If you’re looking to enhance your older pup’s life, we have 5 ways to care for your senior dog, listed below, to help you out! Ensure your dog is still having fun in their old age, yet also still as healthy as can be, with these tips!
How old are senior dogs?
Small breeds become seniors when they hit 11 years old. Meanwhile, medium-sized dogs become seniors when they are 10 years old, and large dogs become seniors when they are about eight years old!
5 Ways to Care For Your Senior Dog
1. Keep Your Dog Active
As dogs get older, their ability to run around as they did when they were young definitely decreases. However, keeping your dog active, even in a small way, can help their joints, bones, and quality of life immensely. Try short walks around the block or very small increments of physical activity to help keep your senior dog in good shape.
2. Keep Their Diet Healthy
Senior dogs often may need their diet changed around a bit to ensure they’re really ingesting the accurate nutrients needed. There are many types of food for sale that target senior dogs specifically, and your dog could greatly benefit by switching to this food. If your dog has teeth problems, adjusting to softer food, or wet food, can also greatly help. Always talk with your vet to find the best option for your dog’s specific situation!
3. Keep Your Dog Mentally Active
Just as your senior dog needs to be physically active, they also need to stay mentally active. Letting your dog play with puzzle games to get their food or their treats is a great way to easily do this in a consistent way! These types of games can also keep your dog, who may not be as physically active anyway, engaged and excited in their day-to-day life!
4. Keep Them Groomed
A happy dog is a groomed dog. Senior adult dogs tend to not groom themselves as younger dogs do, so taking over for them and taking them to a professional groomer can help keep your dog feel groomed and happy. Keeping an eye on your dog’s nails and keeping them clipped is also a must!
5. Monitor Their Day
To truly care for a senior dog and extend their life, you should monitor their day. Specifically, monitor their sleeping, eating, and just day-to-day functions. If your dog has begun to sleep a lot more than normal, or doesn’t eat as they used to, talking with your vet is always a helpful next step to take.
Keep Your Senior Dog Healthy and Happy
With these 5 ways to care for your senior dog, you can help boost your dog’s life while also improving their health. Plus, we can always help! Our grooming services help enhance your dog’s life and keep them happy and healthy! We take care of every dog as if they were our own. Get more information and make a reservation here!
