There will come a time when
your dog turns
into an older dog, also known as a senior dog. When you may not
realize it, having a senior dog requires different care
and maintenance than younger dogs. Using the aging process there are
invariable ups and downs. You're going to get the luxury of spending much less
time worried about their behavior and
how to change it and far more time concerned
about their health.
In order to make sure that your senior dog has been properly cared for, you need to make sure you are knowledgeable on their needs. Listed here are five tips to help you better take care of your senior dog.
Arthritis
Arthritis and joint pain can often be managed with an appropriate exercise regime including gentle walking and swimming, if at all possible, to help maintain mobility. High quality dog supplements can also provide relief with no toxicity and side effects of prescription medication. Choosing a Quality Dog Bed is essential and if your pet is in need, and orthopedic dog bed is always a wise choice. A dog's bed provides comfort and allows your dog to get the rest that they need to attend their best.
Exercise for Senior Dogs
Exercise is another aspect of preventive geriatric take care of your dog. You should definitely keep your dog going because he gets older-if he is cooped up or kept laying, his body will deteriorate much more quickly. Jogging with your arthritic dog might not be appropriate, but swimming along with other low-impact activities are great for dogs with pain and arthritis. Keeping your dog active physically and mentally helps your dog stay in good shape. Of course, dogs should wear a reliable Dog Collar and Leash whenever outside, and Dog ID Tags are a must for any canine's safety.
Preventive Measures Nutrition
Many older pets benefit from a higher fiber, reduced calorie diet. As mentioned above, obesity is often the result of reduced exercise and overfeeding; and it is a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because older pets usually have different nutritional requirements, it’s a good idea to check with your vet about switching to some high quality, age appropriate diet. Many senior dogs take advantage of simple things like a small amount of plain yogurt put into the diet to keep the healthy flora within the intestinal tract in balance. A high quality fish oil is also a great addition towards the diet and helps to keep your senior dog’s skin and coat healthy and supple.
Dental Care
Older dogs tend to make more dental tartar and become vulnerable to more severe dental disease compared to what they did in their youth. Maintaining your pet’s mouth healthy can prevent spread of dental infections for the internal organs of the body. Most dogs want more frequent cleanings and more aggressive homecare to keep their mouths healthy within their golden years. The same dog that familiar with eat your shoes might not be as into chew toys and treats just like a senior.
Hearing and Vision Changes
Dogs excel at adapting to slow changes, so loss of vision or hearing can be difficult to detect in the early stages. Dogs with hearing problems tend to bark more and respond poorly to commands. They may be astute at picking up smells and vibrations same goes with often react to refrigerators or garage doors opening even when they can’t hear them. Dogs with vision loss tend to bump into things, are tentative at going into new or dark areas, and may have behavior changes. Bring these problems to your veterinarian’s attention as the underlying condition can usually be treated.
In order to make sure that your senior dog has been properly cared for, you need to make sure you are knowledgeable on their needs. Listed here are five tips to help you better take care of your senior dog.
Arthritis
Arthritis and joint pain can often be managed with an appropriate exercise regime including gentle walking and swimming, if at all possible, to help maintain mobility. High quality dog supplements can also provide relief with no toxicity and side effects of prescription medication. Choosing a Quality Dog Bed is essential and if your pet is in need, and orthopedic dog bed is always a wise choice. A dog's bed provides comfort and allows your dog to get the rest that they need to attend their best.
Exercise for Senior Dogs
Exercise is another aspect of preventive geriatric take care of your dog. You should definitely keep your dog going because he gets older-if he is cooped up or kept laying, his body will deteriorate much more quickly. Jogging with your arthritic dog might not be appropriate, but swimming along with other low-impact activities are great for dogs with pain and arthritis. Keeping your dog active physically and mentally helps your dog stay in good shape. Of course, dogs should wear a reliable Dog Collar and Leash whenever outside, and Dog ID Tags are a must for any canine's safety.
Preventive Measures Nutrition
Many older pets benefit from a higher fiber, reduced calorie diet. As mentioned above, obesity is often the result of reduced exercise and overfeeding; and it is a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because older pets usually have different nutritional requirements, it’s a good idea to check with your vet about switching to some high quality, age appropriate diet. Many senior dogs take advantage of simple things like a small amount of plain yogurt put into the diet to keep the healthy flora within the intestinal tract in balance. A high quality fish oil is also a great addition towards the diet and helps to keep your senior dog’s skin and coat healthy and supple.
Dental Care
Older dogs tend to make more dental tartar and become vulnerable to more severe dental disease compared to what they did in their youth. Maintaining your pet’s mouth healthy can prevent spread of dental infections for the internal organs of the body. Most dogs want more frequent cleanings and more aggressive homecare to keep their mouths healthy within their golden years. The same dog that familiar with eat your shoes might not be as into chew toys and treats just like a senior.
Hearing and Vision Changes
Dogs excel at adapting to slow changes, so loss of vision or hearing can be difficult to detect in the early stages. Dogs with hearing problems tend to bark more and respond poorly to commands. They may be astute at picking up smells and vibrations same goes with often react to refrigerators or garage doors opening even when they can’t hear them. Dogs with vision loss tend to bump into things, are tentative at going into new or dark areas, and may have behavior changes. Bring these problems to your veterinarian’s attention as the underlying condition can usually be treated.
For senior dog care, the best thing to do in my opinion is keep checking their vitals like weight, BP and take him regularly to the vet.
ReplyDelete