Caring For Senior Dogs

Just like humans during aging process, genetics and lifestyle of your dog play a major role. If your dog has a strong genetic and had a good lifestyle so it’s a huge chance that your dog will suffer quite less than others.
Aging is the natural process of things and every owner should be prepared for it.
As the time passes, you may notice some common changes in your loving senior dog like their ability to hear, problem in seeing and moving around easily and also skin condition, appetite and energy level will not be the same as it used to be.
And the memory problem of senior dogs is quite common, It can make them forget previously learned cues.

So understanding the changes in your dogs behaviour can help you effectively deal with these behavior problems that might arise in your dog’s golden years.
Be sure to report all changes you see to your dog’s veterinarian. They will analyze all your past visited reports and suggest you the best for your senior dog.
“Aging is associated with a wide variety of physiological changes that compromise the ability of the body to respond to stress or change”


Spend Time With Your Loving Dog
Dogs also have some feelings like human and they also want our love.
Aging is a completely normal thing in this universe, but it is very difficult and painful to witness all the changes that aging may bring your beloved dog.
The best thing you can do is to live in the moment and cherish all the memories.
A geriatric dog has special ability to sense if their owner no longer play with them like they used to play before, and that makes them feel anguish.

Instead you can do these to make your senior dog happy  :

• Invite them up on the couch and caressing them with love while watching movie.

• Take a mat in your backyard on the grass and spread it under a tree, lie down with your dog.

• Since your dog is no longer a young once still they want you to play with them. So it’s good idea to take your dog in park and play with balls but keep in mind don’t let your dog run for too long.

Try to spend as much time as you can with your dog because they also want your love and your time

As dog grow up, they also lose their social life, they miss their shows and sporting events that they used to go and which makes them happy. And your dog don’t want to stay all day in your backyard with a less amount of social life. It’s easy for the Senior dog to feel left out.
So the one thing you can do is take your dog to dog show or sporting events, this will re-create their Golden memories.


How Fast Your Dog Ages?
A Great Dane is considered to be senior by roughly 5-6 years old.

A Chihuahua would likely only be middle-aged then, and probably not considered a senior until 10-11 years. Large breed dogs fall somewhere in between.

A Golden Retriever might be considered senior by 8-10 years of age.

Genetics, nutrition, environment, all of these play a role in how fast your dog ages.


Common Signs Of Disease In Senior Dogs
As our dogs get older, they are at a greater risk for many diseases.
The sign changes you might notice through your dog’s behaviour or activities. And sometimes it may vary with the disease that are affecting your dog’s health.
As a pet owner you must provide these information to your veterinarian regularly. So that veterinarian advice the best for your dog by analyzing all previous report.

Here we will discuss some most common disease in Senior dogs:

according to the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, cancer is the leading cause of death in pet dogs in the United States.


• Heart disease - Heart disease is an unfortunate but tolerable condition for your dog.

There are two main types of heart conditions: one affecting the heart valve and the other the heart muscle. Dogs with either type can be successfully managed through nutrition, exercise and, if necessary, medication.


• Joint or bone desiese -  Arthritis in older dogs is a very common problem, in fact research indicates that approx. 60% of dogs over the age of seven are likely to develop arthritic symptoms as they continue to age.
Also, certain medications and natural supplements can relieve pain, increase joint mobility, reduce inflammation and more.


• Diabetes - Routine is key to successfully caring for your diabetic
Although diabetes is a lifelong condition without a cure.


• Liver disease - Sometimes liver disease can happen as a result of aging. Sometimes it's genetic. But it can also be brought on by infection or trauma to the area. Some diseases and medications can hurt your dog's liver.

If your dog also have similar disease that we discussed above. You don’t need be sad about it. Instead of getting sad, just be with your dog and this will be the most important thing for your dog.
And Nothing is impossible in this world. right, just visit your veterinarian regularly they will surely give some medical advice for your loving dog and this will be enough for your dog to stay healthy with you in their Golden days.


Foods Especially Designed For Seniors
It’s been always a great idea to take an advice from your veterinarian before introducing any new food to your dog.
veterinarian can help you to choose the best food for your dog based on your dog’s individual health and lifestyle.
Foods that low in fat and have fewer in calories will fulfill the nutritional need of your dog.

Every dog, and especially every senior dog, is different when it comes to nutrition.
According to research L-carnitine, a vitamin- like compound made from amino acids found in red meats, fish, chicken, and dairy products, may help the body use fat for energy.
Diets lower in sodium are sometimes advocated for dogs with heart disease, while diets which help control phosphorus, calcium and other electrolyte levels are given to dogs with kidney disease.
There is also strong evidence emerging that dietary manipulation in dogs may be able to modify aspects of the aging process.

With a long-term  longitudinal study of dogs demonstrating both survival and health benefits from feeding a diet supplemented with antioxidants, fatty acids, and a prebiotic source.
Comparing to young adult dogs, the majority of senior dogs can easily gain from their diet.


Grooming Your Senior Dog
As your dog ages, they may have trouble keeping themselve clean. Older pets often appreciate grooming sessions, as you can reach some itchy spots that they no longer can.
Grooming sessions are a wonderful way to bond with your dog, and by doing so, it’ easy to notice any change you may see in your pet.
Older dogs are often less active and agile than they used to be, and they may suffer from aches and pains so be careful for that also.

Usually senior dogs suffer from irritated dry and flaky skins, if you do not treat them properly that can become even worse later.
Mats and Tangles are also a huge issue in pets.
Mats and tangles are not just hideous they are painful and damaging to a dog’s skin. If not treated properly the chance to arise in the outer and undercoat is more.
To prevention from mats and tangles, talk to your vet, they will suggest a good sampoo for your dog and that might be a good option.

And on the other hand,
Dental care is an important part of grooming and suggested by experts to perform regularly from a young age.

Dental disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed  conditions in dogs, dental disease can be occured in all breeds and sizes of canines.
Veterinarians find evidence of dental disease in many pets as early as 2-3 years of age.


Take Your Dog To Exercise

Just like humans when dog gets older, their immune system becomes waspish than before.
Take your dog to regular walk, It will help your dog to maintain ideal weight and fitness of bones and overall health. And to be honest dog loves walking with their love  ones!
If your dog doesn’t like to walk and doing exercises, just start with low impact walks and gradually increase the intensity and make it consistent because it will increase the days of his life.

Exercise can be increased gradually as long as it doesn’t make the dog feel worse.
If you want to make effective plan, then before starting an exercise plan, take your dog to your veterinarian. Your vet can then help you plan an effective exercise strategy.
Almost every dog loves going for a walk, and this rarely changes, regardless of age. Walking is an excellent, low-impact exercise that helps to maintain healthy body and mind for both you and your dog.

If dog-friendly pool or lake is located nearby your house.
Swimming is a great way to get some exercise. Swimming is often used as physical therapy for dogs that have undergone major surgery for injuries.
If your dog doesn’t know how to swim, speak with your veterinarian about finding a local recuperation centre that offers safe training for getting your dog into water.


Causes Of Weight Loosing
 Dental disease is certainly not the only disease that can lead to weight loss. Senior dogs frequently suffer from kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease and other conditions that may result in weight loss.
On the other hand, some senior dogs may have the diametrical problem. Some dogs will become unproductive with age, essentially becoming sluggish, and will gain weight as a result.

Specialized diets that are lower in calories as well as those that are high L-carnitine are available for blubbery or overweight dogs .
Overweight dogs have a higher chance of calamitous diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, skin disease, even cancer.

“you should also ask your veterinarian to show you how to evaluate your dog's body condition at home”


Final Thoughts
No matter at what stage your dog is right now, as they grow up they need more attention from their owners. You must treat them properly to make them feel positive in their Golden days. And make sure to care for their health conditions too because they don’t have language to communicate to tell you their circumstances.