All the different stages of the dog They will also need different care, because their needs are not the same when they are puppies than when they are adults or seniors. Older dogs require extra care because they are at a stage in their life where their physical activity is low but they need nutrients to stay healthy.
Although many owners sense that it is necessary to increase care at this age, not all carry it out and think that the dog can continue with its usual diet and habits. In fact, it changes their way of life, because they move less and need a diet that adapts to this stage and the problems of old age so that this is more bearable.
When a dog is old
The first thing to know is when the dog is considered to have become a senior dog. Dogs have an increasingly better quality of life, which makes them more long-lived. Small breeds are undoubtedly the ones that last the longest, since they can reach live from 12 to 15 years, sometimes even more. In large dog breeds the life expectancy is shorter, 10 to 12 years. However, with good care, sometimes these figures are exceeded, surprising us all. That is why it is really important to know how to take care of the dog when it becomes a senior dog. In large breed dogs we can consider him senior from the age of seven and in the small ones from nine or ten years or so, although in each dog its state of health must be taken into account to notice these changes.
Feeding the elderly dog
Elderly dogs must change their diet for one simple reason. They change their lifestyle and with age they are becoming more sedentary. They become calmer, sleep longer, and tiredness no longer allows them to run or play as before. That is why the diet must change if we do not want the dog to start gaining weight and be at risk of joint problems or diseases such as diabetes.
In essence, the senior dog's food must contain fewer calories but more vitamins, good fats, and protein to keep you in shape. If we give him natural food, we must adapt it to his change of life. If we are used to buying feed, it is good that at this stage we buy the one that is for senior dogs, which normally has these characteristics. They have more fiber, fat and protein but fewer calories to prevent weight gain from being less active.
Special food
In dogs that have some health problems we not only owe a food for senior dogs, but sometimes it will be necessary to use special feeds that have been formulated to help with certain problems. For example there are feed for dogs with kidney problems, feed for overweight dogs or for those with skin problems. At the veterinarian we can consult the possibilities we have when feeding an elderly dog that also has a health problem. There is even special food for those dogs that need to recover and have a poor appetite. Food is a pillar of your health and therefore we should never neglect it, as it can lead to a better quality of life in your later years.
How does your diet help?
A diet that has more protein can help the dog maintain its muscle mass, something that is losing due to age and less physical activity. This type of diet also focuses on providing fiber for the proper functioning of the digestive system and adding good fats that keep their skin and coat in good condition. In addition to this diet, supplements that improve their quality of life can be added to the dog's diet, such as vitamin C, which offer antioxidants to slow cellular aging.