Growing older is something that happens to all of us, and that includes our dogs. It may seem like it was just yesterday that you brought home a bouncing ball of fur who was trying to chew your shoes but today that puppy is a senior dog. It’s important to provide some extra love and care for your older dog to make him comfortable and happy.
Older dogs can start to show signs of age as early as six or seven years old. When you visit the vet you should ask about having a senior health check-up for your dog. Your vet can do a blood panel and run some other tests to check your dog’s kidney function and make sure he’s in good health for his age. You should have an annual senior check-up for your older dog past the age of seven. Be sure that your vet also checks out any lumps or bumps on your older dog. As dogs get older they can be more prone to tumors. These tumors may be benign, but your vet may want to do a small biopsy just to make sure. It’s always best to catch potential problems early.
As your dog gets older some of his senses will probably start to dull a bit. His hearing may not be as sharp as it once way. His eyesight may dim a little. Even senses of taste and smell won’t be as good as they used to be. These changes mean that your dog may need a little extra help.
Many older dogs begin having problems negotiating steps and stairs. This can be due to arthritis but it’s also possible that it’s because your dog doesn’t see as well as he once did. If your dog is having problems with stairs try walking down with him. He may be able to do fine if you are there to guide him. He may also have problems seeing at night which can make him reluctant to go outside to use the bathroom at night. Try walking outside with him in the evenings and see if this improves things.
If your dog can’t smell and taste things as well as he once did he may not be as interested in his food anymore. Go ahead and doctor up his food a little to make it smell and taste more appealing to him. If you feed kibble then you may need to add canned food to make it smell and taste better to your dog. Add some home cooked food to his meals to get him more interested in eating.
If your dog refuses to eat don’t assume that he has lost his appetite. Many older dogs have dental problems that keep them from eating no matter how hungry they are. Check your dog’s breath. If it’s very bad then he may have some serious tooth decay or a tooth that needs to be removed. Look at his teeth. Does he have any brown or green-looking teeth? Take your dog to the vet and have him or her do a dental check to see if dental problems are keeping your dog from eating. Your dog may need to have a bad tooth pulled or some other problem fixed.
Many older dogs have some problems with arthritis. If your dog has severe problems you should check with your vet to see if your dog needs some pain medication. You can also look for supplements that have helped many dogs, such as glucosamine-chondroitin and MSM. There are also products that contain shark cartilage and other ingredients said to help arthritis that may benefit your dog.
Older dogs can also benefit from sleeping on good bed. Orthopedic dog beds can make your dog feel better. Look for beds that have an egg-crate type mattress or which distribute the dog’s weight evenly across the whole mattress. This makes it much easier for your dog to get up without any pain. A heated bed will also help your dog.
There are many things you can do to help your geriatric dog feel better and live a more comfortable life. If he seems to be having difficulties you should always check with your vet. Otherwise, do what it takes to make him comfortable and happy.
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