Why is my senior dog's spine prominent? Is it old age or diet?

Question

My 15 year old Maltese / Shih Tuzu mix eats well, but I can feel her spinal cord sticking up out of her back. Is it old age or do I need to feed her more? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 15 years and 4 months old | 10 lbs

Dr. Davis · Accepted Answer

Adorable! Aging muscle wasting can cause the back bone to be more prominent. If she is not losing weight then keeping her exercising will help maintain her muscle mass. Is she is losing weight I recommend increasing her food and bring her in for a senior exam and blood panel. They will check her teeth too to make sure everything is normal for her age. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Muffy.

Why is my senior dog's spine prominent? Is it old age or diet?

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