Care for your
ageing BFF
They are your best friends forever. They will
do anything for you, even when they are crippled by old age. That’s their
nature. A look at how you can take care of senior canine pets.
There was a time when he’d come bounding down
the stairs, yelping gleefully to greet you when you return back from work. But
now even though he still wants to leap to welcome you, he cant .He hesitates at
the top of the staircase .gingerly puts one paw in front of the other, one step
at a time; he stops: his nostrils flare
with laboured breathing ,his front and hind legs tremble trying to stay
firm…..standing at the bottom of the stairs, it tear your heart to see your pet dog struggle through a simple
task he’s done all his life .To help your ageing BFF live his golden years in
comfort and joy you have to know a few things before you try to do anything
else.
When does a dog
become a senior canine?
Different breeds of dogs show signs of ageing
at different ages. Size matters too. The smaller the dog, the longer its
lifespan. Small sized breeds like cocker spaniels, terriers Pomeranians,
Dachshund and lhasa apso have a lifespan of around 12-13 years. They become
seniors around 10 years. Large breeds like golden retrievers, Labradors
and Alsatians show signs of ageing at 6-7 years and usually have a lifespan of
8-12 years. A mongrel can live up to 15 years and shows signs of ageing only
after 10 years.
Signs to watch for
Deteriorating eyesight is one of the first
signs of ageing. Cataract can be the culprit but often loss of vision is simply
a sign of advancing years. Cloudy bluish
haze is seen in the pupil area due to ageing.
Though a dog’s ears are about 25-30 times more
sensitive than humans, problems with hearing will ensue as the dog ages. Now
the dog might respond much later to your car sound or your voice. as a result
of hearing loss, the dog might get startled easily. Lethargy is one of the most
noticeable signs of age. As activity decreases, obesity too may creep in as the
dog tends to eat more than it can burn. Lower metabolism is the consequence of
ageing which leads to obesity if diet is not controlled sometimes,
hypothyroidism slows it down. Heart attacks occur more often in dogs due to
obesity. The dog falls sick more often as ageing means lesser immunity. Greying
is prevalent I dog too.
Helping the dog age
gracefully
During this time, the dog needs regular
veterinary care. Be aware of the diseases that may plague the particular breed.
The must-dos in order to keep your senior happy are:
De-worming: regular de-worming once in four months is a must.
This will prevent the dog from eating grass or mud (it attempt to de-worm
itself) leading to indigestion or even gastroenteritis.
Vision care: inspect the eyes frequently and
provide immediate care. Eye infections are easily curable.
Ear checkups: if your dog is prone to shaking its
head or scratching its ears, it’s a sign of ear infection. The solution is to
administer anti bacterial/fungal/viral ear drops weakly.
Booster shots: there are eight to nine diseases
that are common to dogs.Rabies, leptospirosis, viral, hepatitis, para influenza
and adenovirus can be avoided if the dog is given annual booster shots.
Diet control: meat rice sweets ice-cream deep fried snacks
and chocolates should be avoided. Chocolates especially damage the liver.roti
and ragi is recommended.
Exercise: daily walks are a must. your dog needs to be
outdoors for at least half an hour t an hour every day. Ideally twice a day
walks will keep he dog happy and alert.
Sunlight: exposure to sunlight is vital for their
wellbeing helping to deal with skin and fungal infections.
Regular nail clipping: lack of exercise and smooth
flooring lead to excessive nail growth. Regular clipping of nails ensure that
your dog will land on its paws and not its nails. Many times a dog is limping
because it tends to put its entire weight on its nails leading to problems like
arthritis.
Q Brush the dogs coat every day.
Q Clean the dogs ears once a week to
remove the wax collected.
Q Apply anti tick powder once a week
to keep its coat free from external parasites.
Q Give it bath regularly.
Make your home canine friendly
Don’t move the position of the
furniture the dog’s food bowl or bedding. Understand that your dog is now prone
to separation anxiety uncharacteristic aggression due to pain or discomfort
withdrawn behaviour lack of activeness confusion and a horde of diseases. a
loving home will keep your dog safe and comforted senior needs a little extra
care a small thank you gift to your BFF for the unadulterated love.
Source: Bangalore
