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Characteristics of Old Dogs

Old dogs need love and sympathy. Tips on old dog care for your senior dog. Ease the pain of old age for your elderly dog by making sure that his senior dog care needs are being met!

As they age, dogs lose their youth and vitality and they will have special needs.

Just as you look and feel older as you age, so does your dog! His hair will turn gray, he may lose some of his teeth, his muscles will actually shrink and he will become weaker; his sight may grow dim and his hearing may fail.

Old Dogs

Photo of old Sparkie by vosta

Your senior dog’s brain will actually shrink, and messages will travel more slowly through his nervous system.

This means that he will process what you say to him more slowly—he will take more time to react. Not because he is ignoring you—he just needs to figure out what you are asking him to do!

Here are some tips to keep in mind when taking care of a senior dog.

Dog Food

If you have old dogs you will probably need to consider making some adjustments in their dog food intake and diet. Your senior dog has slowed down (using fewer calories). His intestines are not as efficient at absorbing nutrients, and his kidneys and liver are not working as well at filtering and detoxifying the wastes in his body.

Special formulations for elderly dogs have all the nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy. You can see some at All Natural, Premium Dog Food or at Just4Pooches.

This is the stage in your elderly dog's life when you might want to consider giving her canine vitamins. like Daily Vitamins & Enzymes for Seniors or this Glucosamine Supplement for Seniors.

Your elderly dog will still enjoy treats. If he is having a difficult time eating hard treats, consider giving him soft treats. I have included some senior treats recipes like Carrot Muffins or Vegetable Cheese Patties that you can make yourself.

Consult your veterinarian. You will probably have to decrease the amount of food that your dog eats and you may have to feed her a dog food that has been created specifically for older dogs.

Grooming

Elderly dogs groom themselves less than younger dogs. Because your older dog is pretty tender, you will need to be more gentle when you groom her. Use a soft brush and remember that her skin is now thinner and can be broken easily.

Dental Care for Old Dogs

Continue to brush your old dog’s teeth, even though he may have lost some of them. Pay particular attention to his gums, as a simple gum infection can get into his bloodstream and make him really sick!

As your dog ages, dog dental care remains an important part of your pet's daily and weekly needs.

Eye Care

Your senior dog’s eyes may become a cloudy blue-gray. To prevent infection, gently wipe away any mucus with damp cotton. Also make sure that you wipe the skin around his eyes to keep it clean.

Be aware of any changes in your elderly dog's eyes that might indicate dog eye problems like canine cataracts, dog glaucoma, or canine conjunctivitis.

Ear Care

Wax can build up quickly and will become a problem. Check frequently. Pluck any hair from your older dog’s ears and clean out wax using a damp piece of cotton. Don’t use a Q-tip, as you can easily injure your dog’s inner ear.

Too much wax in your pet's ear can encourage ear infections. If your elderly dog has an odor, suspect that he may have an ear infection as this is the leading cause of odor in dogs--both old dogs and young dogs.

Joint Care

Senior dogs, especially the large breeds, can develop problems like arthritis in their joints. If your elderly dog is not getting exercise regularly, massage his joints and muscles by moving his limbs through their normal range of motion.

If your dog is really having trouble with his joints, consider starting him on something like this product for Advanced Arthritis to relieve his symptoms and increase mobility.

With a little extra and sensitive senior dog care, your old dogs will live the full range of their life expectancies. Your loving help will make their life, and yours, more comfortable!

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