Our partner veterinarian 
Senior Dog Care-5 Tips To
Keep Them Healthy!
Time is always slipping away when we are not aware of it, leaving some traces. Growing up, maturing, aging
and so on are all traces and products of time, and dogs are no exception.
After spending many years with your dog, you may suddenly realize that it is not as playful as it used to be. It may become more irritable or easygoing. You may find that your dog is sleeping longer and moving more slowly. That's when we realize that it seems to be getting old.
By the time a dog reaches half of its expected life span, though, we need to prepare it for retirement. But in terms of how you prepare, your dog's breed, size, nutrition, environment and other factors can also play a role. Focus on these five areas to keep your senior dog healthier.
After spending many years with your dog, you may suddenly realize that it is not as playful as it used to be. It may become more irritable or easygoing. You may find that your dog is sleeping longer and moving more slowly. That's when we realize that it seems to be getting old.
By the time a dog reaches half of its expected life span, though, we need to prepare it for retirement. But in terms of how you prepare, your dog's breed, size, nutrition, environment and other factors can also play a role. Focus on these five areas to keep your senior dog healthier.
Trim your dog's nails regularly
Trim your dog's nails regularly
Pay attention to the length of your dog's toenails and trim them regularly. A dog's toenails that are
too long can interfere with walking. They can also damage meat pads and can even damage joints. A dog's
toenails that are too long will cause the dog to touch the ground directly with the nails, and the toe
joints will gradually become distorted when the sole of the foot is stretched out for a long time. If
the toenails remain uncut, over time, the dog's upper leg joints will also be affected, causing
problems.
Unclipped toenails have the most direct effect on toe tips. With every step the dog takes, the toenail hits the tip of the toe, causing inflammation, which can be very painful. Sometimes when you see your dog nibbling or scratching at sofa or shoes, it may be that he is polishing his toenails to relieve the pain, and some dog owner think they are acting up again.
Unclipped toenails have the most direct effect on toe tips. With every step the dog takes, the toenail hits the tip of the toe, causing inflammation, which can be very painful. Sometimes when you see your dog nibbling or scratching at sofa or shoes, it may be that he is polishing his toenails to relieve the pain, and some dog owner think they are acting up again.
Build the foundation for obedience training
Do some obedience training when the dog is young. When the dog is young, it is necessary to train some
gestures such as standing, squatting and so on. Because when the dog gets older and can't hear its
owner, you may need to rely on hand signals to control your dog. One gesture that works well with older
dogs is clapping, especially when they are far away.
If you take your dog for a walk and it's far away, a high pitch or vibration your dog hears can often be returned to its owner as quickly as possible, which is an easy way to do so. Of course, it's better to walk on a leash for safety, but in some empty areas, dogs may want to be free from the leash and feel more free.
If you take your dog for a walk and it's far away, a high pitch or vibration your dog hears can often be returned to its owner as quickly as possible, which is an easy way to do so. Of course, it's better to walk on a leash for safety, but in some empty areas, dogs may want to be free from the leash and feel more free.
Avoid obesity and overweight
The third very important thing is to make sure you keep an old dog healthy. It is important to maintain
a healthy body and not be overweight. If a dog is overweight, the stress on its limbs doubles. Long-term
stress can increase the burden on your dog's joints, so it is easy to cause arthritis in your dog. It
can even lead to fractures and mobility disorders, making your dog in pain.
Overweight dogs are at risk for heart disease by storing fat in their bodies, which can lead to high blood pressure and an overburdened heart. Obese female dogs are prone to enuresis and dogs have a short urethra. If the abdominal fat is too much, the bladder will be compressed for a long time, which makes it difficult for the dog to store urine properly, resulting in uncontrollable urination. Therefore, senior dogs in particular need to pay attention to a reasonable diet and proper exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
Overweight dogs are at risk for heart disease by storing fat in their bodies, which can lead to high blood pressure and an overburdened heart. Obese female dogs are prone to enuresis and dogs have a short urethra. If the abdominal fat is too much, the bladder will be compressed for a long time, which makes it difficult for the dog to store urine properly, resulting in uncontrollable urination. Therefore, senior dogs in particular need to pay attention to a reasonable diet and proper exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
Control the amount of exercise
The fourth important thing is the amount of exercise your senior dog is getting. A senior dog's body may
not be able to handle running with a younger dog for very long. Your dog may not show fatigue as quickly
as a younger dog. It may be stoic, which is why we need to use common sense to observe dog body
language. If your dog is still walking with a lot of energy, let your dog walk a little longer. If you
see it start to slow down, then don't hesitate to end the exercise and take your dog back to rest.
It's important when you have a senior dog that you keep them some active and you know what's right for them because they are really old when you stop doing things with them and let them become a couch or a potato 24 hours a day. So you just need to let your beloved dog do a little bit, but don't overdo it. You need to make some smart decisions for your dog.
It's important when you have a senior dog that you keep them some active and you know what's right for them because they are really old when you stop doing things with them and let them become a couch or a potato 24 hours a day. So you just need to let your beloved dog do a little bit, but don't overdo it. You need to make some smart decisions for your dog.
Get into the habit of massage and heat therapy
As dogs age, musculoskeletal changes can lead to arthritis, spondylitis and muscle wasting. Keeping warm
is especially important. Arthritis can cause the painful limb to be unable to support the body, or the
dog can lift the painful leg to avoid being touched when walking. Dogs with spondylitis find it
difficult to go up and down stairs, jump on couches, or even sit comfortably.
Massage and heat therapy can relieve your dog’s tension, relax nervous system and improve your dog's blood circulation and help blood vessels dilate. Regular massages can relax your dog's muscles and relieve stiffness and pain in your dog's joints. Almost all chronic pain can be relieved by heat therapy to improve blood circulation. Dogs with stiff joints can always use heat therapy. If the dog has had some surgery, heat therapy can speed recovery after the wound has crusted over and stopped swelling.
Massage and heat therapy can relieve your dog’s tension, relax nervous system and improve your dog's blood circulation and help blood vessels dilate. Regular massages can relax your dog's muscles and relieve stiffness and pain in your dog's joints. Almost all chronic pain can be relieved by heat therapy to improve blood circulation. Dogs with stiff joints can always use heat therapy. If the dog has had some surgery, heat therapy can speed recovery after the wound has crusted over and stopped swelling.
Having to reduce activity due to pain can be torture for a highly social dog. Unable to follow their owners around the room, the senior dogs suffer from psychological loneliness as well as physical pain. For senior dogs that show reluctance to exercise, we recommend providing a resting place in the center of your activity area where he can see you and reduce separation anxiety and loneliness. Because of muscle atrophy, senior dogs need a soft mat on the floor and insist on physical therapy with heating braces.
Heating Therapy Braces are designed for those who suffer from arthritis, mild to moderate hip dysplasia, decreased endurance during activity, hip pain, lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, leg weakness or back leg limping. Keeping your beloved dog wearing it can help ease muscle soreness, improve circulation, and reduce pain.
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