The Golden Years: How to Care for an Older Dog
In what seems like the blink of an eye to most pet owners, a dog can grow from an energetic puppy to old age. The fact that dogs age so much quicker than their owners is an unfortunate but unavoidable reality. The good news, though, is that it is possible to give your dog a great quality of life through old age. If you would like to make your dog’s golden years as golden as they can get, here are a few useful tips to consider.
Change Their Diet if Necessary
Many of the health issues that older dogs face such as arthritis, heart disease, and more can be exaggerated if your dog is overweight. As your pup enters into old age, it becomes more important than ever to ensure that they are a healthy weight. This means that you may want to consider changing your dog’s diet if they are getting older and could afford to lose a few pounds.
Watch out for Signs of Health Problems
Many of the health problems that an older dog will encounter can be either prevented or mitigated if you are able to notice the symptoms soon enough. Signs of health problems that you will want to look out for if you own an older dog include things such as:
- Decreased appetite
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
- Bumping into things
- Increased aggression
- Weight loss and lethargy
- Accidents in the house
- Increased or decreased urination
If you notice any of these signs or any other symptoms of health issues with your older dog, you will want to take them to a vet as soon as possible.
Supplement Their Diet
Getting enough vitamins and nutrients is important for dogs of all ages. As your pup enters into old age, though, giving them the vitamins and nutrients they need to ward of disease is especially important. If you would like to improve your older dog’s health, supplementing their diet with a high-quality vitamin supplement for dogs is one of the best options that you have available.
At HUGGIBLEs, we offer a number of high-quality vitamin supplements for dogs that are made using only the finest ingredients and designed specifically to promote good health in canines. If you would like help choosing the best supplements for your aging pup, feel free to contact us today.
