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10 Tips to Make Your
Senior Dog Live Longer
Dog life expectancy has greatly increased in recent years due to the spread of preventive medicine and
improved quality of veterinary care. However, sometimes due to some misunderstanding, the food that dog
owners give their dogs can have a big impact on their health and well-being, so we can't simply rely on
veterinary healthcare professionals to do all the work.
Due to the busy nature of our lives and countless responsibilities, we all strive to provide the best care for our dogs. While certain illnesses or health problems are inevitable, there are many things we can do to keep dogs with us longer.
There no guarantees in life, but by following these 10 tips to help your dog live longer, you can ensure you give your dog the best chance at life, whether they are a puppy, adult or senior dog.
Due to the busy nature of our lives and countless responsibilities, we all strive to provide the best care for our dogs. While certain illnesses or health problems are inevitable, there are many things we can do to keep dogs with us longer.
There no guarantees in life, but by following these 10 tips to help your dog live longer, you can ensure you give your dog the best chance at life, whether they are a puppy, adult or senior dog.
10 Tips to Make Your Senior Dog Live Longer
10 Tips to Make Your Senior Dog Live Longer
1. Eat a healthy diet
Food is an essential aspect of canine care and health. Providing a balanced diet and adequate nutrition not only helps prevent obesity in dogs, but also helps avoid many other nutrition-related health problems. It is also important to adjust feeding habits to the needs of the individual dog. To provide the right amount and quality of food depending on the dog's breed, age, gender, lifestyle and, of course, medical history. We can choose foods with high nutrient levels to feed, or we can consult our veterinarian to see if there are other diets.
Food is an essential aspect of canine care and health. Providing a balanced diet and adequate nutrition not only helps prevent obesity in dogs, but also helps avoid many other nutrition-related health problems. It is also important to adjust feeding habits to the needs of the individual dog. To provide the right amount and quality of food depending on the dog's breed, age, gender, lifestyle and, of course, medical history. We can choose foods with high nutrient levels to feed, or we can consult our veterinarian to see if there are other diets.
2. Maintain an adequate dental hygiene routine
Taking care of a dog's teeth is not always as different from our own teeth. The formation of tartar and gingivitis are common canine health problems and if left untreated can lead to very serious dental disease. These may include premature tooth decay abscesses and even periodontal infections. Studies have shown that dogs with severe periodontal disease cause microscopic damage to multiple organs, including the kidneys, liver and heart, which can irreversibly damage these organs. The best way to prevent this is by maintaining an adequate dental hygiene routine.
Taking care of a dog's teeth is not always as different from our own teeth. The formation of tartar and gingivitis are common canine health problems and if left untreated can lead to very serious dental disease. These may include premature tooth decay abscesses and even periodontal infections. Studies have shown that dogs with severe periodontal disease cause microscopic damage to multiple organs, including the kidneys, liver and heart, which can irreversibly damage these organs. The best way to prevent this is by maintaining an adequate dental hygiene routine.
3. Establish a weekly brushing habit
Brushing is probably the most important aspect of caring for a dog's coat, especially in long-haired breeds. Establish a weekly brushing habit after choosing the right brush for your dog. Brushing between 1 and 3 times a week depending on the length and texture of individual dog's coat. This will help remove dirt and tangles. You'll also be able to observe if there any parasites present in the dog's coat and the grooming itself strengthens the bond. The dog's mood is also relieved during thebrushing process.
Brushing is probably the most important aspect of caring for a dog's coat, especially in long-haired breeds. Establish a weekly brushing habit after choosing the right brush for your dog. Brushing between 1 and 3 times a week depending on the length and texture of individual dog's coat. This will help remove dirt and tangles. You'll also be able to observe if there any parasites present in the dog's coat and the grooming itself strengthens the bond. The dog's mood is also relieved during thebrushing process.
4. Maintain a proper bath frequency
Bathing your dog regularly is also important to keep your dog's skin clean and healthy. Over bathing is not advisable, so only wash them between 1 and 3 months at most and don't forget to use products that are specific to canines. It is also important to make sure that the dog has been vaccinated and the antibody level is acceptable before bathing. If the owner bathes the dog at home, be sure to dry the dog's hair promptly.
Bathing your dog regularly is also important to keep your dog's skin clean and healthy. Over bathing is not advisable, so only wash them between 1 and 3 months at most and don't forget to use products that are specific to canines. It is also important to make sure that the dog has been vaccinated and the antibody level is acceptable before bathing. If the owner bathes the dog at home, be sure to dry the dog's hair promptly.
5. Keep exercising properly
Muscles support joints, thus without good muscle tone, your dog's mobility decreases drastically. Regular exercise can help your dog channel energy, release stress and build muscle. In fact, it's the key to helping your dog live longer and better. It's important to stress that you should consider each dog's limitations, as uncontrolled high-intensity exercise can be just as harmful as no exercise at all.
Muscles support joints, thus without good muscle tone, your dog's mobility decreases drastically. Regular exercise can help your dog channel energy, release stress and build muscle. In fact, it's the key to helping your dog live longer and better. It's important to stress that you should consider each dog's limitations, as uncontrolled high-intensity exercise can be just as harmful as no exercise at all.
6. Provide appropriate beneficial mental stimulation
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise, but it's often overlooked. We need to know that whether it's through puzzles, dog training or scent-based play, it affects dog health in a similar way. Appropriate provision of beneficial mental stimulation is essential for maintaining good mental health and cognitive acuity. In addition, psychological simulations help improve the dog-owner relationship, prevent cognitive dysfunction syndrome, and reduce the likelihood of disruptive behavior problems.
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise, but it's often overlooked. We need to know that whether it's through puzzles, dog training or scent-based play, it affects dog health in a similar way. Appropriate provision of beneficial mental stimulation is essential for maintaining good mental health and cognitive acuity. In addition, psychological simulations help improve the dog-owner relationship, prevent cognitive dysfunction syndrome, and reduce the likelihood of disruptive behavior problems.
7. Deworm your dog regularly
Having a more comfortable and harmonious home life, dog should be carried out both internally and externally deworming and is a key aspect to their care because the parasites they help to avoid vectors for serious diseases. In addition, regular deworming can ensure that nutrients are not absorbed, which can prevent skin diseases and reduce the risk of allergy to vaccinations. Necessitating the deworming in the first place, check with the trusted veterinarian about the best products to use for your dog.
Having a more comfortable and harmonious home life, dog should be carried out both internally and externally deworming and is a key aspect to their care because the parasites they help to avoid vectors for serious diseases. In addition, regular deworming can ensure that nutrients are not absorbed, which can prevent skin diseases and reduce the risk of allergy to vaccinations. Necessitating the deworming in the first place, check with the trusted veterinarian about the best products to use for your dog.
8. Follow the dogs vaccination schedule
Following the dogs vaccination schedule will help us to prevent many diseases, which cannot be treated once contracted these including parvovirus or distemper. In addition, regular checkups every 6 to 12 months will help us detect any changes in the dog, making prognosis more likely. Core vaccines are used to prevent high-risk diseases, so they must be given. For non-core vaccines, veterinarians determine the need for injections based on the dog's health, lifestyle, and disease risk in the area.
Following the dogs vaccination schedule will help us to prevent many diseases, which cannot be treated once contracted these including parvovirus or distemper. In addition, regular checkups every 6 to 12 months will help us detect any changes in the dog, making prognosis more likely. Core vaccines are used to prevent high-risk diseases, so they must be given. For non-core vaccines, veterinarians determine the need for injections based on the dog's health, lifestyle, and disease risk in the area.
9. Senior dogs should avoid pregnancy
There are many advantages to sterilizing dogs including greater longevity and the prevention of various diseases, which vary from animal to animal. An age at which they are sterilized will also help prevent unhealthy exploratory behavior, inappropriate sexual behavior and aggression. The latter being particularly important for male dogs. If you notice any unusual behavior or discomfort in your dog, take them to a veterinarian or canine behaviorist to rule out any abnormalities.
There are many advantages to sterilizing dogs including greater longevity and the prevention of various diseases, which vary from animal to animal. An age at which they are sterilized will also help prevent unhealthy exploratory behavior, inappropriate sexual behavior and aggression. The latter being particularly important for male dogs. If you notice any unusual behavior or discomfort in your dog, take them to a veterinarian or canine behaviorist to rule out any abnormalities.
10. Heat therapy and massage for senior dogs
If you've ever used massage and heat therapy to help relieve severe cramps or muscle soreness, then you know their benefits. Heat therapy is a common strategy for managing pain, especially pain caused by joint or muscle. Most senior dogs are receptive to massage and heat therapy because the experience is so good. Heat therapy not only stimulates blood flow to atrophied muscles, but it also relieves tension in your dog's muscles. In addition, for some senior dogs with joint pain, heat therapy can be appropriate, but pay attention to the temperature and length of heat therapy.
If you've ever used massage and heat therapy to help relieve severe cramps or muscle soreness, then you know their benefits. Heat therapy is a common strategy for managing pain, especially pain caused by joint or muscle. Most senior dogs are receptive to massage and heat therapy because the experience is so good. Heat therapy not only stimulates blood flow to atrophied muscles, but it also relieves tension in your dog's muscles. In addition, for some senior dogs with joint pain, heat therapy can be appropriate, but pay attention to the temperature and length of heat therapy.
Senior dogs are prone to stiffness of limb movement after waking up from sleep. Many dogs have swollen and painful joints as they get older. Owners can soothe their dog's feelings with daily massages and heat therapy.
Petietic Targeted Heating Therapy Braces are designed for dogs, especially 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. Massage and heat therapy can relieve tension and relax dog's nervous system. It gets dog's blood circulating and helps blood vessels dilate. Good massage and heat therapy are beneficial for dog's soul and can help your dog live a longer and healthier life.