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Pet 101: How to Deal with Your Older Dog’s Needs

Dogs are indeed man’s best friend. However, like most living creatures, they age and

they age fast. And they way they age is similar to us humans. They become less active,

and they manifest needs that have to be addressed right away.

Here are some signs of the dog’s aging with their needs that are commonly associated

with it to better help you understand how to deal with them as transition to their version

of old age.

One of the signs to look for is they greying of your pet’s muzzle, which spreads to

almost the entire face as it grows older. You will start to notice that it could become

harder for them to leave their sleeping spot early in the morning. As they age, they may

also start to develop visual and hearing problems.

Some older dogs may also suffer a form of dementia known as canine cognitive

dysfunction syndrome (CDS), which is their version of the humans’ Alzheimer’s disease.

This affects the pet’s behaviour as their mental capacity starts to diminish. Some of the

signs that your older dog may be suffering from the syndrome include urinating and

defecating inside the home when they have been trained not to all these years. To deal

with this, simply allow the dog to spend more time in the yard throughout the day.

Dogs with CDS may also start to show heightened anxiety, becoming more agitated

and nervous mostly for no apparent reason. This condition may cause insomnia or

restlessness during sleeping hours.

They may also start to become withdrawn and may no longer crave for attention.

As the owner, you need to make sure that your responsibility should extend to the dog’s

old age by making sure it stays as healthy as possible. Visiting the veterinarian at least

twice per year greatly helps. You can also take the following measures at home when

they start to show conditions indicative of old age:

● Provide them with the best and most nutritious foods, especially those that the

veterinarian recommended for older dogs

● Give the dog plenty of good exercise recommended for its age daily

● Provide ramps to assist the dog when climbing stairs or furniture to make it easy

for its joints

● Don’t let the dog sleep on bare floors, especially at night, and provide blanket for

warmth and comfort

● Get the dog to stay active by providing new toys for it to play with regularly

Getting Ready for a New Pet Dog

Everyone, whether a child or an adult, seems to get so excited with the arrival of a new

pet, especially of a new cute and cuddly puppy. However, owning a new puppy goes

beyond a simple welcome and introduction to each of the members of the family. There

are things that should be considered when preparing for a new household member.

Some of the common questions you need to ask yourself when getting a new puppy are

the following:

● What breed of puppy is suitable for our family?

● Will it get along with the kids and other pets at home?

● What are the potential health problems that the puppy may encounter?

A puppy is a living creature that also has its own unique personality, much like a little

human child. It also has a unique set of needs that need to be satisfied. That’s why

before getting a puppy, you need to be fully committed to taking care of the animal for

as long as it lives.

Whatever dog breed you decide to go with, there are certain things you need to

provide your puppy for health and comfort. The food should always be the one that

the veterinarian recommends. Foods that have high levels of protein are essential for

energy and growth.

It’s also highly recommended that the puppy stays hydrated throughout the day. That’s

why keep a good supply of healthy drinking water for your puppy in a stainless steel

bowl. Using this kind of equipment is much easier and convenient for you as it is much

easier to clean and maintain. It’s also good for the dog, because it’s a material that the

puppy can’t chew on.

Because puppies are usually playful and extremely active, provide it with lots of toys

and make a point of spending some time playing with it. Avoid small and soft toys that

the puppy may chew off and ingest. They could cause gastrointestinal problems.

Some of the other things you need to keep in mind before finally deciding on owning a

puppy include:

● Having a first aid kit for emergency situations

● Choosing the right set of collar and leash for when spending some time with the

dog away from home

● Allowing the puppy to sleep in the bedroom with the right set of sleeping

equipment

● Getting the puppy to a training facility

● Proper hygiene

● Giving the puppy lots of attention, especially when it needs it most

For more information on owning a pet dog and on how to properly take care of it, talk to your veterinarian.

Top Tips to Keeping Your Pet Dog Healthy

One of the joys of life is owning a pet dog. It’s akin to having a kid of your own,

especially if you are big animal lover. However, along with owning a pet dog is the

enormous responsibility of taking care of it and making sure that it stays healthy.

The following are some practical tips to keeping your dog healthy.

Choosing the breed

Before finally deciding on which breed of dog to go with, find a breeder with a good

reputation. You can ask around from friends and relatives who have already owned a

pet from a good dog breeder. Pay a visit to the breeder’s facility and ask questions such

as how the dogs are bred and how they deal with genetic problems.

Behaviour
Puppies are normally active and frantic. However, be careful not to choose those that

are hyperactive or those that show extreme shyness. Go with the puppy that greets you

as it comes out of the kennel without showing extremely active behaviours.

Vaccination and de-worming

Be sure that the puppy has already been de-wormed and that it has already received

basic vaccination against common canine diseases. Puppies that are six to eight

weeks old should receive a four-way shot against parvo, hepatitis, distemper and

parainfluenza.

Checkups

It’s also very important that the dog gets checked up regularly. Ideally, a dog should

have yearly check ups to ensure that its vaccine is current and that it stays in the pink

of health. The dog may also need to have a comprehensive check up that includes

complete bloodwork to determine the condition of its kidneys and liver.

With a healthy dog, you can rest assured that you have a jolly companion for a long

time.