MetPet.com Staff Writer
Aging in dogs, as in humans, can vary greatly
between individuals. Although there are breed-related life
expectancies, there are many ways to keep your dog happy, healthy and moving
freely well into his "senior" years.
We see many large breed dogs with life expectancies as short as 10-12 years
being active and happy at 15. They enjoy daily walks, love mealtimes
and snooze contentedly in the sun.
Things you can do to encourage vitality in your older dog
- Exercise daily even if the
exercise consists of several slow walks through flat terrain rather than
chasing Frisbees.
- Consider a new, more easily digested and nutrient rich diet including those foods
specifically meant for older dogs.
- Consider calorie reduction to go along with your dog's reduced
caloric expenditure to keep weight constant. Studies show that
calorie reduction of approximately 1/3rd can significantly extend
the healthy lifespan of mice. That kind of reduction is
significant and may be uncomfortable and unnecessary for your dog.
- Have his teeth examined and cleaned if necessary to reduce the
possibility of infection. Brush his teeth daily and/or give
him teeth cleaning treats.
- Make sure he has a warm, soft and supportive bed away from drafts
and household traffic. Consider, especially during cold
weather, a heating pad made for pets.
- Keep an eye out for age related disorders and diseases such as
arthritis, deafness, cataracts, incontinence, heart disease, cancer
and senility. Older dogs often require more veterinary care
just as older people do.
- Take unusual weight reduction or loss of appetite seriously and
have tests such as blood work and radiographs done at your vet.
As a defense mechanism, many dogs will not show pain as obviously as
people will.
Things you may wish to avoid doing:
- Don't treat your older dog as if he were an invalid or on death's
door. He will take his cues from you and this may lead to
premature inactivity and aging.
- Don't expect your older dog to fit into the life expectancies of
his breed or size. Each dog is an individual plus the life
expectancy of the average dog has nearly doubled in the last several
decades simply through better nutrition and health care. We
know many large breed dogs that have reached the age of 14 or even
15 and still enjoy daily walks.
With the right care, exercise and comfortable living conditions, your older
dog may surprise you with extra years of healthy companionship.
Related information:
How old is your dog in human years?
