?Older Dogs –Loving Ways to Keep Them Comforta…
Monday, March 19th, 2012 |
?Older Dogs –Loving Ways to Keep Them Comfortable and Happy for Years to Come
Older dogs are quite possibly the crème of the crop when it comes to having a loving pet in your home. Sure, puppies are cute and their tireless antics are entertaining to no end, but it is the older dog that will be a loving, loyal, and understanding companion. For this reason, it is no small wonder that more and more Americans go to animal shelters and instead of demanding to see the puppies, they are asking for the more mature dogs. Of course, living with older dogs – just like living with puppies – requires some very specific preparation. Here are some loving ways to keep older dogs comfortable and happy for years to come.
Older dogs will still want to exercise, and run and play just like their puppy counterparts. Keep in mind, however, that they are slowly and gradually loosing their stamina, and so it would not be fair to hold them to the same standard as the younger dogs. Thus, instead of one big workout, consider making it two or three smaller workouts, and thereby giving your dog some time to rest up in between.
Always be on the lookout for changes in movement. For example, you might recognize that your dog is suddenly favoring one paw over another, or he or she might actually be limping slightly. This might be an early indication of arthritis. Please be sure to contact your veterinarian right away to get an appointment for an evaluation, and if necessary to also get some medication that will ease your dog’s pain and maybe ever prevent further degeneration of your dog’s joints.
As your older dog has a harder time getting around, make life a bit easier for her or him by providing some skid-free carpeted stepping stools so your little pooch can make it to his favorite place on the bed or sofa. Ramps will also work well if there are stairs that need to be braved on a daily basis.
Probably nothing is more annoying to dog owners than their beloved pet’s sudden incontinence. Fortunately, there are several routes to take that will help you deal with them. Baby diapers work wonders, as do pooch pads, which are plastic reinforced mats that will soak up any urine and then will allow you later to wash them. This method will require you to keep the dog confined to a certain area to ensure that she or he is near the pooch pad when the loss of bladder control occurs. Another way to combat this problem is with medication. Speak to your vet about a prescription of phenylpromanolamine, which is given routinely for incontinence in dogs.
Keep in mind that your older dog will eventually suffer from diminished eyesight. Help him find his way around the home by not changing the furniture around too often, but instead clear a path for him so he can have a straight shot from the door to his favorite sleeping place.
If you have not already done so, consider purchasing a health insurance plan for your older dog. This way you will not have to worry about any catastrophic expenses.
As you can tell, people have really grown to love their older dogs, and the demand for medicines and gadgets that will make the lives of older dogs more loving has sky-rocketed in response to this trend. Where else can you find a dog that is most likely already fully trained, with a pleasant personality, and so much calmer than the hyper puppies that you can so often encounter. In addition to the foregoing, older dogs will adjust easily to new surroundings and families, and respond especially well to senior citizens and other adults who just want to lavish love and attention on the new member of the family. Because older dogs respond so positively to structures that are already in place, they are a perfect fit for families who have tight schedules, deadlines, and rules in place – whereas a puppy would most certainly upset the whole family!
So go ahead and visit your shelter and confidently ask to see the more mature dogs. You now know about the best-kept secret in pet adoptions – older dogs rule!
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