How To Take Care Of An Aging Dog

Its generally pretty hard for pet owners to come to terms with their dog showing signs of age. Dogs are known for their rambunctious personalities and unwavering energy. Depending on the breed, dogs show their sings of aging around ages 6 or 7. In the beginning, they can start to get gray around the muzzle or they just cant keep up with the other dogs at the park the way they used to. Just like watching another member of the family age, watching a pet age can be a little heart breakingwe want our beloved pets to last forever! Luckily, there are ways in which you can ensure their comfort and guarantee that theire golden years are happy and healthy.

1) Your older dog should be exercised moderately. They might not be able to go with you on those mile and a half runs in the morning any more, but they should still go on walks daily. All in all, you dont want to overdo the exercise. If your dog is panting severely and takes a long time to cool down after exercise, you may want to scale back the intensity. Also remember that heat can be extremely hard on aging, so be sure to keep activities to a low intensity if youre planning on playing in the heat and keep lots of water on hand.

2) Feed your older dog a balanced diet. Specifically, you should nix table scraps and opt for a premium dog food that is specific to your dogs dietary needs. Just as our metabolism slows when we age, so does a dogs. With that said, they should be eating healthy portions of a premium dog food instead of your leftovers.

3) Take them to the vet regularly. Older dogs need extra care and attention as health concerns rise with age. You should have them in on a regular basis to screen for illnesses and get them checked up. As your dog ages it may be beneficial to have a pet insurance plan. Dog health insurance is a great way to get your pet the medical attention they need, without emptying your bank account. Many pet insurance plans cover routine checkups, shots, x-rays, etc. so they are ideal for someone with an older dog who needs extra care.

4) Get your dog a nice comfy bed or blanket to sleep on if you have tile or wood floors. As dogs age, so do their joints so laying down on hard surfaces can really be painful for them. To increase their comfort and prevent injury, its best to get them some sort of cushioned surface to sleep on. If they dont really like a dog bed, give them one of your old blankets. Also, many pet insurance discount cards offer saving on pet supplies in addition to veterinary savings. You could end up getting a great deal on a orthopedic dog bed, depending on what type of savings your pet insurance plan offers.

5) Get your pet groomed regularly, or keep up with it yourself. Proper grooming is important for dogs of any age, but it can really improve the quality of life for an older dog.