The older dog does not always look as healthy as he or she should. That is a fact and not a presumption. Some owners do not take as much care of an older dog as they should. This is not through neglect but through continuing the care of the dog as they did in its youth. An older dog needs a lot more care and love than a younger dog does purely and simply because he or she begins to degenerate and the body cannot keep up with the changes.