Senior Dogs What You Need to Know
In order to fully understand what Senior Dogs are we need to talk about what makes a Dog a Senior Dog.
There are a lot of people out there myself included that look at their dogs and do not see Senior Dogs but according the Veterinary definition of s Senior Dog both Davinia at 9 years old and Indiana who is turning 8 years old next month are Senior Dogs. A Senior Dog is not necessarily a dog that has started to slow down. May Senior Dogs still love to go for walks, play in the yard, bark at the mailman, jump on the furniture, and enjoy a pretty active lifestyle. Sure they may no longer tear apart their stuffed animals or want to chase a tennis ball for hours but they don’t look or act old. At least not to you as someone who sees them and loves them every single day.
The fact is that their bodies are aging and they need a more thorough exam at the vets office so that they can continue to live their active lifestyle. Their muscles, bones, and joints needs to be examined. Their eyes need to be checked. Their hearts need to be really listened to. By telling you that your dogs need a Senior Dogs Check Up they are saying let’s make sure we keep an eye on things. When your vet says let us get a baseline we can refer to when your dog is 10 or 13 or 15 and they have slowed down – it isn’t some secret code for I want a new Big Screen TV and you are going to buy it for me. Your vet is saying that they want to help YOU help your dogs by giving them a more intensive more inclusive exam which they call a Senior Dogs Exam. They are saying if there are problems if we catch them now we can treat them and help prolong your dogs life and allow them to live their Golden Years. Your dog cannot speak and dogs rarely tell their owners when they are in pain. So they need someone that can help you understand exactly what is going on with your Senior Dogs.
Of course there are things you can do in your home to help your dogs live longer healthier lives.
Senior Dogs – What You Can Do At Home
1. If your dogs jump on the furniture or bed and you don’t feel that keeping them off the furniture is fair or necessary that is perfectly fine. You just need to offer a little assistance. Put stairs next to your bed that they can climb up and down on instead of jumping. Put down a run or secure a blanket so that your dog can have more solid footing to get up on the couch.
2. Make sure they have plenty of water and are drinking it regularly. A major increase or decrease in the amount of water they drink could be a sign of illness.
3. Determine if you Senior Dogs should continue to stay on their regular diet or if i is time to find them a food with less calories or possibly more calories. Pay attention to your dog and you will know what they need.
4. Be consistent with walking time and feeding time. As they age your dogs may need more potty walks.
5. If possible expose them as little as possible to extreme weather. If it is really hot play a game inside that makes them think instead of run. If it is too cold keep them inside near the fire to help keep their joints and muscles from stiffening up.
6. Swimming is great to help ease pain but make sure your Senior Dog does not over do it. Lounging in the pool or walking slowly in a pond or lake is relaxing swimming Olympic Laps not so much.
7. Keep them groomed. BY brushing or combing your Senior Dog on a Regular basis you are more likely to find a bruise or a bump and even a lump.
8. Show them love and affection. Tell them they are good dogs. Hug them cuddle them show them you still care.
9. Make sure your Senior Dog remains on Flea and Tick and Heartworm Medication in order to help keep them free from these parasites.
Great post but it makes us sad since my sister is eleven. That part about showing them love and affection is so very important. Make sure that they still feel special, even when the aren’t able to do things they used to love to do!
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Great post, I love my Senior dogs. They are the best. Have a great day.
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Thank you for the tips. We have three young dogs who will be older someday and it’s great to learn these things today and understand what we need to be prepared for in the future.
Kimberly Gauthier recently posted..Creating Dog Friendly House with a PlexiDor Pet Door @PlexiDor #PetDoorStyle
It has just hit me that Chester is a senior dog at almost 11. Maybe it is because I have switched vets a couple of times, and that he hasn’t had any health issues to date, but I never knew I needed a baseline blood test (no one told me). I am beginning to learn all of the things I can do to help Chester stay healthy and active well into told age. I am making an appointment soon to have all of his blood work done.
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Our dog is still technically a puppy. 11 months old. But I know we will be facing this one day. So it is so good to know before it happens to our sweet Odin so we can be prepared for it. Even if it is quite a few years down the road.
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We don’t have dogs but this is such good knowledge as my sister has a puppy, but I know he will get old quickly.
Great tips. It is so important to be aware of the changes that are going on with our pets.
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I love the grooming top, it is so important to have that day to day hands on connection so you can be aware of changes in your dogs muscle tone and keep an eye out for strange lumps. Thanks for the tips, it is hard to think of our babies as ‘seniors’ but they do need extra love!
8. Show them love and affection. Tell them they are good dogs. Hug them cuddle them show them you still care.
This is my favorite and so sweet. Great tips.
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What great tips. As I have mentioned in the past, we are thinking of getting a dog. Your blog will be a great resource.
Great advice. Thanks sharing.
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I feel incredible sad seeing my dog getting older – he defenitly wants more love these days
Great tips – thank you! Luckily we have several more years before our dog is considered a senior. That’s the one sad thing about dogs…they get old way too fast. 🙁
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These are great tips! We have started doing some of them with our seniors. One thing I have noticed with our oldest is that not only has he slowed down on walks, but the heat definitely seems to bother him more. So we are careful to take him early in the day when it’s cooler, or if we can’t do that we’ll just skip his walk that day if it’s too hot. He was still in great condition last Winter but I imagine this coming one the cold will bother him more too. I love #8 – so important!
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Thanks for these fleas!