Even though your dog may be considered a canine senior citizen, you wouldn't necessarily know it to look at him. It isn’t like they all begin to gray, or even slow down for that matter. Depending on the breed, dogs begin to experience what we refer to as the golden years anywhere from 5 to 9 years of age. Smaller breeds tend to live up to 14 years or more, whereas some of the larger breeds often don't live beyond 8 or 9 years and begin to slow noticeably around the age of 5.
When dogs begin to age, their metabolism begins to slow and your dog tends to store fat. You may want to check with your vet about changing their diet to a higher fiber, fat and calorie reduced senior dog food. Make sure that your senior dog’s exercise routine doesn’t slide. You may have to slow down your pace on your daily walks or shorten them, but don’t just stop them totally because your dog is aging. Stopping exercise is far worse for their health
To help your dog where arthritic joints are causing problems, spend a little time each morning with them gently massaging their joints. Softer bedding and vet-approved vitamins might also soothe creaky joints. Other things that you can do to help your senior dog enjoy its golden years just a little bit better are to provide them with steps if they have privilege to lie on the couch to make the transition easier than jumping up. Purchase elevated food dishes to help meet your dog rather than your dog having to meet the dishes to reduce neck pain.
The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.
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My dog has arthritis in his hips. Instead of lying in the shade, he lays in the sun for it's warmth. During the winter you can usually find him on the hearth in front of the fire place. The bricks get warm and he gets relief.
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