Food & Care

As our beloved furry friends age, they deserve our utmost care and attention to ensure their golden years are comfortable and enjoyable. Just like humans, dogs go through various physical and mental changes as they get older. To provide the best quality of life for your senior dog, it’s essential to adapt their care routine to meet their evolving needs. In this blog, we’ll explore some valuable tips and insights on how to take care of an elderly dog.

Regular Veterinary Check-Ups

Just as with humans, preventive healthcare is paramount for senior dogs. Schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian to monitor your dog’s health. These check-ups can catch potential issues early, ensuring prompt treatment and a higher quality of life.

Balanced Diet

Diet plays a crucial role in your senior dog’s health. Consult with your vet to determine the best diet for your dog’s age, breed, and any specific health concerns. Senior dog food often contains nutrients tailored to their needs, including joint support and easier-to-digest ingredients.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity can exacerbate health problems in older dogs. Keep a close eye on your dog’s weight, and if necessary, adjust their diet and exercise routine accordingly. Maintaining a healthy weight can alleviate strain on their joints and organs.

Adequate Exercise

While senior dogs may not be as energetic as their younger counterparts, regular exercise is still essential. Adjust the intensity and duration of walks or playtime to match their energy levels and physical condition. Low-impact exercises like swimming can be gentle on aging joints.

Also try to manage your expectations when it comes to their capabilities. Don’t try to make your older dog go on those extended hikes you used to be able to do together. A good tip is to keep your walks short but repetitive if able. For example, instead of one 30 minute walk a day, three 10 minute walks spaced out throughout the day is much better.

Joint Care

Arthritis and joint pain are common in elderly dogs. Provide joint supplements, as recommended by your vet, and consider providing soft bedding to alleviate pressure on their joints. Additionally, ramps or steps can help them access higher surfaces more comfortably.

Dental Care

Oral health is often overlooked but critical in senior dogs. Regularly brush their teeth and provide dental chews or toys to help prevent dental issues that can lead to pain and infection.

Mental Stimulation

Mental health is as important as physical health for senior dogs. Engage their minds with puzzle toys, interactive games, and new experiences. This can help prevent cognitive decline and keep them mentally sharp.

Adapt the Environment

Make necessary modifications to your home to accommodate your aging dog. Many modern style flooring types can be quite slippery and treacherous for dogs which can result in falls. Non-slip rugs or mats can provide stability on slippery floors, and ramps can assist with navigating stairs.

Be Mindful of the Weather

Extreme temperatures can be tough on older dogs. Ensure they are comfortable in hot weather with access to shade and water, and keep them warm in colder months with cozy bedding and shelter.

Chiropractic Care

Last, but definitely not the least, consider adding chiropractic care to your dog’s wellness plans. One of the most common reasons dogs are euthanized is mobility problems. If you can maintain your dog’s ability to move freely and keep them comfortable you can extend the time until it becomes necessary to say goodbye.

Conclusion

Caring for an elderly dog can be a rewarding experience as you provide them with a comfortable and loving environment in their later years. By following these tips, consulting your veterinarian regularly, getting regular chiropractic care and being attentive to your dog’s changing needs, you can ensure that your senior canine companion enjoys a happy and healthy retirement.

A tough fact of life is that emergencies happen. When we think about emergency plans, we often think about insurance and that is great. Insurance is important to make sure you and your family are taken care of in desperate situations. Something we don’t often think about is what happens to our pets in different situations. There is more to think about in a practical situation than just monetary coverage. Here is a list of things to consider when thinking about how to deal with certain situations

1. Fire: Does the fire department know what animals are living in the house? Many organizations provide stickers that affix to your front door that notify them of what and how many animals are living in the house. Also to consider is do they know how to find them? This is particularly the case with cats who may have a tendency to favour difficult to find and out of the way spots to sleep in. If your cat or dog has a favourite spot to hang out in, consider writing that on that sticker in the front window.

2. Incidents While on Vacation: You’re on vacation and you have a professional boarder/pet sitter taking care of your pets. Something that they should be informed of is what happens to your pets if something happens to you? You should inform them of who to take your pets to whether that be a friend or a family member. As well, make sure you have that discussion with a friend or family member about taking care of your pet if something happens to you.

3.Flooding: This pertains to any reason that you may have to move out of your house for a period of time. Where are you going to go? You should keep in mind a pet-friendly hotel so if something happens in the middle of the night, you don’t have to sit around researching a hotel that will accommodate your furry family members.

4. Nearest Emergency Clinic: Have you put thought ahead of time about where the nearest emergency veterinary clinic is? When an injury or emergency health concerns happens, the last thing you want to be doing is wasting time and searching online for somewhere to take your pet. Which clinics are also open after hours? This is also something to consider.

These are just a few examples of things that you should consider being prepared for. While insurance is a great way to make sure that these issues don’t put you in a financial burden, you still need to consider the practicality of what to do in an emergency situation.

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