We are often caught off guard when our beloved pet starts to show signs of aging. It’s just an unfortunate fact of life that dogs age faster than humans. Good health care should already be a regular part of your routine. But as your pet gets older they will need even more care. Each breed has different life spans, so do your research and be prepared for making adjustments to diet, health care, bedding, etc. to make your pet as comfortable as possible and to possibly extend their life.
While taking care of your aging dog you need to adapt his or her environment for comfort. As dogs get older, they develop aches, joint pain, generalized weakness and an almost definite increase in medical problems.
Adjust Living Arrangements
A good first step is to adjust your pet’s surroundings to minimize discomfort. Protect them from excessive heat and cold. As dogs age they are less able to regulate their body temperature.
Older dogs can experience hearing loss and declining eyesight. Accommodate for safety as well.
Exercise is still very important
Try to give your dog regular exercise. Make sure your dogs health matches his exercise routine. If your dog exhibits signs of heavy panting or opposes exercise you need to change his routine.
Change Diet
Adapt his diet and feeding schedule to his needs. As dogs age they are less active and need fewer calories. Prescription diets are available. Discuss special diets with your veterinarian.
Dental Care
Senior dogs require special dental care. They are more likely to develop gum problems and disease. Complete dental cleaning should be performed by your Veterinarian every six months which does require anesthesia. However, many vets now offer non-anesthesia dental cleanings. The earlier and more regular you do this, the less of a problem it will be as your dog gets older.
Extra Grooming
Older dogs need extra bathing and grooming. Dry skin can be a normal part of aging or it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. They also require more frequent nail trimming.
Continue with bi-annual vet exams. Senior dogs need extra care with their aging problems. Be sure to have blood work run regularly to ensure you have early warning of any medical changes.