Caring for your elderly dog – part one
After the age of seven, your dog is considered to be “senior”. Hopefully, no-one will tell your dog this, and he will continue to be energetic and passionate about life for a few more years. When signs of aging do start to show, what can you expect?
- Your dog will become less active, less interested in playing and will sleep a lot more.
- Hearing and eyesight will deteriorate and you may be able to see cataracts developing on his eyes.
- His coat may start to show a few gray hairs, especially around the muzzle.
- He may develop arthritis.
How can you maximize your dog’s happiness and comfort in his senior years?
Sleeping: he’ll be doing a lot more of this than he used to, so make sure his bed is comfortable and warm. If he is a thin build, watch for signs of pressure on prominent bony areas such as hips and shoulders. Try putting a sheepskin over his mattress.
My dog, Sky, spends about 20 hours out of 24 resting or sleeping, so I have made sure she has a few comfy places to put herself. As she likes to be near where I am, she has a deep, squishy cushion in a sunny place near my computer; in the lounge there is one old armchair that is hers and her bed, with very comfy mattress, is upstairs in my bedroom. Her bed is large enough that she can stretch out in it if she wants to.
Exercise: he’ll be doing less of this and be less enthusiastic about it, but regular exercise is essential to keep his circulation going and his joints mobile. If your dog likes water, swimming is great.
Twenty to thirty minutes walking twice a day (or as much or as little as he can tolerate) will benefit both you and the dog, give you some fun time together and give your dog something to look forward to each day. If he’s a bit stiff, you may have to encourage him to get started, but I find with Sky, she’s fine once she gets going. She loves to sniff and smell every blade of grass, clump of weeds, every tree trunk and telephone pole along the way, so I don’t think it turns out to be much exercise for me, but she loves it. It is her time, and that’s how I look at it. It’s precious, may not happen tomorrow.
Warmth: old dogs, like old people, feel the cold more than they used to. Treat your pet to a snuggly dog jacket for cool days. There are plenty of styles and sizes to choose from in the pet shops, or alternatively, an old jumper or cardigan can be adapted to fit. A soft woollen blanket to throw over him when he is sleeping is great, too, although it can slip off if your dog moves around. The advantage of a jacket is that it will stay put.
