Seeing your doggy age is never easy. You may start noticing that they’re not as agile and upbeat as they used to be. Others start to come down with all sorts of conditions. Some dogs may also start to experience cognitive decline or eyesight issues, much like humans do. This means that you may have to rethink your environment and change the way you care for them so they can enjoy their twilight years to the fullest. Let’s take a look at a few tips that will help your dog age gracefully.
Improve the Quality of their Feed
Nutrition will become increasingly important as they age and you might have to make some modifications. Things like protein will become increasingly important. You also have to be careful with less conventional feed options like grain free dog food. Some assume that grain free automatically translates to more meat, but that’s not always the case. You want to make sure to look for effective best grain free dog food and make sure it contains all the nutrients your dog needs.
Grain free feed does have the benefit of pushing older dogs to eat less often, which could prolong their lives. Some have also reported an increase in energy in their dog after they switched to grain free.
Keep them Active
Making sure they get enough activity is also essential right now, but you have to go for a regimen that fits with their current physical condition. Go to your vet and ask what type of exercise would be appropriate and at what frequency. You might not be able to play catch like before, but you still have to take them on regular walks so they can keep their stamina up and weight in control.
Increase Vet Check-Ups
Another thing you’ll have to do is increase the frequency of their health check-ups. Dogs’ immune systems start deteriorating fast as they age, and you have to catch any issue quickly before they start deteriorating. Vets recommend that you send your senior dog in for check-ups once every 6 months.
Keep Up with Oral Hygiene and Maintenance
Unfortunately, a lot of dogs don’t get the oral care that they need as adults, so they start developing issues later on. This is why you need to double up on their oral health routine. You should at least try to wash their teeth every day. If they don’t like it, you can use dental treats as a last resort. Your dog’s teeth should also get cleaned by a professional at least once per year.
Another thing you’ll notice as your dog ages is skin and coat issues. It’s not uncommon for aging dogs to have dry flaky skin and a dull coat. In this case, you’ll need to brush them more often and switch to a natural shampoo that will protect the skin and nourish it.
If you follow these few simple tips, you’ll give your dog the chance to age happily and healthily. Give them the best environment you can, and be ready to adapt to this new reality.
