Tips on Caring for an Older Dog

Caring for an older dog may involve adjusting what you do with your dog as well as changing how you do some things. It does not mean your dog has to suddenly become sedentary and uninvolved. In fact the opposite is true, unless your dog has health issues that limit them. You can make life a little easier for your older dog by understanding that they may not be able to do things they used to do at the same level, but they still need to be active as much as possible.

How one individual dog ages can differ greatly from another dog. Breed may help determine the onset of old age, with smaller dogs typically showing the signs later than larger breeds. Additional factors that affect aging including a dog’s activity level, his diet, and how all health and grooming issues were treated. Here are some tips to help you care for an older dog.

Mouth Issues

Some pet owners pay less attention to dental and oral care than they do to the rest of the dog. However, even if you’ve never done much in the way of oral care for your dog, that doesn’t mean you can’t start with an older dog. As your dog ages, you may notice more bad breath, tooth loss, resistance to certain foods because of oral discomfort, swollen gums, and even increased drooling. These issues may simply be signs of aging, or of an underlying medical problem. Have your dog checked by your veterinarian to be sure.

Weight and Appetite Changes

A sedentary senior dog may still have the appetite he had as a youngster, but he isn’t burning it off the same way with activity. On the flip side, you may notice that your older dog does not consume food with the same vigor he used to. If you notice loss of appetite, weight gain or weight loss, check with your vet to see if it’s time to fine tune his diet or add supplements or medications. Being either too thin or too heavy is not good for any dog, and especially not a senior. Your dog still has to maintain a healthy diet by consuming a high quality food such as CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Meadow formulated for senior dogs, or CANIDAE All Life Stages Platinum for less active dogs.

Mobility and Stiff Joints

As your dog ages, you may notice that he isn’t getting up and down as easily or is having difficulty playing with the same energy level. Unless there is some health issue that precludes physical involvement, this doesn’t mean your dog should stop getting exercise or having fun. He may just need a little help with mobility. If he can’t jump into a car or onto a bed any more, consider adding a ramp for the car and steps to the bed to help prevent injuries to aging joints. You may also want to get your dog an orthopedic bed to help alleviate some of the issues that come with sore joints and lower activity levels.

Keep your dog active to lessen the severity of the limitation. Make playtime and exercise something your dog can enjoy at whatever level he can handle. Be patient if he can’t move as quickly or with the agility he used to have. Make sure the activities match his abilities, and keep him physically and mentally stimulated and involved. He may not keep up with the younger dogs, but the joy of being involved with you and just having fun will motivate him to try. He will let you know if the activity is too much for him to handle.

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