The health of dogs is compromised over the years, which impairs their well-being and can lead to serious complications, especially after 8 years of age. It is very important that dogs receive all the necessary attention and care during this phase, but disease prevention should start when they are young. Learn how to take care of elderly dogs and ensure the well-being of these gentlemen!
Among the most common health problems in elderly dogs are cardiorespiratory diseases, generally aggravated by obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, as it is very common for the owner to abandon the habit of walking and playing with the dog, which due to its excess weight and from joint problems become very unwell.
Check out 10 precautions you need to take with elderly dogs
1 – Medical exams
Exams help detect various diseases , including those that evolve without showing signs and put the animal’s life at risk. As elderly dogs are more prone to health problems , medical examinations should be periodic, carried out every year. The main ones are blood and urine and feces.
2 – Adequate Food
When dogs start to become elderly, the muscles and bones in the mouth weaken, it is common for them to lose teeth and have a lot of difficulty chewing, often they stop eating due to this type of difficulty and the owners don’t realize it.
The ideal is to adjust the food according to your dog’s needs. Offer small, easy-to-chew snacks and, if necessary, soften the food with a little water. Another important point is that there is no lack of nutrients in the diet of the elderly dog.
3 – Prioritize fun
It’s a great way for dogs to distract themselves, especially seniors, who tend to spend a good part of the day and night sleeping. Encourage your dog to play, in addition to relieving stress, this type of activity helps prevent obesity , a very common disorder in small dogs.
4 – Don’t miss out on tours
One of the favorite activities of any dog, regardless of its age. The walk should take place once a day, in addition, it is important to choose a calm place and without many climbs so that the animal does not get tired.
Walking is a great way to help strengthen muscles and prevent joint disease, it also decreases the frequency of cramps and pain . When it is part of the dog’s routine, the walk makes him less lazy.
5 – Contact with other dogs
The elderly dog ​​does not have the same willingness to run and play as younger dogs, so contact with very agitated dogs can result in stress and aggression. But if your dog is the social type and likes to make friends, this type of contact is not harmful.
6 – Observe the behavior of the elderly dog
Just like humans, senior dogs also suffer from cognitive degeneration . When this occurs, they begin to behave differently, giving the impression that they are rebellious.
However, what happens is a gradual loss of learning that he had during his life, so they start to urinate in the wrong place , forget to eat and drink water, become slower and have a lot of difficulty obeying commands from the owner. There is no treatment for this type of problem, you have to be patient and do your best to make the dog’s life more pleasant.
7 – Be aware of excess secretions and excretions
The elderly dog ​​is much more susceptible to diseases and the animal’s organism always shows signs when something is not right. The always wet muzzle can be a sign of an allergy or cold, as the eyes watering a lot can be a sign of infection or even distemper.
Through urine, the kidneys excrete various substances that are not useful to the body, however, when an elderly dog ​​urinates many times a day, it is a sign that the health of the kidneys is compromised.
In addition to observing if there is excess, the owner must be aware of the color of these secretions and excretions. In the eyes and nose, the normal color is transparent or slightly whitish, since the urine should always have a yellowish color. When observing any change, take your elderly dog ​​to the veterinarian immediately.
8 – Always observe the animal’s breathing
By observing the dog’s breathing, the owner can see if there are any signs of cardiac alteration. Panting breathing, snoring, tiredness after short walks and difficulty breathing are the very common signs that denounce the compromised health of the heart and lungs.
9 – Beware of temperature changes
Sudden temperature changes can harm the health of the elderly dog. It’s important to keep him warm during the winter and avoid walks on rainy or windy days. During hot days care should also be taken, especially with the hydration of the animal.
10 – Be sure to maintain dog hygiene
Often, due to limitations, older dogs are stressed at bath time, this should not be seen as an obstacle to maintaining cleanliness of the dogs’ hair and skin. In addition, another essential care is with the teeth, if brushed frequently, it prevents tartar and several other complications that can lead to tooth loss and consequently compromise the dog’s quality of life.
