An older dog is a cherished friend and family member, and you certainly want to do everything possible to make his senior years wonderful. Here are 5 ways to help your dog look and feel young for as long as possible.
1. Keep his body weight appropriate for his breed. Many of the portions suggested by dog food manufacturers are great for a dog that actually works on a farm, or is used for hunting. But for the regular household pet these portions, based on the amount of daily exercise your dog gets, often lead to obesity.
If your dog's weight is appropriate, you should be able to feel the ribs, and see a waistline. Maintaining your dog's weight can go a long way towards avoiding the onset of diabetes and other joint problems that can make older dogs lose their youth.
2. Exercising daily is a great way to keep both you and your dog young. If your pooch has been sedentary, start with short walks or periods of exercise, and gradually increase. Take notice of whether you dog shows any sign of joint problems or pain with increased activity.
If problems occur, stop and consult with your vet immediately. But probably what you'll find is that your dog will love going for a walk or retrieving the ball or Frisbee, and will remind you should you forget. In no time flat, your dog will show increased alertness, energy, and overall fitness.
3. Keep heart worms away. 100 years ago heart worms were a big issue, and now, thanks to modern technology, a pill given consistently each month of your dog's life takes this disease off the table. Consistency is the key. A monthly reminder plugged into your personal computer will help you stay on track.
4. Give flea medication 12 months of the year. This is another issue that even 15 years ago meant flea collars, sprays, and all kinds of invasive (and possibly unhealthy) preventatives used in the home. Applying a small vial of flea and tick medication between your dog's shoulders each month is way less invasive, and healthier for your dog, you, and the environment.
5. Filter the air in your home. You might be thinking you liked what this article had to say to this point, but now you're wondering about the sanity of the author. Here's why filtering your air will help. Your dog spends most of its time on the floor, or on horizontal surfaces (might this include your bed or sofa?).
Using a high efficiency particle arresting (abbreviated as HEPA) air purifier will eliminate airborne dog hair and dander, household dust, dust mites (most prevalent in the bedroom), pollen (a lot of which may come in on your dog after those long walks or romps for the ball). Clearing the air can't help but improve your dog's health, and your health as well.
And as the years go on, should your dog become even the least bit incontinent, tell tale urine odor can also be removed with a HEPA purifier that has an additional inner filter that is specifically designed to remove urine odor.
So not only will cleaning the air improve the health of all who live in your home, but it will keep your home smelling clean all the time, and help your older dog stay young for as long as possible.
