Some common health problems older dogs face

When dogs grow older, they often need special attention to care for their health issues. For instance, you may need to take extra care for their dental health because at this

level their teeth would have been too weak. Usually they will need soft meals like canned food. 

The problem with soft meals, though, is that they allow tartars to build up in the dog’s teeth. As tartars accumulate, it may give the dog a sore and inflamed gum and eventually cause infections that may lead to the death of the dog. To avoid losing your dog, however, it is advisable that you check the dog’s teeth regularly for any tartar, inflammation, soreness, foul odor or loose teeth. These are signs that your dog may be in danger and in need of a veterinarian for treatment to avert any serious danger. 

Remove tartars before they build up and cause harm to your dog. When you examine and take care of your dog regularly, the cost to you is low and your dog lives a happy life. Below are some other common health problems that are associated with older dogs and how they can be taken care of.

Heart Trouble

Again, older dogs have the tendency of developing heart trouble especially if they are overweight. Therefore, it is essential that you take your older dogs out for regular exercises and ensure they are given good diet to stay healthy. According to the authors of, “Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners- Caring for Cats, Dogs, Chicken, Sheep, Cattle, Rabbits and More”, C.E Spaulding and Jackie Clay, the first signs that your dog may be having heart disease are “coughing and enlargement of the abdomen due to Ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen). A dog with heart trouble will often have poor circulation, with fluid settling out of the blood and into the tissue”, Drawing from expert knowledge, the authors recommend that fluid accumulation should be controled with diuretics, “which stimulate the kidneys, drawing fluid out of the body” and the dogs should also be given diets  low in salt. In any case, your veterinarian is in a better position to prescribe what oral drugs may be necessary to administer and what diet to be given the patient. Ensure to follow his instructions carefully.

Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence is a situation in which your aged dog is no longer able to control the flow of urine or defecation. In this case, the dog will drop urine all over, uncontrollably. Spayed female dogs usually have the tendency to suffer incontinence when they are old. (Spayed dogs are female dogs whose ovaries have been removed to prevent them from getting pregnant) Contact your veterinarian as most dogs in this situation can be helped. C.E Spaulding and Jackie Clay suggest that “using “bitch in heat” panties with a sanitary napkin, changed regularly....will eliminate household problems”.

Breast Tumors

Breast tumors are one more ailment you may notice in your aged dog especially if they are unsprayed. Contact your Veterinarian if you notice any lumps. Depending on the size of the tumor, the Veterinarian should decide on what treatment method will be applied (Whether surgery or testosterone injection)

 

Arthritic Pain

Arthritis is common in older dogs especial if they are obese. No doubt, your dog may have the tendency to gain extra weight as it is aging. But you should help your older dogs to stay in shape by regulating its diet and taking the dog out for regular walk. For the treatment of arthritic pain, Spaulding and Clay recommend the use of cortisone, aspirin and phenylbutazone to help the dog with periodic pain. Also, keep the dog in a warm environment and off the cold floor and make sure the dog has extra bedding to protect its join

Tips to care for your dog when they are old

Getting old is a normal process of life and like all animals, dogs grow up sooner or later. It is important, however, to know that in terms of care, older dogs have different  needs than younger dogs. As dogs age, their mobility decreases, their hearing and vision are no longer as good as they used to be, and they become more susceptible to various diseases. When you start noticing these changes in your older dogs, do not despair. It all part of aging and they do not threaten the live of your dog. There is a possibility that your dog can still spend his older years being healthy and happy. Not all dogs are considered adult dogs of the same age, so it's important to watch for early signs of aging and take the necessary steps to keep your dog healthy. To help you with this, we will share some tips for caring for an adult dog. All of these are important and will keep your senior dog healthy, happy and with you for years to come.

Older dogs require different care than puppies. And you have to do things a little bit differently in order to make your older dog stay healthy.
The following article outlines the various steps you follow so as to  have your senior dog in both physically and psychological well-being.

An age-appropriate diet.
A balanced diet plays an important role in keeping your dog healthy into old age. Older dogs are at a higher risk of obesity because they don't have the same energy as they used to. For this reason, it is important to find the best dog food specifically formulated for adult dogs to help prevent weight gain. They are often low in fat and calories to meet your dog's nutritional needs. And since older dogs often get sick, you may want to check with your veterinarian if your dog needs a special adult dog food for his condition.

Frequent exercise
Taking the dog out for frequent exercise will help him maintain an ideal weight and improve his general well-being. If you are not sure of the right exercise that is suitable for your older dog,  you can consult with your veterinarian and request a recommended exercise regimen based on your dog's health condition and limitations.

Regular Veterinary Checkups
Regular veterinary checkups are one of the most important steps in caring for an older dog. As dogs age, their immune systems weaken, making them more susceptible to all sorts of diseases. For this reason, most veterinarians recommend regular checkups of older dogs every six months. This will give your veterinarian the opportunity to find out if there is a problem at an early stage and it will give your dog the best chance of healing after treatment.

Maintaining Oral Health
Most older dogs get older and don't get proper dental care, so it's not uncommon to see older dogs missing a few teeth. Dental care is an important part of treatment and should be done regularly from an early age. In order to keep your dog's teeth healthy, he needs daily brushing, and even if he's not a fan of treats, start giving him treats. You should also take your dog to the vet once a year and have him professionally cleaned of tartars.

Vaccinations and Parasite Protection
Although a dog's age has nothing to do with protection against fleas, ticks and bed bugs, when it comes to vaccines, older dogs don't need to be vaccinated at regular intervals. Once every three years is usually enough, but you should check with your veterinarian as they know what is best for your dog's individual needs.

Frequent Grooming
As a dog ages, its once luxurious, shiny coat becomes dull and brittle. Older people can also suffer from dry, flaky and irritated skin that can worsen if not treated properly. This especially means bathing your dog regularly to prevent mats and tangling. We also recommend using only natural shampoos that nourish and treat irritated skin and hair.

Give him special accommodation
Older dogs are often associated with arthritic pain or other bone and joint related problems that affect their mobility. If he happens to be blind, he will have a hard time jumping out of bed or sofa especially at nights. In this case, softer beds that are easy-to-reach that don't require him to jump or climb on will be most appropriate. Also, going up and down stairs can be difficult and should be avoided by your dog. If your dog cannot avoid stairs, you can buy or build a dog walkway that will make it easier for your older dog to get around. Another solution is to install a dog gate and limit access to the stairs. This means moving dog beds around and placing his food and water downstairs if possible. It's also a good idea to have rugs and carpets throughout the house so that your dog, if he's suffering from arthritis, can get around a little more easier. If the older dog is completely blind, help him to move around by not placing furniture indiscriminately around the house. Indiscriminately placing furniture around will confuse the blind dog and he'll bump into things that may injure him.

Spend time with your dog
Older dogs, receiving special care, can easily become restless and afraid when they don't feel their owner's presence. So spend as much time with your dog as possible. Even if your dog can't see or hear you, he still needs your presence and attention to stay emotionally and mentally stable. Therefore, instead of obsessing over your dog's age, take him for a walk, play with him, and give him a treat. Treat your dog like your best friend who deserves your love and attention every day.