Hard to believe I'm officially considered a senior...I don't remember getting an AARP card. Hmmm.
Parental Unit claims I haven't slowed down a bit, but according to most charts we've seen, I am indeed at least heading into my senior years. In a month or two I'll be about 51 in human years.
Check out this nifty chart from WEbMD to find where your pooch falls on the age scale.
The idea is that you pet parents should be on the lookout for age-related issues in your dog, since he or she typically won't be able to tell you if they're stiff from arthritis, for example, and need several shorter, daily walks to stretch out (Unless of course, you're a dog with a blog like I am, and can post about your aches and pains.) One of our favorite holistic veterinarians, Dr. Karen Becker advises that there are at least six special considerations for older pets that you should be aware of and might need to work into your daily routine.
Very much like humans, dogs need to maintain a healthy weight and engage in daily exercise to keep in top shape. both mentally and physically, as they age. And like humans, they may need to alter their daily schedule to accommodate their changing bodies and slowed pace. The good news is that seniors make terrific pets, particularly if you rescue an aging pet from a shelter. Although it's hard to believe, many dogs are abandoned by their owners when they're "of a certain age", because they don't want to put in the bit of extra effort or alter their routines to meet the needs of an elderly pet. But we believe these dogs "know" that the people who step up to the plate and adopt them, despite their advanced years, are special folks, indeed, and deserve the loyalty and devotion a senior dog will show them.
Let us know about any special tips you have for caring for an aging pet—we'd love to hear your ideas!
Parental Unit claims I haven't slowed down a bit, but according to most charts we've seen, I am indeed at least heading into my senior years. In a month or two I'll be about 51 in human years.
Check out this nifty chart from WEbMD to find where your pooch falls on the age scale.
The idea is that you pet parents should be on the lookout for age-related issues in your dog, since he or she typically won't be able to tell you if they're stiff from arthritis, for example, and need several shorter, daily walks to stretch out (Unless of course, you're a dog with a blog like I am, and can post about your aches and pains.) One of our favorite holistic veterinarians, Dr. Karen Becker advises that there are at least six special considerations for older pets that you should be aware of and might need to work into your daily routine.
Very much like humans, dogs need to maintain a healthy weight and engage in daily exercise to keep in top shape. both mentally and physically, as they age. And like humans, they may need to alter their daily schedule to accommodate their changing bodies and slowed pace. The good news is that seniors make terrific pets, particularly if you rescue an aging pet from a shelter. Although it's hard to believe, many dogs are abandoned by their owners when they're "of a certain age", because they don't want to put in the bit of extra effort or alter their routines to meet the needs of an elderly pet. But we believe these dogs "know" that the people who step up to the plate and adopt them, despite their advanced years, are special folks, indeed, and deserve the loyalty and devotion a senior dog will show them.
Let us know about any special tips you have for caring for an aging pet—we'd love to hear your ideas!
3 comments:
We may be charted as seniors but no way do we act and feel like one, do we, Bocci!
Love ya lots♥
Mitch
Liam is also creeping up on 51 on that chart! My only tip, concerning age, is to pay special attention to lumps and bumps. I try to give Liam a good rubdown once a week, and I bring anything suspicious up with my veterinarian. As these guys age, their risk of cancers goes up, too, so it pays to be careful!
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie
Thanks for this great tip, Jean, and we so agree! That's one reason we advocate that pet parents do their own grooming if at all possible. Parental Unit thinks our grooming sessions (including my bath) are a good excuse to feel me up!
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