Taking Care of a Senior Dog
When dogs age, looking after them becomes harder. Dog owners often face challenges with their dog’s incontinence and dementia and exploring through the maze of end-time care decisions.
Here are a few ways to look after your senior dog and keep them happy and healthy while they experience some of the difficulties that come with ageing.
- Visit a vet twice a year
Now is the time to take your dog to the vet twice a year instead of once a year. This suggestion comes from the experts who state that doing this will create a baseline for your dog’s health and make sure that health abnormalities that are clinically silent are diagnosed sooner instead of later.
- Maintain a healthy diet
It is surely tempting to begin feeding your dog more in their senior age, however, it is important to maintain their diet balanced and healthy. Too much feeding during this stage of life can lead to weight gain and inflammation, which may reduce your pet’s life quality.
- Provide supplements as recommended by the vet
Besides keeping the same nutrition-rich diet your pet is used to, ask your veterinarian about including some supplements like fish oil (good for joints, bones, coat and skin), glucosamine (healthy for joints), and probiotics (ideal for stomach health). When consumed regularly over time, these supplements can make a huge difference in your pet’s health and you can just add these to your pets regular meals.
- Look out for subtle signs of pain
Dogs can not speak, so it is the job of the caregiver to look out for signs they could be in discomfort. A few things to watch out for include difficulties changing position, limping, difficulties jumping or stair climbing, and lying down while drinking or eating – all of these might implicate that your dog needs a visit at the vet.
- Monitor your pet’s activity levels
Just because your pet is ageing doesn’t mean that walks and playtime will have to stop. However, it does mean that they may require some more support to be active. When deciding on the activity duration be mindful of when they stop and never force them to overdo it. You may also introduce some new activities. For example, swimming is excellent for your pet’s joints and weight management.
- Go for adventures
Spending some nice time with your pet becomes really important when they become seniors. Spend a lot of time together and provide them with all new sights, sounds and smells to experience by regularly going on adventures together. Get in your car and visit a nearby beach, park or forest reserve where you usually don’t visit for a fun excursion that will refresh both your days.
Your pet’s demands will inevitably change when they age. Pay attention carefully and make sure to offer them all the kindness they deserve. Passing time together and appreciating every moment can be the best approach to enjoy your pet’s senior years.
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