As your dog gets older the bond you have with it will strengthen. It will become a companion, a best friend, and a trusted ally, the true definition of mans best friend. To improve your dogs quality of life as it ages it is important to understand the slight changes and to make adjustments to make your pooches life a better one.
What are the signs of an aging dog?
Like us humans there are many changes a dog will undergo as it gets older, and like us these can manifest in the physical and mental. A greying around the nose and degenerative changes indicate an aging dog, as does a lack of activity in comparison to early life.
Doggy senses begin to lose their strength as old age begins, and owners may notice a clouding of the eyes, and hearing being impaired. Most dogs gradually lose vision as they age and largely they cope surprisingly well, but it is very important to keep your home familiar to help your pet move around. Similarly with hearing dogs handle this quite well, although commanding a deaf dog can be tricky, it is possible because by now you should have a more instinctive bond with your dog. The biggest aid to loss of senses is to keep your dog in familiar surroundings in which it can feel confident and safe.
How can we help our older dog?
Aching joints, muscles, and arthritis are common in older dogs and you may notice that your animal no longer has the energy for playing. Instead your best friend is more content with just resting more and not stressing its bones and muscles; medication can ease the effects but ultimately it is better to let your dog just rest in its old age. Take the time to be close to your pet. Despite this lower rate of activity, exercise is still important for your dog as weight gain would also cause stress on bones and joints. A small and manageable walking routine should be enough to keep your pooch exercised as it heads into retirement age. Older dogs also find it more difficult to deal with fluctuations in temperature so a well balanced climate in your home is best.
Much of the effects of aging in dog’s mirror those that occur in humans, and the remedy for these issues are also much the same. You also need to continue to do the things you did to protect your animal when it was younger, such as preventing and fighting fleas with a product like
Frontline Plus for Dogs.
