Taking Care of Your Senior Dog
If you are a dog owner, then you already know how much joy and unconditional love your pooch brings to your life. You probably already take good care to feed your dog a sound diet, ensure she stays active and take her to the vet for regular checkups and vaccines, but did you know that a dog’s needs change as it grows older? Although precise needs will depend on any conditions your dog might have, these are a few strategies to take as your dog turns eight or nine.
Different Nutritional Needs
As is the case with humans, your dog’s health depends to a great extent on the nutritional regimen she follows. As the years pass by, however, your dog can become more prone to weight gain, so it is important for her to consume a diet that is rich in protein to promote lean muscle mass, and one that is relatively low-calorie to avoid obesity.
Opt for biologically appropriate food made with fresh or raw foods, which contains no preservatives.
Food should also be free of grains, potatoes, tapioca and plant protein concentrates (which are too high in carbohydrate content) and contain ingredients such as fresh whole eggs. Mix your favorite brand with with fruits and vegetables to ensure your dog’s diet is balanced, making sure you avoid fruits that can be harmful to dogs (including grapes).
The Importance of Exercise
Regular, gentle physical activity will ensure your dog’s joints and ligaments stray strong and supple, but will also keep her at a healthy weight, thus helping keep heart disease, arthritis, obesity, and joint problems, at bay.
There is nothing like a nice long walk for senior dogs. On days when the weather is inclement, keep your dog active indoors by playing games such as hide and seek, throwing a ball from one side of a room to the other (this will require two persons to stand on either side of the room), and ball games (dogs can be taught to play indoor soccer, for instance, which is just a fun for Fido as it is for humans).
The Presence of Cataracts
Dogs, like humans, tend to develop cataracts as they age; if you notice there is a ‘cloud’ over your dog’s lens, see your veterinarian quickly, especially if your dog is diabetic. Currently, the only way to completely eliminate cataracts is surgery, though nutritional support can also help, by providing oral antioxidants that support eye health. See your veterinarian about a recommended supplement for this purpose. Also, ask about solutions like Lacristal, which contain carnosine.
For nutritional support, Vitamins A, C and E supplementation may be useful but always obtain your veterinarian’s approval to ensure you are feeding your dog the right dosage.
There are many ways to keep your dog healthy, one of which involves regular check-ups at the vet. By feeding your dog optimal quality food, keeping her active, and watching out for age-related conditions such as cataracts, you can remain one step ahead; after all, prevention is always better than cure.
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