| Even though advances in medicine and nutrition have | | | | rest can help to alleviate their pain. Dog beds made |
| prolonged the life span of dogs more than ever | | | | of orthopedic foam can also provide better comfort. |
| before, old age is still inevitable. Usually, small breeds | | | | You will also notice that your dog is no longer |
| can live longer than the larger breeds. The changes | | | | responding to stimuli as quickly as before. Keeping |
| and problems that an aging dog might experience are | | | | them active is one of the best ways to combat their |
| very similar to those experienced by humans and | | | | slowly deteriorating sensory abilities. Appropriate |
| need special geriatric care to combat their declining | | | | training routines and daily exercise is a must if you |
| health. | | | | want to keep their senses sharp. |
| The physical and cognitive abilities of dogs start to | | | | The most important change that you might have to |
| decline gradually as they approach their senior years. | | | | make in your aging dogs life will be regarding diet. If |
| They also take much longer to recover from injury | | | | you keep feeding them their regular diet then your |
| or sickness. Early detection and timely treatment of | | | | dog has a risk of obesity. Dog foods that are |
| any condition will give them a better chance to lead a | | | | specially formulated for older dogs will provide the |
| near normal life. To ensure a comfortable life for your | | | | special nutritional requirements of their aging body |
| dog during its senior years you should consult your | | | | and will also help to maintain their weight. |
| vet about an appropriate geriatric health care plan for | | | | While caring for your senior dog, make sure to |
| your dog. | | | | include a weekly massage. This will not only make |
| While regular veterinary exams are important | | | | your dog ecstatic but will give you a chance to check |
| throughout your dogs life, they become absolutely | | | | for any abnormal lumps or swelling in their body. |
| essential as they start to approach their senior years. | | | | Brushing your dogs coat at least once a week will |
| Most probably, a twice-a-year general geriatric exam | | | | keep their skin stimulated and healthy. |
| will be recommended by your vet and this might | | | | Another common problem that your aging dog will |
| involve a number of lab tests including blood tests. | | | | encounter is their inability to "hold it" it for long. They |
| If your dog displays any abnormalities in its activities | | | | might need to go out more often and some might |
| or behavior then make sure to consult your vet as | | | | even wet their bedding. Consult your vet for bladder |
| soon as possible. This is because even a small | | | | control medications and buying water-proof bedding |
| problem that might seem insignificant can become | | | | might be a good option. |
| serious very quickly in aging dogs. | | | | While vet care and timely treatments can make your |
| One of the first aging sign that you will notice in your | | | | senior dogs life more comfortable, the most |
| dog is probably arthritis. Consult your vet for joint | | | | important thing that you can do for your senior dog |
| supplements and pain relievers to make their | | | | is to keep on loving them, just as you did when they |
| condition more bearable. A warm place to sleep and | | | | were active and young. |