As Your Dog Ages, How To Make Sure They Live Longer And Healthier

As You Dog Ages, How To Make Sure They Live Longer And Healthier

* How To Manage An Aging Dogs Needs

When it comes to having a dog, one of the challenges is helping them maintain a good quality of life as they age. The threat of a dog becoming ill and possibly dying can be hard for many people to handle, especially after so many years spent together. Although an elderly dog may be more work, they still deserve your utmost attention in their waning years. Here are some tips to help you maintain the health and spirits of an aging dog, both for the animal and yourself.

* Proper Care

Dog needs additional care as they gets older. What's more, if you take very good care of your dog as they age, you'll be able to waylay many of the signs of aging, ensuring that your dog doesn't get ill earlier than necessary. Visiting the vet every year can help reduce the chances of things like distemper or hepatitis, along with the diseases that ticks, fleas and mosquitos can carry. You should also have your dog checked for parasites each year to make sure his digestive health is maintained. Exercise is vital for a dog as they age. Many times, a dog

will lose energy with age and start to gain weight. Owners see a dog not wanting to exercise and will all too often oblige. But even if your dog has no desire to walk, you should still take them out on a regular schedule until they can no longer do it.

* Aging Signs

As a dog ages, you'll start to notice certain signs. For example, an aged dog will grow more lethargic, will start to sleep much more, and will generally lose enthusiasm for some of the things they used to get so happy about. An older dog will also respond more severely to weather conditions, avoiding cold or heat. They might also be stiff after sleeping and show signs of dehydration when the weather gets warm. Additionally, hearing loss is a very common problem, along with blindness - something that is hard to notice in many breeds. The coat and skin will alter as well, as dogs age - with less oil in their coats and stiffer, drier skin in general. They may also have trouble healing from wounds and may get sick as they age due to weaker immune systems. Giving your dog oily fish based dog treats such as Woofs Perch or Sprats can help with this, providing and extra helping hand in the form of Omega 3.

* Special Care With Age

It is important to realize that an aging dog cannot be kept alive indefinitely, but you can make them more comfortable and give your family time to come to terms with the inevitable. Start avoiding certain challenges, such as stairs, and reduce thier calorie intake to keep him healthy as they get older. You may want to take your pet to the vet more often as well to check for diseases and make sure your dog is not in pain in any way that you might have missed.

Exercise is very important, even when your dog would rather not walk. The only time you should not walk your dog is if they are in obvious pain or simply will not go. If you start treating your dog like an invalid when they are otherwise rather healthy, you'll likely only accelerate the aging process. Dogs, no matter their age, want to have fun and enjoy their families. Give them that joy and reduce sources of potential stress and pain, and life will be much easier for everyone.

You'll be able to have a much better time as you approach the inevitable, and your dog will be comfortable.

We hope you've enjoyed this blog post.

It might be worth taking a look at Woofs various fish-based dog treats while you're here. They are especially good for aging dogs teeth, coat and immune system, we bet your dog will thank you for it.