Time is something from which no living being can escape, this is the cycle of life, for this reason, we must always keep in mind that our pet will grow at some point and as the years go by, both the rhythm and each of your needs will be very different to the ones used to when I was younger.
Like young dogs, older adults will require different basic needs such as: food and hygiene, in addition to others that are also important.
Caring for an older dog
It is almost certain that our adult pet has some needs caused by its years of life, this will mean that both vision and hearing will gradually worsen.
There are certain foods that will be more difficult to chew and digest, it is also possible that that energy that I had every time I played and ran no longer thisHowever, the dog will do everything he can so that the bond he maintains with his master is not broken at any time.
It is essential to offer all the support to our dog, especially at times like this. It is necessary that we give him a lot of affection and love, but above all patience, understanding, a lot of dedication and time, this is because now more than ever he will look for us to be by our side.
The vitality you had when you were younger decreases and some age-related pathologies begin to manifest, despite this, they will still see us as the place where they want to be.
The essential thing in these cases is to understand that you will most likely accept all the changes that are going to occur, for this reason, needs a lot of peace and quiet as we help you to reduce the effects of age.
It is necessary that we take into account some considerations to improve the quality of life of animal. The idea is to reduce as much as possible the consequences that are linked to the passage of time, so that our pet can spend its last years of life very well cared for and happy.
There are some things that we must take into account and others that must be avoided at all costs when it comes to an elderly dog.
What is the age at which we can say that the dog is already older?
The old age of a dog begins from 10 or 11 years in small breeds, while in larger dogs it is from 7 and 8 years of age.
One of the biggest mistakes that occurs more frequently, is to continue feeding the dog the same food that you gave him when he was younger. As time goes by our pet will require specific nutrients, which should never be lacking in your daily meal.
On the contrary, there are other types of nutrients that must be decreased or avoided. When the dog reaches a certain age, its metabolism tends to slow down which means that if we are not careful it could gain weight. The most recommended is reduce the amount of food in several small servings during the day.
At this stage the dog's bones will not be the same as in previous years, so it can suffer from certain disorders such as hip dysplasia or osteoarthritis. For this reason, each of the activities that our dog does from now on, have to be calmer.
As he gets older, the dog begins to detest noise and fussThat is why it is best to take it to places where peace and especially tranquility abound. Exposure to a lot of stress can cause the dog to present abrupt changes in its behavior.
As with the elderly, when traveling it is necessary to take into account certain measures with our pet, such as avoid the hottest months, find a comfortable means of transport considering its size, make several stops so that the animal can relieve itself, and most importantly, bring both water and food necessary for the trip.
It is normal that over time the dog becomes more reluctant to contact other dogs. This does not mean that I am more grumpy now, what happens is that wants to have more tranquility.
In some cases this can lead to fighting with other younger dogs.
In the case of vaccines they are always important, since they are used to prevent the dog from catching any disease because have the lowest defenses than normal product of age. In the same way, deworming is essential to maintain the good health of our pet.
When a dog reaches a certain age, the most normal thing is that when taking it to the vet, he will do some tests just to make sure everything is ok. We do not have to worry, since the veterinarian will only want to make sure that the animal's body is working properly.
This point is very important, a dog with an advanced age requires many walks and walks, since the fresh air, the surroundings and the good climate will be very beneficial for him.
Likewise, the exercise you do while walking will greatly help your mobility. On the other hand, the walks should not require much effort, the ideal is to do them depending on the energy and the needs that our pet presents.
To reduce the effects of the passing of the years, a good mental stimulation is essential in order to avoid cognitive disorders similar to those suffered by people. Maintaining an active mentality helps to considerably reduce the consequences of old age. Good mental stimulation can be achieved through play.
Visiting the vet regularly is very important, since in this way we make sure that our dog always enjoys good health.
When a dog is no longer young, both his teeth and nails become more sensitive, therefore, require toys that are not too hard as they may injure or injure you.
Over the years, dogs tend to adapt lessFor this reason, it is important not to make too radical changes in your environment, especially in places where you have greater peace and tranquility.
The skin becomes quite delicate, as for his ears, require special external care, because the fat they use as protection no longer works properly. The eyes become more and more sensitive as their old age progresses, coming to present problems such as the Cataracts.
Understanding plays a very important role in this very complicated stage of our pet. Our dog is not as young as it used to be, for this reason patience is essential, since our friend only wants us to give him love.
We must not scold him when situations occur such as urinating in places where you should not. We must understand it and not get angry with it.