How To Care For Old Pet Dogs

By Author: GreatVet
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When a dog ages, their hearing as well as eye vision gets affected. Also, they become less mobile. Still, it doesn’t mean that the inevitable is about to happen and they can easily live their golden years with a little bit of care.


Just like our life, a pet’s medicines and proper care also helps in easing them into the changes which will follow in case of health issues. Along with it, consulting with a veterinarian near your home for old dog care is essential.


When it comes to their breeds, not all of them age equally. So, according to the breed of your dog, you have to take precautionary measures as time passes by. In this article, we’ll discuss the tips for caring for an older dog.


Tips for Caring for an Elderly Dog:

As compared to puppies and adult dogs, senior dogs need a different type of care. Just make sure that you follow a couple of things differently for your dog in order to keep them healthy.


Regular Exercise: Just like humans, old dogs also feel pain in their body & also face difficulty ...
... while doing some other physical activities. When they gain weight, it becomes tougher than before.


However, exercise helps your dog by keeping their health stable. Take your dog to gentle walks and then monitor their breathing. Along with physical health, mental health also matters a lot. Keeping your pet involved with puzzles makes their normal activities sharp enough.


Age Appropriate Diet: Aging dogs also face food chewing, digestive, lack of appetite, and others. Also, with a selective type of food, it is tough to maintain the energy level of your pet dog all the time. Adding more fiber & decreasing carbohydrates helps in maintaining the weight of your dog. The ideal option is to find the Best Veterinarians Near You as there could be an instance of an emergency so taking to a vet who is also available 24/7 for any emergencies is essential. Only a good vet can suggest the perfect diet plan for your pet dog depending upon his/her breed.


Maintaining Oral Health: As your dog ages, maintaining dental hygiene becomes tougher than before. It is quite common if they miss a teeth or two. Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth along with professional cleaning can really prevent harmful tooth decay & diseases. Even at the age of 2 or 3, some dogs start suffering from dental issues and it is a wise choice to maintain the dog’s oral health from the beginning itself.


If your dog isn’t a fan of it, try giving him/her toys as well as dental treats. Apart from it, take your dog to the veterinarian once a year for a full dental checkup of your dog.


Pay Attention to Change in Behaviour: Whenever you see any change in your dog’s weight gain or loss, appetite, lesions, behavior, or any other thing, just take your dog immediately to your vet. The best option is to take action ASAP and not delay.


Cancer/Tumour Specific Treatment (If Detected): Most of the old pet dogs suffer from cancer or tumor.so whenever you feel like they are behaving abnormally, you need to take him/her to the vet immediately. Apart from veterinarian consultation, it is best to feed your dog food with a high percentage of antioxidants, fiber, vitamin D3, fish oils, Zinc, and many more. Some of them help in stopping the spreading of cancerous cells, while others boost the immunity as well as the activeness of your old pet dog.


Seniorize your house: Just like you arrange the things at your home according to a puppy, you also have to do it again for your older dog with special accommodations. For old dogs with joint issues or hip dysplasia, you may consider stairs or a special ramp so they can easily get inside the car or can join you on your bed. Apart from it, always keep food as well as water in the areas where they can reach easily (Best option for vision-impaired dogs).Also,avoid having slippery floor areas that won’t bother your old dog’s weak legs. It is one of the best-chosen options for joint help for older dogs.


Regular Visits with your Veterinarian: Always make sure that you take your buddy to the vet at least twice a year even if he/she looks healthy. If not, make it your first priority to schedule visits once every 3-4 months. You may never know the hidden diseases your pet might have and it is much cheaper to prevent those diseases rather than treating them. Also, it is best to make sure whether your dog is underweight, overweight, tall, or short because any kind of abnormality can be the result of a disease. You may also ask your vet the method of measuring your pet’s weight and height at home.


Buckle up when riding a car: If you are driving with your dog to any place, always make sure to use seat belts on them. Vets in most cities say that not all old dogs are used to car rides. That’s why you as a hooman must buckle them up while riding a car even for the short rides.


Protection From Extreme Weather Conditions: Any kind of discomfort with extreme weather conditions may appear during your dog’s senior years and it doesn’t matter if he/she ever had a problem with cold or heat before. In cold weather, they may benefit from dog boots (for snow or ice) and a fleece blanket.


In summers, you must make sure to get your dog into the shade and give him/her fresh and cool water. Also, you can find different types of cooling coats and beds which are one of the best options in summers for old dogs.


Conclusion:

As we all know now, not all of the dogs age equally but we are sure that they all will get old at some point. Aging is a well-known natural process of things and every pet owner should always be prepared for it.


When a pet dog becomes old, they will have more trouble in walking, won’t have that much energy, and might develop hearing loss or cataracts, along with other issues. This might upset you but in fact, these things won't ever happen overnight and your pet dog will have time to learn and adapt to new circumstances.


Depending on the city where you are based, finding a veterinarian online is the easiest option in case of an emergency or during times where you might need a vet to visit you at home instead of taking your senior dog to a clinic. If you are living in Chicago, you can see the list of all 24/7 Emergency Vets in your Area and contact them to discuss it. Similarly, for all pet parents in Los Angeles, you can find a Mobile Vet Near You as well. At GreatVet we have made the process of connecting pet owners to the vets a simpler one with a couple of clicks.


Older dogs will surely have some special requirements that need to be met and you will have to learn how to care for a senior dog. With proper elderly dog care as well as attention, your pets will be able to maintain their health and continue to lead a happy life for many years to come.

This article is presented by GreatVet which is an exclusive platform to match pet parents with the top veterinarians in their area. Our commitment is creating a fair, transparent and data-driven experience for both veterinarians and pet parents. The GreatVet platform is completely dedicated to providing a great experience for pet parents and helps them connect with the right vets on the basis of quality and data. Apart from connecting pet patients with highly qualified vets, this platform also helps them vets promote, engage, and acquire new pet patients. The GreatVet platform is built alongside veterinarians, veterinarian clinics, and animal hospitals to empower them with a digital-first platform that genuinely showcases who they are and their quality.