I have a 12 year old dog who seems to be losing body. I have noticed recently he just seems  slimmer, not as much muscle on his hind end and now his spine seems more prominent. He is fit and active and eats well and I have increased his food in the last couple of weeks. It is only a couple of months since he had a thorough check up including xrays and blood tests following a bout of acute abdominal discomfort which resolved over night with no treatment. No cause for that was ever found and he as been fine since.

Will be going back to the vets but just wondered if it was normal for oldies to lose condition. I know older people often seem to get smaller?

Have found this is normal for old dogs, often the head where you notice it first, suppose if 12 is a good age for the breed or not if the breed lives to 16 + then I am surprised otherwise it is what I would expect.

normal lifespan is about 14. I seem to be doing nothing but worrying about my dogs at the moment

It's normal, they're similar to us - skin loses elasticity as they age and muscle tone goes downhill a bit.  Tia looked like a different dog when I took her on at 12, compared to when I'd seen her before a few years before.

Thanks for the reassurance. I think I will still take him to the vet for a check up as it can't hurt. I just can't believe how he has got to 12 already. I am not ready for anything to happen to him. I need him to be here for about another 20 years!

I would see if the increase in food helps at all, adding raw minced lamb[high fat content]to my old cockers kibble once per day did the trick and took him off senior[he had gained too much weight around 13/14yrs] and back to normal adult, he passed away at 16.5yrs[previous cockers had made it to 13yrs].

Then if things haven't improved get a check up at the vet.

Thats a good point about the food. Senior food is meant for less active dogs so is lower in calories. Real golden oldies who are losing weight would benefit from the extra calories in normal food.
That was just in general. For the OP, tripe is also good for putting weight on and the dogs love it. I give a pound block raw, cut in two over two meals with their kibble if they need weight on. You can get it online or just go and get a few blocks from PAH (more expensive that way)

thanks for the info about food. He is already raw fed. He is quite happy to eat more. so will see how he does after a few weeks on 25% more.

I never put my older dogs on senior food but keep them on an appropriate amount of their usual diet, findign this keeps them in much better condition both muscle and coat wise.

My oldeies get same formal excersise as the other dogs except they don't dash about as much in between walks.+