Is your furry friend getting old? Make sure you do your best for his happy senior years. Caring for old dogs can be very problematic, but also minimal. Every dog is different, but you can always make their life easier.
Comfort first
Aging in dogs does not happen overnight, rather it creeps up. They are most often betrayed by the joints. You notice that the dog limps a little in the morning or does not want to go up the stairs. Vision and hearing often get worse as well, so don’t be fooled if the dog “ignores” you. A number of senior dogs also suffer from heart or kidney problems, which you can recognize, for example, by the fact that they drink more or are unusually tired.
Precisely because these problems deepen slowly, we get used to them together with our dog, and sometimes it is not immediately clear to us how we should relieve the animal. Sometimes even animals make it difficult for us.
“Jack’s still fit, but he’s got big bruises on his knuckles, so we got him an orthopedic mattress. So far he seems fine, but I don’t know how he’ll be in the summer when he’s always lying on the pavement.” says Mrs. Jana, the owner of the twelve-year-old Doberman Jack.
You don’t have to rebuild the whole house right away, but a few little things will make life incredibly easier for your dog:
- A proper bed: Forget the thin cloth on the ground. A senior dog needs an orthopedic mattress or at least a well-padded bed that insulates from the cold and does not put pressure on the joints.
- Rugs for stability: If you have a slippery floating floor or tiles in your home, it’s like walking on ice for an old dog. All it takes is a few cheap treads in strategic places to keep his feet from slipping. While a healthy young dog has enough strength to take turns even on a smooth surface and eventually slide, old dogs experience discomfort and pain if they do not have enough support.
- Bowls above: Bending down to the ground can cause neck pain in older dogs. Get them a bowl stand so they don’t have to hunch over while eating. It’s a simple improver, but it definitely makes every feeding easier for the dogs.
- Avoid stairs: If it is necessary to walk from floor to floor in the house, find an optimal solution for the dog so that he does not have to take the stairs when it is not necessary. The bed, the food and the family he lives with should be together.
- Access to a seat or bed: If your dog is used to lying on a chair, couch or bed, or when jumping into the car, get a ramp for the animal to use to get up and down comfortably. It is a piece of furniture that you will struggle with at first, but it will greatly relieve your dog’s joints.
- Night light: Maybe you still have a night light somewhere after the kids and now it can come in handy again. If your dog can’t see well, leave a night light on for him at night.
Menu for seniors
An older dog does not move as much anymore, so its metabolism is also slower. If you feed him the same as when he was young, he will start gaining weight quickly, which is the biggest disaster for tired joints. It is advisable to adapt the menu not only in terms of calories.
- Fewer calories, more fiber: Choose feed labeled Senior. They have less fat, but they contain substances for joint support (such as glucosamine), and they are also easier to digest.
- Joint nutrition: Even if the dog is not lame yet, a preventive course of joint nutrition from the vet is a great idea at seven or eight years of age.
- Take care of your teeth: If the dog already has bad teeth, soak the kibble a little or switch to high-quality canned foods so that food is not a pain for him. The dog will appreciate a bit of broth, into which you can easily sneak boiled carrots or other vegetables.
- Adjustment of doses and regimen: At an older age, you can offer your dog more portions throughout the day. But it is necessary not to overfeed them.
- Excess weight reduction: If you want your dog to lose weight, consult your doctor. At an older age, drastic diets can harm the animal.
“My female is 10 years old. Her hip is fine, which is a common problem, but we try not to stress her joints. She is a big and heavy dog, although she is not obese, we have to watch her diet” explained Mr. Tomáš, the owner of Ronda the labrador.
If you munch, so healthy. And that goes for dogs too. You can also prepare treats for them at home according to this recipe.
How about going out? More often and briefly
Leave the long hikes to the younger ones. A senior dog will appreciate it more three to four shorter walks than one hour. Let him sniff everything in peace.
And in winter? If the dog has less undercoat or is thinner, feel free to give him a sweater. Old joints stiffen in the cold and hurt much more. The toughness is nice, but the pain from the cold is pretty useless.
Of course, not all dogs are the same. They live to different ages, their physical condition varies greatly not only according to breed, but later also due to health problems that sooner or later every dog has. Therefore, pay attention to your animal. Dogs who are fit can definitely run up hills, but also they will tire more quickly and regeneration after such a trip will take longer.
“Tapka is still very active, but her vision is starting to deteriorate. She’s scared and I can’t let her run free in the dark anymore. We keep the light on in the hallway at night so she feels safe.” confided Mr. Ivan, the owner of a thirteen-year-old Jack Russell terrier.
