Natural Senior Dog Care
Natural senior dog care is the best way to assure your dog of comfortable, healthy and happy senior years (and hopefully more of them!) Senior dogs, just like puppies, have special needs when it comes to their care. These needs are of course different, but meeting them is important for your pet's good health.
Your senior dog is most likely not as active as she once was, though it is important for your dog to maintain some level of regular activity (more about this later.) With less activity, of course, the calorie requirement will be less-but not the quality of nutrients! Obesity is a serious problem in senior dogs (just like it is in people!), so take particular care not to overfeed your senior.Weigh your dog monthly (your vet may let you do this for free on a walk-in basis-doesn't hurt to ask!) Once again, the nutrient ratios are the same-30% protein, 20% fat and 50% carbohydrate, but the quantities are reduced.If your dog still acts hungry, add some steamed carrots or green beans to her food. She can use the nutrients and the vegetables add bulk to the diet without calories.
Regular activity for your senior dog is an important element in keeping your dog vital into older age. While he may move a little more slowly and be less spry going up stairs, regular walks and games will keep your dog physically and mentally fit. A good game to play with your dog of any age is a variation of the shell game; hide a treat (a baby carrot, a piece of turkey of chicken) under one of three opaque cups. Mix the order of the cups, and let your dog pick the cup that hides the treat. Supplements can be an important part of natural senior dog care. Often a dog's joints will begin to hurt or eye sight may deteriorate (joints tend to deteriorate in function in larger dog breeds especially.) Many of the same supplements that humans use are available in forms that are made especially for pets and given in appropriate doses, these can support healthy function in your dog. Some good ones are made by PetAlive and the company's website gives good advice on choosing the appropriate supplement for your pet. (They also make good ones for humans, too!) As your dog ages, other diseases or conditions may present that are very similar to those in senior adults. I'll be discussing the most common in this web site-arthritis, heart disease, dementia, hearing and eyesight loss. Please click on one of the following links for in-depth information on these topics: Go to Natural Treatment for Arthritis in Senior Dogs
|
