Essential Tips to Keep Elderly Dogs Healthy
It might be challenging, but watching your pet dog get older is a pleasure. Dogs of different ages have distinct demands. Your pet dog’s health will always decline after they reach a certain age. Like humans, aging in dogs is often a progressive process that begins with minor alterations in appearance and behavior. The following tips will help you take good care of your senior dog while they deal with some of the difficulties that come with becoming older.
Regular Checkups
Your dog’s immune system weakens with age, making them susceptible to several health problems. Elderly pet care needs routine veterinary care at reputable facilities like the Aptos Creekside Pet Hospital, and it is recommended to increase wellness examinations from once to twice a year. This will set baselines for your dog’s health and make it easier to determine “clinically silent health worries.”
Vaccinations
For your elderly dog’s lifestyle, your veterinarian will decide on the best vaccination regimen. The majority of vaccinations for elderly canines are typically given every three years. For example, veterinarians may administer kennel cough, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease vaccinations more frequently since they protect for a shorter duration. Click here to learn more about vaccinations.
Age-Appropriate Diet
It’s appealing to start indulging your pet more in their older age, but it’s more vital than ever to keep their diet healthy and balanced. A balanced diet plays a significant role in keeping your dog healthy even when they age. Older dogs are at greater risk of developing obesity since they no longer have the same energy levels.
Oral Care
The risk of kidney and heart issues increases as a dog ages since its teeth become more prone to infection. Routine brushing with a finger brush and toothpaste made especially for dogs is advised for pet parents. They should consult a vet if they observe any resistance, bleeding, swelling, or pain symptoms.
Laboratory Testing
When dogs reach middle age, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) suggests receiving laboratory tests at least once yearly. Your pet’s “baseline” values can be found by laboratory screening while they are healthy. Laboratory examinations are suggested every six months for dogs in their senior years and more frequently for animals with health problems.
Compounded Drugs
A compounded medication is frequently practical when an animal requires a medicine that a standard vet pharmacy can not provide. The active chemicals and components the compounding drug stores have access to may be unavailable to other pharmacies. A vet compounding pharmacy can produce pet medications in dosage forms that are very easy to administer. A veterinary compounder can dilute a medication to make the flavor less bitter.
Regular Grooming
Age-related dullness and brittleness of your dog’s fur and skin can result in dry, flaky, and inflamed skin. It’s crucial to give them regular at-home grooming treatments, including brushings and baths, and to look for any new lumps, bumps, or inflamed areas. Make careful to plan additional baths if your dog is incontinent.
Conclusion
While not all dogs age the same, it is a fact that they all get old at some time. A dog’s activity level decreases as they age, and it may have problems walking or get cataracts or hearing loss. Every owner should be ready for aging because it is a normal part of the world. Your dog will remain healthy and live happily for many years with the proper senior dog care and attention.
