The average life span of dogs is more than ten years. Most dogs who can live to be over 10 years old have entered the stage of elderly dogs. If taken care of well, they can live longer. How to take care of elderly dogs? These points are very important.
1. Comfortable and warm area
When the dog is old, it will take longer to rest and sleep, so it is necessary to provide it with a warm and comfortable nest. Pet owners can put thick sponge mats on the kennel, which can relieve dog joint pain and keep warm.
In addition, it is best to place the dog kennel in a quiet corner so that the dog can rest well and not be kept up.
2. Free exercise time
Elderly dogs have less physical strength and their exercise volume is not that great. Do not force them to exercise anymore. Just go out for a walk occasionally. Bath in the sun and blow the wind. It no longer requires a limited time to go out for a walk.
Many elderly dogs have arthritis problems, so they don’t like running much. The owner can help them relieve discomfort based on the dog’s condition.
3. Pay attention to the problem of gaining weight
When dogs get older, their metabolism will also slow down. In addition, the amount of exercise decreases. Sometimes, eating too much will make you gain weight, and then increase the pressure on the heart, muscles and joints.
Owners can appropriately reduce the amount of feeding the dog according to the amount of exercise, or eat some high-protein and high-nutrition foods.
4. Oral care
In fact, dental care is very important for maintaining the health of elderly dogs, because teeth problems, such as inflammation of teeth will affect the appetite of elderly dogs, resulting in physical weakness and other health problems.
Regular dental care can prevent and treat periodontal diseases in dogs. If the dog can take care of teeth from young age, frequent brushing of teeth can reduce the occurrence of periodontal diseases.