In their senior years, the dogs suffer from the same problems and changes as their human counterparts. Like humans, older dogs are more resistant to physical activity and exercise. They may be unable to move, fatigued, and have joint pain. Arthritis and degenerative diseases can cause or worsen these changes.
As they age, the dogs’ metabolism naturally slows down. Senior dogs are likely to gain weight, which can cause muscle or joint problems to become more severe, and are more susceptible to temperature changes. Certain dogs who age might lose weight and muscles. It could be due to the liver, kidney, dental or endocrine issues.
Taking Care of Senior Pets
Senior dogs who have spent their lives serving and caring for your family deserve the best care possible. When your pet is a senior, it may be necessary to change your habits. Senior dogs require extra attention, as do younger dogs. Keep reading for tips regarding correctly caring for your old dogs.
1. Regulate Activity
Your dog should regularly engage in physical exercise without excessive effort to ensure strong muscles, joints, and bones. Their lungs and heart are less robust than they were in the past. Be cautious in hot weather or if your dog hasn’t been active.
When walking, ensure that you have water that your pet can drink and ensure that he has sufficient breaks. A sedentary dog can increase the chance of being overweight and having mobility issues.
For geriatric pets in Stockton, you can look for a facility that specializes in old age pet maintenance. You can inquire for suggestions and recommendations from your peers or you can search online for the best results available in your area.
2. Healthy Weight
Being healthy and weight-wise is essential for your pet’s overall health as they age because weight gain or decrease can create the conditions for future health problems. If you’re looking to do this, ensure that your pet is eating a healthy diet appropriate to their lifestyle and age, and you may want to consider offering them nutritional supplements that complement their diet.
If your pet is obese, it is be prone to internal illnesses that can be fatal to your pet. You need to get in touch with a pet internal medicine specialist to check your pet for internal ailments.
3. Dental Care
Most dogs do not enjoy when their owners clean their teeth, which is why most pet owners do not get their dogs accustomed to brushing their teeth. But, dental problems will arise once your dog is of age. Of course, brushing your dog’s teeth could be beneficial and is an excellent idea to maintain her dental health.
If this is a task that seems impossible and stressful for you and your dog, offer her some treats for her teeth instead. Make sure to get your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned each year by your vet.
On the other hand, for other problems like bone fracture and crushed injuries, you need to contact a vet surgeon to perform the procedure.
4. Provide Comfort
If your dog is old and is blind or hearing impaired, they might have difficulty following the directions given, finding their bed, or moving about. Vision or hearing impaired pets could be easily agitated, which can cause them to be disturbed or snap. Create a cozy space for your pet and teach them how to move around the house, keeping them safe and secure.
It is possible to ensure that your pet is cozy and warm at home as they age by providing them with sweaters when it’s cold, soft bed bedding and a ramp to the steps, and rugs on floors made of hardwood that could be slippery. Senior pets shouldn’t be outside in cold, hot, or wet weather.
5. Regular Vet Visit
Maintain your dog’s health by taking your dog for a visit to the veterinarian every six months, at the very minimum. It’s a heartbreaking experience; however, as dogs get older and weaken their immune systems, they can suffer and cause many health problems. The doctor will not just be able to address any problems that have already occurred and treat them, but they’ll be able to prevent other issues from occurring.
