Caring for your older German Shepherd
Caring for Your Older Dog
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
After so many years of loyalty and support, don't they deserve the best care we can give them? For many pet lovers, watching our companions grow older is a comforting, rewarding experience. Hard to believe the same bundle of energy tearing around the yard so many years ago is now the calm and kind old friend curled at our feet.
As your pet ages, you may notice the outward signs: white around the muzzle, less exuberance, hesitation trying to stand up after a nap or difficulty climbing into your vehicle. Then there are the internal signs we can't see, like a slowing metabolism, and changing nutritional requirements.
Just as we give special attention to the needs of puppies, dogs heading into their later years require unique attention to help comfort them and extend their precious time with us. After so many years of loyalty and support, don't they deserve the best care we can give them?
If you're lucky enough to share your home with an older pet, here are some tips we recommend for the care of your mature friends:
Exercise & Attention are
important at every stage in your pet's life. However, with senior pets
you may need to adjust the frequency and intensity of the exercise. If
your pet doesn't use his muscles, he will lose mass, tone, and it will
become even harder to move about. Shorter, more frequent walks or swims
can help keep your dog in shape and his weight under control.
If your pet has arthritis or is stiff and sore, giving him access to a
ramp to get up and down from higher areas - vehicles or furniture - will
make it much easier on his joints, and allow him to maintain some of the
adventure he enjoyed as a youngster.
Comfort for Old Joints - To protect older elbows and
haunches, provide your mature dog with a firm, orthopedic foam bed. Our
veterinarians have specifically designed several beds with "medical-grade"
orthopedic foam or box spring construction to distribute weight evenly
and reduce pressure on joints. They are also much easier to get out of
in the morning!
Another good idea is to elevate your dog's food and water bowls. Elevated feeders make eating and drinking more comfortable for arthritic pets, particularly if there is stiffness in the neck or back.
Nutrition & Supplements - With dogs that have arthritis,
we recommend drug-free nutritional supplements like Joint Care Plus MSM
which contain ingredients such as Glucosamine HCl, Chondroitin Sulfate,
and Vitamin C. There are many excellent supplements available today.
As your pet ages, keep a closer eye on his movements, behavior, and habits. Look for the signs of aging, such as loss of appetite, excessive sleeping, irritability, changes in his gait, weakness, and incontinence, and be prepared to treat him with a little more love and care than ever before.
The care you give to your pet throughout his life is a large determining factor in how he ages. Feed him a nutritious diet, offer proper vitamin, mineral and other nutritional supplementation, and help him maintain the right weight throughout his life and your pet is more likely to age gracefully.
When is a dog considered
senior?
While there is no set age at which every pet is considered senior, many
veterinarians believe a dog is in his senior years when he reaches the
last third of his normal life expectancy. For instance, a large breed
dog, such as a Great Dane, which lives to an average of nine years old,
would be considered 'senior' when he was six. A poodle that normally lives
to be 15 years old would be considered 'senior' at 10 years old. These
are by no means exact numbers, and you need to remember that aging is
a lifelong and gradual process.
