise on treatment.