Give your big dog the best life

 Dogs over 10 years old can be considered old, that is, a dog over this age (especially if it is large) is an elderly dog.

Older dogs give a certain affection, and you'll know it especially if you've had it before: Older dogs remind us a certain way of a puppy dog, either because of their needs, their care, or because of their delicious food.

In this dog57 article, we will give you the best advice to give your big dog the best life to improve the quality of life of older or elderly dogs and provide them with greater comfort. Keep reading to discover Caring for an Elderly Dog, a complete guide to everything you need to know.

Caring for an older dog takes dedication and will

As mentioned before, dogs over 10 years old are already considered old dogs, old dogs. However, we must know that small dogs tend to live longer, depending on the particular situation.

During this last phase of his life (don't worry, sometimes it can be very long!) the dog experiences behavioral changes, sleeps a lot, and can suffer from illnesses due to a weakened immune system if we don't pay attention to it.

He. She. Our mission is to try to mitigate the effects of aging by taking into account three key factors:

rejoice
feed
Pain

Feed the old dog

Feeding an elderly, older, or older dog is critical, and they have different needs than an adult dog. For this, it is necessary to follow these tips:

An elderly dog ​​should be proportionate and not obese. Maintaining an optimal shape is very beneficial because we prevent our dog from putting extra weight on his bones and muscles.

To make sure your dog is well-fed, it is important that you go to the vet every 6 months for a general analysis and examination to rule out anemia or other problems.

If your dog is in good physical condition and eats without any problem, you should change his diet to light or a large meal. These feeds contain fewer calories and are specific to this stage of their life. Remember that it must be good food.

On the other hand, if the big dog is very skinny, then the best thing is to try to increase his weight through puppy food that is rich in fat.

If you notice that your dog is not drinking water often, you can try adding chicken or fish broth to the feed (if he accepts it). You can also increase the consumption of pancakes and moist foods rich in water.

Your dog should get plenty of clean clear water.

At this point in his life his teeth may be damaged, forget to give him hard bones to bite into, preferably using an apple for that.

It may happen that the dog eats its food and spits it out, or that it simply does not want to eat. In these cases, we advise you to look for high-quality feeds and even occasionally prepare homemade diets. Go to the vet if he is not eating.

You can add vitamins to your dog's diet if you think he needs extra energy, you can consult your vet or pet store about how to manage it.

If your elderly dog ​​is eating too quickly and you are afraid that he may have a stomach torsion, you can spread the feed on a clean, sterile floor. This way you will help him use his sense of smell and he will eat slower.

Remember that sometimes dogs and elderly dogs with problems such as dementia can eat and leave (forgetting that they are eating), in which cases we recommend that you monitor them while they are eating.

It can also happen that an elderly dog ​​who is deaf or blind does not want to eat if you are near him, so naturally giving him the confidence to stay near him is a good idea.

If we do not feed or hydrate our elderly dog ​​correctly, serious problems such as kidney failure or heart problems can arise. It is important to review and verify that our dog is feeding properly.

Don't forget to read What do you feed a senior dog with no appetite?

How should the walks of an elderly dog ​​be?

An elderly dog ​​sleeps more hours than an adult dog, but don't let that confuse you: He needs to be walked and socialized just like any other dog. For this, it is important to adapt the physical exercise to your specific situation, since very old dogs have reduced physical activity, but it must also be maintained.

We recommend walking longer but shorter (no more than 30 minutes), especially in the early morning or afternoon at sunset. If we are under the direct noon sun, it can be harmful because it produces excess and unnecessary heat.

Walking with our dog helps maintain his muscles and control obesity, which is a risk factor at this stage. You can do many activities with an elderly dog.

Also remember that you should be careful if your dog has poor hearing or vision, is more sensitive to the environment, and therefore should be heard or seen. Learn how to care for a blind dog.

Finally, it is necessary to add that we must consider and understand that our elderly dog ​​may show different behaviors in connection with this new stage. Do not tighten or handle the leash disproportionately, be patient with him while walking even if he is slower or does not want to walk at times. Always carry some rewards to motivate her.

constant emotion

An elderly dog can change his behavior, becoming more independent, attached, and we can even see that he cries when we leave the house: he has greater needs for affection.

One of the most common problems that occur to older dogs is that when they sleep a lot, their families interpret that they should leave them alone. We must indeed let him rest and not interrupt his sleeping hours, yes, it is important to be regularly affectionate, and to encourage him to play and have fun with the elderly dog, otherwise, indifference, sadness, and behavior isolated from the family core may appear.

Play it and treat it specially, remembering that it can be difficult for them to cheer up and their condition is more delicate. Leave toys or brain teasers with the food when you leave so that he can be distracted.

at home

It is normal for an elderly dog to change their behavior or attitude inside the house, you may notice that they are following you with greater exaggeration: this may be due to a lack of their senses, they are afraid to be alone. We recommend that you give them confidence and always rely on them to go into the kitchen or living room, and they will thank you.

If your dog has dementia, you must try to maintain order inside the house so that he does not feel overwhelmed.

In addition, due to age in general, some dogs begin to feel pain in their bodies: bone aches, muscle aches .

They also find it difficult to regulate their temperature. For this reason, they must have a large, comfortable, and padded bed to rest on, remember that older dogs sleep a lot.

Elderly dog diseases

Older or elderly dogs can develop all kinds of usual illnesses over time. You must take the time each day to feel and pet your dog's skin to see if he has pain points, no one can do this better than you.

It's also important to empty your anal glands, which is a common problem in older dogs. If you don't see yourself qualified to do so, you can take him to the vet or a kennel for it.

Some of the most common illnesses for an elderly dog can be:

• Tumors
• deafness
• blindness
• incontinence
• cysts
• Tooth loss
• gastric torsion
• hip joint deformities
• cancer
• cirrhosis
• arthritis
• Kidney disease
• mathematical calculations
• heart disease
• Anemia
• Hypothyroidism

It is important to go to the vet more regularly than usual when dealing with an elderly dog. We also want to recommend an analysis at least every six months to make sure everything is working properly.

Nurseries are a great choice

In different animal shelters or shelters, they implement what we call a foster home, which is a different option: it is about temporarily adopting an elderly dog because they are part of the abandoned dogs that attract the least amount of attention.

The center in question offers free veterinary services, all so that the dog has a decent end at home. Find out if there is a center near you that offers you this possibility and become a foster home!