Senior Lifestyle | Caring for Aging Pets
Pets, SENIOR LIFESTYLE |
Caring for Your Aging Pet
What does your aging pet need?
First, aging pets tend to slow down just at a time when consistent exercise is essential to sustaining pet health. When you see your pet sleeping more, you may yearn for their apparent contentment but a daily dose of quality exercise will inject new life into your pet’s life, slow down the inevitable aging process and even delay the common dog arthritis symptoms.
Just like adults, pet exercise increases circulation, feeds tissues and muscles with oxygen and eliminates toxins. And of course exercise promotes good bowel and urinary processes that are critical to older pets.
Pet exercise and care is a daily event for many, but if you are trying to get started, here is a tip or two:
- Don’t try to fight the weather. Too hot or too cold is likely not good for you or your pet. Be flexible but consistent in the time of day you choose.
- Don’t forget a few treats to reward good behavior especially if you live in an area where you encounter a lot of pet traffic when you walk.
- Target a good walk of an hour or so a couple times each week but start slow if you and your pet are not in reasonable shape. In time, you will love those walking excursion
- Make your exercise time fun for both. Play some games, toss a ball, do a little tug of war, or whatever you and your pet can do together.
- Watch for signs of pain or stiffness in your pet as result of the exercise. Your pet may have dog arthritis. Vets recommend a glucosamine supplement to help manage this condition.
- Starting a new exercise program may trigger changes in your pet’s appetite and the need for good nutrition is even more important. Be sure they get high quality food but don’t over feed and cause excess weight gain.
- If you are a committed pet owner, perhaps you consider a younger companion pet to spark the life of your current pet. This is a big commitment so be sure you have the time, funds and energy to provide the needed care.
- Pay attention to your pet. There may be a time when a pet ramp will be necessary to get into the car, or do some of the common exercise activities that were never given a thought in the past.
- If you are notice dog arthritis symptoms developing in your pet, you may want to purchase elevated food and water bowls to minimize painful stooping for nourishment.
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The love of a devoted pet owner is the single ingredient that sustains an aging pet. It is this love and commitment that brings the attention needed to adapt to your pet’s changing needs. Feeding a nutritional diet, daily exercise, consistent care from a good vet plus a little more tender care as your pet grows older will allow your pet to age with grace.
Janet Shapan, has been a publisher, writer and media designer in the special interest magazine and TV production business for over 25 years. A Boomer, her passion is identifying and sharing current innovations in health, wellness and other lifestyle categories of interest to Seniors. For more information on Senior Living, visit: http://For-Seniors.org
Tags: aging pets, arthritis in dogs, cats pets, city pets, dogs pets, pet care, pet dog, pet meds, pet supplies, petmeds, Pets, puppie pets, senior dogs, senior dogs with arthritis
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