Older Dog Care

As Dogs Age They Need Special Care

Older dog care is significantly different than caring for a puppy or even a young adult canine. Much like humans, when the canine body ages, metabolism slows, chronic disease becomes more likely, aches and pains from many years of using joints in an active lifestyle begin to take a toll, and bones become more brittle. Some older canines develop dental problems resulting in the inability to gnaw bones or crunch dry dog food without discomfort. As we care for our elderly pets, we must adjust our expectations so they can be happy and well-loved during their twilight years.

As recently as just a few years ago, pet food products did not take into account the changing needs of canines over their lifespan. Today, however, food can be purchased that is designed for puppies, adults, overweight adults, and senior companion canines. There are even packaged foods for overweight senior dogs.

When it comes to older dog care, proper nutrition is crucial for optimal health and longevity. Your veterinarian can recommend when it is time to switch to a special food for older pets. Or, you may notice changes in appetite or inability to eat dry foods. This may signal you to switch the type of food provided.

As creatures age, metabolism or the ability to burn away extra fat and calorie diminishes. Less activity is common, which contributes to the reduction of metabolism. Health issues may mandate reduced activity. As these changes occur, reducing caloric intake is important.

An elderly overweight pet has difficulty getting up from a prone position, experiences joint deterioration from carrying excess weight, and generally exhibits sluggish movements. The extra weight makes movement difficult, rising from a seated position harder, and causes them to want to sit down and rest. For this reason, as well as avoiding weight-associated health problems, for optimum older dog care keep your senior pet trim.

As your pet ages, reduced serving sizes can offset the reduction of metabolism. Soft food, either dry soaked in water, dry which makes it own gravy, or canned, is easy on teeth and gums. If some teeth have been lost, stick to soft foods. If your pooch’s dental health is good, you can let him enjoy a mixture of crunchy and soft foods.

Some older pets develop diabetes or heart disorders or other health problems. In these cases, your veterinarian may direct you to follow a specific diet regimen, offering only specific foods or completely avoiding certain food choices. Follow this advice to the letter to ensure you pet’s longevity. Frequently, older pets are prescribed vitamins or dietary supplements to ensure their get all the nutrients necessary.

Older dog care must include exercise. From puppyhood to the silver years, physical activity is needed to maintain optimal health.

If your senior companion has arthritis or other joint problems, exercise will help prevent joints from stiffening as quickly as they might without exercise. Working out the daily stiffness helps relieve pain, too.

Your elder pet will probably enjoy different types of exercise than when younger. Jumping for a Frisbee may be too painful at an advanced age. Try rolling a ball to chase instead. Tug of war games may be too hard on older teeth and gums, so stick to fetch or other games that don’t stress the mouth, teeth, and gums. Arthritic dogs often enjoy swimming since the exercise doesn’t put impact on bones and joints.

When taking your senior dog out for walks, you’ll probably find he wants to stroll instead of jog. When possible, walk for a longer period of time to get in the needed exercise. However, a time may come when walking is painful enough that only very short trips outdoors can be tolerated. Always follow the advice of your veterinarian regarding exercise and your older canine. Just as a human trusts in their doctor, trust your veterinarian to know best when it comes to older dog care.

Older dog care often means more trips to the veterinarian. Some senior dogs develop diabetes, heart problems, slipped spinal discs, tumors, cancer, or other serious health problems. You must listen carefully to your vet’s advice and implement the advice in order to help your pet enjoy a long, quality life.

Untreated diabetes will surely shorten your pet’s life, resulting in kidney failure, blindness, or other complications. If your companion is diagnosed as having diabetes, follow your vet’s instructions about testing blood glucose levels, limiting sugars and carbohydrates in foods, and injecting insulin if required.

If heart disease is a health problem your senior dog has, prescription medication may be required. Your veterinarian may also prescribe an exercise routine that must be followed to protect the heart from premature failure.

As your pet ages, potty habits may change. Urination may become more frequent. Discuss these changes and other older dog care issues with your vet and follow his advice; some potty habit changes can be part of aging while others may indicate disease. In extremely elderly dogs, incontinency may occur. In this situation, the pet cannot avoid leaking urine or cannot control release of urine. Frequent potty trips may help, but you may also want to use potty pads in the dog’s bed and on his favorite spots to sit and lie down. Don’t scold your companion; he cannot help incontinence and his pride is already injured by failing to be able to control his potty habits.

Hearing, eye sight, and the sense of smell may become less sensitive with age. Cataracts may develop causing blindness. Elderly pets adjust well to these disabilities or reduced senses but when it comes to older dog care, you must understand and adjust as well. A well behaved pet who suddenly fails to heed a softly spoken command may be unable to hear you rather than simply being obstinate.

Pets with eye sight problems should not be allowed outdoors without supervision because they may become disoriented or step into traffic, never seeing the car or truck about to hit them. Reduced ability to smell may mean that your pet doesn’t enjoy food as much since smell is inherent to the dining experience of humans and pets.

Your companion is a member of the family. Treat the aging canine just as you would an elderly family member. Understand the changes in his body and lifestyle and be there for him with love and attention.

When older dog care means that you must put your elderly pet to sleep because of advanced painful cancer, renal failure, or another disease that is causing so much pain the pet is truly suffering badly, be there for him through those last steps of his life. Don’t leave him, confused and alone, at the vet’s office to wait his end. Hold him, love him, and ensure him that he is going to doggie heaven. After all, you wouldn’t want to be alone at the end of your days and your beloved older dog doesn’t deserve to be left alone in his final hours. You may find it difficult, but looking back later, you will be glad you were there for him, stroking his graying fur during those last moments.

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