As Dogs Get Older
Written By: Paul Fleming, DogQuality.comOur main duty as dog owners is to help our dogs age gracefully.
Ask yourself what we can do to keep our dogs healthy and tail wagging happily through their senior years.
Some of the basics are proper nutrition, diet, exercise and general care.
What we perceive as aging is really a process that is going on inside over a period of time.
Toxins in our home and environment, over-vaccinating and preventative medicines to control ticks, mites, fleas, heartworm, can be major contributing factors in the acceleration of aging. Taking the time and effort to ensure that your dog has the proper diet can be the biggest factor in keeping your dog healthy throughout his or her golden years.
So our main duty is to help the dog age gracefully. In order to do this they will obviously need more care, so be considerate of their limitations and make things more accessible for them.
This means feeding your dog meat and bones, or if you are not comfortable with this insure that no grains are included in their diet because as they age their digestive tracts are not as efficient.
Walks: still take your dog out on family outings so that they feel part of the family.
Dog Strollers: If your older dog can only walk short distances, it doesn't mean he or she cannot continue to go on outings. Get a dog stroller and let your dog walk when they can so they still get some exercise and then let them ride along for the rest of the walk. They will love being a part of the adventure.
Ramps: obtain one of these to help your dog get in and out of your vehicle; this helps their spine and joints. By providing them with the means to accompish things by themselves rather than being carried, you are helping to protect their self-esteem by allowing them to have a feeling of accomplishment.
Dog Diapers: As dogs get older they may not be able to control their bladders as well as they used to. Help them to retain their dignity by helping them avoid accidents.
