As medicine, including veterinary medicine, advances, so does the life of your pet. Much like elderly humans, older pets often need extra care. However, this does not mean that your pet cannot continue to live a great life. If you have a geriatric pet, it is always a good idea to read up on how to help care for them. After all, they cannot simply ask you for what they need! Being in tune to what care your older pet needs will help you prolong their life, and keep them happy and relatively healthy.
Understanding what diet and exercise your geriatric pet needs is one of the first steps. You obviously won’t be feeding them what you fed them as a puppy or kitten, but if you want to know more, you should go to a veterinarian. They can recommend a senior diet, fit for your household pet. Typically, unless your pet has a specific dietary concern, as long as they are getting a diet deemed complete and balanced for their age, you should be okay. Your vet can also help determine when your pet will be at an age where a senior diet will be the best option for him or her.
If your pet has a specific elderly issue, such as poor joints, hearing problems, or blindness, you can take certain actions to ensure they are still living a full life. With ear or eye problems, having a routine can help because they will know what to do even if they cannot hear or see you well. In addition, rearranging your furniture is frowned upon since your dog is likely used to the way it is and can remember where not to go. Joint problems are common, so items such as doggy stairs that can fit to your bed or car are easy to find.
There are a myriad of things you can do to help your elderly pet. Things such as bringing a new puppy into the household or placing their bed near a safe heat source has been known to help geriatric dogs. Schedule an appointment with Metropolitan Veterinary Center today to see what we can do to help you with your elderly pet!
Courtesy of: Care2
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