Things Your Senior Dog Wishes You Know

Whether you and your elderly dog have been together for years, or you’ve just adopted a senior dog that needed a family. It's a blessing to support a dog in their golden years. Apart from a greying muzzle, several changes can occur as a dog ages. Senior dogs have more worries about well being than younger dogs. Hence, here are a couple of things they wish you know.

They Can't Hear And See As Well As They Did Before

If you think your dog is ignoring you, you might find out that they either didn’t hear you calling, or can't see the ball you threw, in which you thought was in plain sight. Sometimes, owners do not notice the signs of a dog that is slowly losing their sight or hearing until it’s severe. 

One of the ways you can plan for a seamless transition to deafness in the event of hearing loss is to start training them early with hand signals. It doesn't matter as much if your dog knows the hand gestures well or that they can't hear what you're asking of them. As many dogs who are hard of hearing can still sense vibrations, so by using hand claps, knocking on a hard surface or some other noise-making technique, you will still be able to get your dog's attention. 

Loss of vision is another concern with subtle signs. If your dog becomes more clumsy, can't seem to locate food or water dishes, doesn’t roam around the house as much as before, or is easily scared, the culprit may be a lack of vision. Try to clear the clutter from the floor, mark various rooms with different scents or different textured rugs so that your dog knows by their sense of smell or touch which space they are in.

They Are Slightly More Anxious Now

Senior dogs also have a tougher time managing stress. Things that were not issues before can become so, such as problems with separation anxiety, or even acting more irritated and frustrated than usual. Although some dogs are more likely to want to be left alone, some dogs may become more clingy.

You can help reduce your dog's anxiety by keeping your floors clutter-free, taking more regular short walks (Fuzzyard’s harness will be ideal for these walks as they are lightweight and super comfortable), playing food puzzles to improve his mental stimulation, give him extra room away from strangers while in public, keeping a daily schedule so he knows what to expect during the day, and continuing to work with separation training for when you're away.  

They Aren’t As Agile As They Used To Because Their Joints Hurt

For ageing dogs, arthritis and joint pain are common issues. Joint discomfort can cause a variety of issues for an elderly dog including trouble getting into the vehicle or down the stairs. Whether it is an old injury that starts to flare up more frequently or arthritis that tends to worsen, It's good to give your dog chondroitin and glucosamine supplements early, even as young as a few years of age, to stay away from joint problems for as long as possible.

Containing chondroprotective agents (glucosamine and chondroitin), horsetail (source of silicium) and harpagophytum, Francodex Joint Health Supplement can help support your senior dog’s joint function and cartilage production. 

You may also include ramps for when a dog has to climb stairs, take shorter but more regular walks, provide them with an elevated food and water bowl and not calling them to come to you unnecessarily while they are lying down. 

They Will Need A Little Extra Care In Grooming These Days

Older dogs will undergo changes in their skin, coat and even nails. Their skin can become dry, and their coat may become coarser. Adding coconut oil or salmon oil to your dog’s food will go a long way to solving the problem.

As the skin of your dog becomes thinner, injury can occur more often. It's important to make sure you're extra vigilant while your dog is playing or out and about so that it doesn't get injured. Senior dogs will tend to have brittle nails, too, thus trimming their nails with a high-quality salon nail cutter regularly will be ideal. You may also need to increase the number of days a week you brush out your senior dog’s coat to help them stay clean. It's also a perfect opportunity to bond with each other. 

For that, you will need to get a multi-purpose grooming brush that removes tangles, mats, loose hair and dirt from your dog’s fur while at the same time effectively stimulating their skin and hair follicles

Grooming is vital for a dog's entire life, but it can be especially important as a dog grows older. As a result, professional grooming sessions are the best time to spot any health concerns of a dog. Therefore, older dogs can greatly benefit from those sessions. 

Here at Pet Master, we are more than happy to pamper your senior dogs with our luxurious spa treatments and professional grooming that will make them look and feel younger and ensure that their grooming experience is the best it can be! Check out our grooming services here!

Though They May Be An Oldie Now, But They Are Still A Goodie!

While it may seem like a lot of work to take care of your dog when they reached their senior years, such dedication has its own special rewards, including recognizing that you have done everything you can for a friend who has relied on you from day one.