Whether you have adopted an Older Dog or your puppy is all grown up, it is important to be properly equipped to look after our dogs as they age. Just like humans, older dogs require a little bit more special attention and have slightly different care requirements to a puppy or younger dog. Dogs tend to age at different rates depending on the breed so figuring out if your dog is senior can sometimes be hard. Larger dogs have a shorter lifespan than smaller breeds so a Great Dane or Mastiff may be considered senior by the age of six whereas a small terrier or chihuahua wouldn’t be considered senior until ten or older. Keep this in mind when it comes to caring for your pooch. Here are five tips for caring for an older dog.

1. Specialise Their Nutrition

As your dog gets older, it is important to adjust their nutritional needs and make sure that their diet is providing them will all the nutrients, protein, vitamins and minerals that they need. As your dog’s body ages, their organs age too and this means that their digestive system becomes less equipped to digest all types of food or the same volume of food. Consider feeding your dog a diet that is lower in calories and designed for senior pooches and be cautious when feeding your dog scraps or ‘human’ food. It is important as dogs get older that they stay at their ideal weight as overweight dogs have a higher risk of contracting illnesses or being susceptible to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Issues that tend to affect senior dogs include arthritis, kidney disease and joint issues so make sure that your dog’s diet is high in fatty acids and low in sodium to counteract this.

2. Have Regular Vet Check-ups

Just like with humans, regular check-ups at the vet are important for senior dogs to prevent the chances of them getting ill or a health issue going undetected. A full annual check-up, where they do a urine and blood test, will ensure that any changes will be spotted quickly and if your dog has any lumps these can also be tested. It is also a good idea to schedule an appointment with your vet if you have any concerns for your dog. Signs such as fatigue, a loss of appetite or shortness of breath could indicate that something more serious. Remember it is better to be safe than sorry.

3. Reduce Exercise

While exercise is still important as dogs age, as it can help to maintain your dog’s weight and ensure healthy joint function, make sure that you adjust exercise to your dog’s need. They may not be able to run around for hours the way they used to so several shorter walks may be more appropriate than one long one. If you notice your dog is struggling, panting or refusing to walk take this as a sign that they have had too much and consider scaling back their exercise over the next few days.

4. Arrange Suitable Care

Make sure when you’re going away on holiday or out for long periods of time, to arrange suitable care for your dog. Disruptions to their routine can be harder as they get older and have special care requirements so putting them in a kennel while you’re on vacation may be more complicated or traumatic than it used to be. For this reason, you might consider using a platform like Mad Paws to find a dog sitter who can stay in your home and thus prevent any changes to your dog’s routine.

5. Watch Out For Cognitive Decline

As well as their physical health, you also need to be concerned with your dog’s mental health. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from dementia and so it is important to be aware of whether your dog’s mental state is changing. Some noticeable signs include agitation, uncharacteristic aggression, disorientation, circling in the same spot or confusion. This may indicate that your dog is suffering from dementia and thus needs some extra support and help.

Owning a dog is one of life’s greatest joys. To ensure you can maximise the time you get to spend with your furry friend, make sure to take care of them in their old age and to be attentive to their needs.

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