Caring for an Aging Dog, New Tricks Your Old Dog Needs You to Learn

Our aging dogs are above all part of the family, and as such they deserve the best health care we can provide them. Learning the best foods for an aging dog, the best joint protection tactics, and the top supplements to keep him comfortable for a long pain free life can be a daunting task. Regular vet visits and owner observations are a vital combination for managing your aging pets health as well. That is why I have done the research and put together a few tips to help you begin Caring For an Aging Dog of your own. Easy to follow information covers simple tasks you can easily implement into your dogs day; tasks that will benefit his health and your peace of mind. It may just be time you learn a few tricks your dog can enjoy!

Senior Specific Dog Food

Many things in your dog will change as he/she begins to age, nutritional requirements are among the most important. Senior and aging dog nutritional needs are different than those for younger dogs and pups. Here are 6 things to consider for your aging dogs nutritional needs:

1. Lower-caloric intake
2. Higher-fiber intake
3. Senior dog specific dog foods
4. Low fat/sodium treats
5. More water intake
6. Supplements

What Are Senior Specific Dog Foods?

One of the greatest disservices we do for our aging dogs is allow them to get obese. As their activity slows over the years, so does their metabolism. Thus, we have to take measures to provide a healthy senior specific food source for our "mid-life crisis" canines. If your dog gets fat, this can present a greater probability for disease and illness. Senior specific dog foods have a revised formula to help control weight issue as well as offering intervention for "breed specific" conditions.

Today, your veterinarian has at his/her disposal a myriad of Senior Dog Food formulas, and thus can find the correct choice for your aging dogs breed or condition. It is important to discuss what your vet feels will be the best combination of cost and nutrition for your furry best friend.

The Importance of Getting Your Aging Dog Regular Veterinarian Check-ups

Like humans, as dogs age they can encounter health issues. If diseases, conditions, and general aging indicators get ignored, those later years can make for a difficult life. The best way to keep your aging or senior canine in good shape, is to get regular veterinarian check-ups. Regularly visiting your vet can save you money, and painful heartache.

When you take your pet for regular vet check-ups, this familiarizes the dog doctor with your animal. The check-ups create records for grading and comparing through the years. Visits provide priceless records that help in early detection of dog disorders. Your vet should be the one person that knows your aging dog better than you!

Along with those regular vet checks, it is your duty as a pet owner to keep an eye on your dog. Watch for certain changes and conditions that may be happening to your aging dog. Here are few things you can watch for:

You should be monitoring your pet on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Let your vet know if you find any suspicions about your senior dogs health.

Aging Signs, Diseases, and Conditions in Dogs

• Heart Disease- Difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss
• Arthritis- Stiffness, limping, trouble getting up, trouble jumping, trouble climbing stairs
• Cancer- Lumps or bumps, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal bloating
• Kidney or Liver Disease- Change in weight, appetite, urination, or water consumption
• Diabetes- Weight loss, weight gain, thirsty, increased urination, excess in pee-pee accidents
• Cognitive (brain) Disorders- Disorientation, vocalizations, uncharacteristic pee-pee accidents, any change in regular behaviour
• Dental Disease- Loss of appetite, bad breath, bleeding gums

If you notice your dog is displaying any of these symptoms or signs, call your vet for a check-up right away!

Pay Attention to Your Middle Aged Dogs Joint Health

Arthritis is another concern when it comes to your senior pets health. It is also known as degenerative joint disease, and afflicts 1 out of 5 adult dogs, but the ratio grows higher as your dog ages. Joint problems of this nature are considered chronic and can be very painful, limiting your dogs motion. K9 Arthritis is caused by the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the bones, preventing them from rubbing directly against one another at the joint. This joint condition may be the result of regular wear and tear, as a result of an injury, or because of the degenerative disease itself.

What You Can Do to Help Aging Dogs Cope with Arthritis

Arthritis in not something that is curable, but there are ways you can help your dog to manage it:

• Consult your Veterinarian (Regular vet visits help to curb any surprise finding in your older dogs health. Early detection is always best)
• Give your dog a natural joint supplement (Dasuquin is one natural joint dynamo that works together with glucosamine and chondroitin to protect cartilage)
• Prevent weight gain (senior specific dog foods, and low-fat snacks like carrots keep weight appropriate. An over weight dog compounds the joint pain as excess weight adds pressure to the painful bone-on-bone contact)
• Keep him exercising and moving as much as possible (Natural lubrication is increased through movement. This also keeps his heart and weight healthy)
• Keep nails trimmed back (long nails compound an arthritic dogs unstable condition by slipping and sliding on certain surfaces)
• Make sure your dog has a comfortable soft bed (never hard cold cement patios!)
• Raise feeding dishes off of the ground for your stiff dog (reduces stretching and support issues)
• Provide non-skid ramps for cars, stairs, and backdoor access (don't force your dog into isolation because he has joint pain, provide him pain-free access to his family)
• Get a lifting harness (these disperse the weight so your aging dog won't get hurt. Check with your vet for the type and size that is best suited for your dog)