Content
- Caring for an elderly dog requires dedication and willingness.
- Feeding an elderly dog
- What an elderly dog's walks should be like
- constant affection
- At home
- Diseases of old dogs
- The host house, a wonderful option
the dogs with more than 10 years can be considered elderly dogs, that is, a dog that exceeds this age (especially if it is large) is an elderly dog.
Elderly puppies have a certain tenderness, and if you've ever had one, you certainly know it: elderly puppies are somewhat reminiscent of a baby puppy, whether for their needs, care or for their delicacy.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we offer the best advice to improve the quality of life of older dogs and provide greater comfort. Keep reading to discover the care of an elderly dog, the complete guide to everything you should know.
Caring for an elderly dog requires dedication and willingness.
As stated earlier, dogs over ten years old are considered old dogs, old dogs. Still, you should know that small-sized puppies generally tend to live longer, but it depends on each case.
During this final stage of its life (don't be scared, in some cases it's very long!) the dog experiences behavior changes, sleeps much longer and may even develop diseases because your immune system is compromised if you don't pay attention. Your mission should be to combat the effects of age, taking into account three basic factors:
- Energy
- food
- Ache
Feeding an elderly dog
Feeding the elderly or senior dog is very important, as it has different needs than an adult dog. For this, the tutor only needs to follow these advices:
- an old dog must be proportional and not obese. maintaining the ideal figure is very beneficial as it prevents your puppy from carrying excessive weight on his bones and muscles.
- To ensure your dog is well fed, it is important to see your veterinarian every 6 months for an examination and overhaul, ruling out anemia and other problems.
- If your puppy is in good physical shape and eats without a problem, you should change his diet to a light or senior ration. These rations have fewer calories and are specific to this stage of the dog's life. Don't forget to bet on quality food.
- If, on the other hand, your senior dog is too thin, the ideal is to try to make him gain weight through puppy food, rich in fat.
- If you find that your puppy does not drink water often, you can try adding chicken or fish stock to the ration (if he accepts it). It can also increase the consumption of pâtés and wet food, rich in water.
- Your puppy should always have plenty of clean, fresh water.
- At this stage of your life, your teeth can be damaged. Avoid offering bones for the dog to chew, it is preferable to use an apple for this.
- It may happen that the dog does not eat and spits out its food, or that it simply does not want to eat. In these cases, we advise you to find a higher quality feed and prepare homemade diets occasionally. If he doesn't eat, go to the vet.
- You can add vitamins to your puppy's diet if you feel he needs extra energy. Consult your veterinarian or a pet store to learn how to administer them.
- If your elderly dog eats too fast and you're worried he's going to suffer a gastric torsion, you can spread the feed on a clean, disinfected surface. This way, it will help the dog to use his sense of smell and to eat more slowly.
- Don't forget that, in some cases, older dogs with problems such as senile dementia can lose consciousness while eating (forgetting they are eating). In these cases, we recommend that you supervise the meals.
- It is also possible that an elderly dog suffering from deafness or loss of vision will not want to eat if you are near him, which is normal. Let him be confident that you being around is a good idea.
If you do not properly feed or hydrate your elderly dog, serious problems such as kidney failure or heart problems may appear. It is important to watch him and check that the dog is eating properly.
What an elderly dog's walks should be like
The elderly dog sleeps more hours than an adult dog, but don't get confused like this: he needs to walk and socialize like any other dog. For this, it is important that you adapt physical exercise to your specific situation, as puppies that are very old have reduced physical activity, but it must be maintained.
We recommend that the rides are more frequent but shorter (never longer than 30 minutes), and that are done early in the morning, or in the afternoon at sunset. If it is in direct midday sun, the dog can suffer from excessive and unnecessary heat. Walking your dog helps maintain your muscles and control obesity, a risk factor at this stage. You can practice many activities with an elderly dog.
Don't forget to be especially careful if your puppy suffers from hearing or visual impairments. It's more sensitive to the environment, so you should listen or see for it.
Finally, it is essential to add that the tutor must be aware and understand that your older dog can show different behaviors in this new phase. Don't pull on his leash or treat him disproportionately, be patient like him during walks even if he walks more slowly or, in some cases, doesn't want to walk. Always carry some treats in your pocket to motivate your partner.
constant affection
The elderly dog can change its behavior, showing itself more independent, attached or even crying when the tutor leaves the house: has greater affection needs.
One of the most common problems with older puppies is that, because they sleep too much, their families think they should leave them alone. It is right that we should let the puppy rest and not interrupt his sleep. However, it is important to give the dog affection on a regular basis, encourage you to play and have fun with the elderly dog. Otherwise, apathy, sadness and isolated family behavior may arise.
Play and treat the dog in a special way, don't forget that it can be difficult for him to enjoy his most delicate state. Leave toys or intelligence games with food when you leave the house so the dog can be distracted.
At home
It is normal for the elderly dog to change behavior or attitude within the home. Perhaps you notice that he follows the tutor in an exaggerated way: it may be a consequence of deficiencies in his senses, being afraid of being alone. We recommend that you try to increase your confidence and that you always have your company to go to the kitchen or the living room, he thanks you.
If your puppy has senile dementia, it's important to try to keep order indoors so he doesn't get disoriented.
In addition, some puppies begin to experience pain in the body due to age, bones and muscles. It's also harder to regulate your body temperature. For this reason, it is essential that they have a big, warm, comfortable and padded bed where they can rest, as older dogs sleep a lot.
Diseases of old dogs
Elderly dogs can suffer from all sorts of diseases that go by with the passage of time. It is important that you dedicate a little of your day to feel your puppy's skin and pet him to find out if he has sore spots. No one can do this better than you.
In addition, it is important to empty the anal glands, a common problem in older puppies. If you are not considered fit to do this, you can take him to a veterinarian or dog beauty center.
Some of the most common illnesses of an elderly dog are:
- tumors
- Deafness
- Blindness
- Incontinence (may need a dog diaper)
- Cysts
- tooth loss
- gastric torsion
- hip dysplasia
- Cancer
- Cirrhosis
- Arthritis
- Kidney disease
- Calculations
- heart disease
- Anemia
- hypothyroidism
- Hyperadrenocorticism
It is important to see your veterinarian more regularly than usual to maintain the health of an aging dog. We also recommend testing every six months at a minimum to make sure everything is working properly.
The host house, a wonderful option
In several shelters or animal shelters, an action called a shelter is carried out, a different option: It consists of adopt an elderly dog on a temporary basis, since they are the group of stray dogs that attract the least attention.
The center in question offers the free veterinary services, everything so that the dog can have a dignified end in a home. Find out if there is a center near you that offers this possibility and convert it into a shelter.
