Tips for Your Ageing Dog
Tips for Your Ageing Dog
by Kathy Chapman
Dogs, man’s beloved best friend, are unfortunately not immune to the effects of ageing, despite how much we wish they could live forever. In fact, the average dog lives for approximately 12 years, with some dogs well exceeding this age!
Caring for your ageing pet can be difficult to navigate. They may experience age-related illnesses such as dementia and incontinence that are complex to manage. It is important to recognize the changing needs of your dog and ensure that you adapt your home to meet those needs.
Common signs of ageing are a loss of energy, poor eyesight and/or hearing, difficulty chewing some foods, and mobility difficulties caused by arthritis and joint pain. There isn’t a set age that dogs become classed as ‘senior’ as such, so it is important to look out for common signs so that you can take the necessary steps towards building a comfortable life for their old age.
Each sign of ageing can have a detrimental effect on your dog’s quality of life, so we have compiled a list of useful tips that will help you to ensure that your old buddy remains both happy and healthy for as long as possible!
Tips for Your Ageing Dog-Regularly-Scheduled Vet Visits
Not only does their immune system gradually become weaker over time, making them much more susceptible to illness, but they may also develop issues such as joint pain, cysts, and eye conditions.
To prevent the build-up of any health issues , it is generally recommended to schedule check-ups every 6 months. This will help you identify any issues in their early stages, making them easier to treat and manage.
Keep Up the Exercise
As your dog becomes slower and less energetic, it’s tempting to assume that they require less exercise and stimulation. This can lead to fewer walks and play sessions, instead giving way to a more sedentary lifestyle that’s filled with special treats. This can, however, create further problems for your pooch, causing them to gain weight, lose muscle mass, develop stiffer joints, and become bored.
Rather than abandoning your walks altogether, it is more prudent to seek out shorter, less challenging walks for your dog to take at their own pace, and rely on your dog to let you know when they’ve had enough. If you are still concerned about the effect of exercise on your dog’s ageing joints, YuMove have developed a supplement designed especially for elderly dogs that helps to aid their mobility. Containing glucosamine for dogs, this supplement helps keep your pet flexible and mobile, reducing the pain associated with joint stiffness that often hinders movement. To learn more about glucosamine for dogs and the science behind how it works, check out YuMove’s website.
Look After Their Oral Health
Maintaining your dog’s oral health throughout their life span becomes even more important in their later years. Poor dental hygiene can lead to tooth loss for dogs as they age. They find it more difficult to eat their food and are more likely to experience discomfort and pain when eating. Additionally, good dental care can help to make you aware of any unseen, internal issues your dog may be experiencing at an early stage. For example, checking the color of your dog’s gums can notify you to conditions such as dehydration or infections.
To maintain their oral health, it’s crucial that you either help your dog clean their teeth daily or, if they are not a fan of this, provide dental chews and toys that can help remove plaque and keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
Adapt Your Home to Suit Their Needs
As dogs age, they may find it increasingly difficult to get around the home. Particularly if they develop arthritis, osteoporosis or vision difficulties. Stairs can be particularly difficult for old age dogs! This means that it’s necessary to adapt your home and routine as appropriate to ensure that your dog is comfortable. Stairs can put stress on the dog’s joints and muscles. If your dog would usually sleep upstairs with you, it is important to set up a quiet and comfortable space downstairs. You could even sleep there with them for the first night or two, until they are used to their new sleep spot!
Safety gates may be required on stairs to prevent your pooch from attempting to climb up them. This is for their own safety and comfort. If they find jumping up to lay beside you difficult, you can create a small doggy ramp to aid their climb. Or put a comfy collection of cushions and blankets by your feet for them to curl up in.
If your dog develops loss of sight in their old age, it is crucial that you are able to help them navigate through the house until they are confident. You will then need to ensure that the layout of your home remains the same. No furniture moved or changed around prevents confusion and stops them from bumping into objects.
Tips for Your Ageing Dog-Food and Grooming Time
Dogs require a balanced diet to thrive and maintain their health, even in their old age. Just like elderly humans, a drop in energy levels and, consequently, activity, can lead to obesity in dogs. This means that it’s crucial to alter your dog’s diet to complement their change in activity levels. The vast majority of dog food brands provide a special senior diet that provides all your dog’s nutritional requirements in low-fat food with fewer calories. Your only issue will be identifying one that your furry friend approves of!
Maintaining frequent grooming sessions helps to strengthen the bond between you and your beloved pooch. It also helps to keep their skin and coat in tip-top condition. Senior dogs are more prone to skin irritations. These can be exacerbated by a lack of proper grooming, therefore it is beneficial for your elderly pup to be brushed on a regular basis.
Make sure you give your pooch lots of love and affection to help ease any anxiety they may have developed. Spend as much time with them as you can spare. This will aid their mental and emotional wellbeing, and help them to feel secure. Particularly if they have sight or hearing difficulties. Remember, you are most likely your dog’s ‘safe space’. Time spent walking, playing, and cuddling up to you is likely to help alleviate any anxiety of stress.
The most important tip of all is to cherish every single moment with your furry friend. Time goes by quickly. Before you know it, your wildly energetic, mischievous puppy will become an old timer who needs a lot more TLC.
