Keeping a senior dog healthy and happy can be easy if you maintain good diet and keep their mind stimulated
Teaching your old pooch some new tricks is good when it comes to keeping your old dog healthy and happy in their sunset years. Canines live an average life of around 12 years, although many are likely to live for much longer. And it goes without saying, the onus is on pet parents to keep the fur baby happy and healthy.
It is essential to remember a dog’s life cycle moves much faster than a human’s, so while you may still feel happy going for long walks or playing rough, they might have moved past this active phase. After research of 2,000 dog owners, commissioned by Forth glade natural dog food, it was found 43 percent believe you can’t teach new tricks to an old canine. Another finding indicated nearly a third (31 percent) continue treating a senior dog exactly the same way as they would a frisky pup – 37 percent feel unsure if they should even change their dog’s diet as it grows old.
However, a majority (93 percent) recognise the importance of keeping an old dog mentally active, to keep their brain stimulated. Experts say, “It’s absolutely possible to teach veteran dog new tricks, to keep it mentally stimulated later in life, and reduce cognitive decline. We know that half the time spent on mental activity is just as stimulating for your dog as double the time on physical activity, and so this is a really easy way to keep their life enriched and happy as they grow old.”
The study also says more than half the dog owners (51 percent) cited that they had stopped all behavioural exercise by the time their dog would be considered senior which is usually eight – 10 years old. Nearly 89 percent pet parents really value the time they spend with their pooches.
They have chosen playing games (65 percent), taking their dog for a walk (55 percent) and offering favourite food to their pups (53 percent) as the best ways to spend ‘quality time’ with their fur babies. According to another poll data, a quarter of dog owners believe elderly dogs should be walked for 30 minutes a day on average.
Experts add, “As a dog ages, it’s important to keep them moving but one should be sure to keep it within them capability. Stiff joints can create the problem of mobility. At this point, consulting a vet should be the top priority since right medication and therapy can keep the senior dogs mobile with little problem. But the most important part to care of a senior dog is good diet. “A good diet is essential to keep a senior dog healthy. A nutritous diet not only helps them keep their body healthy but their mind also remains happy if the dog is feeling well,” advise experts.
Caroline Wilkinson, a renowned animal behaviorist and dog trainer suggests some do’s and dont’s for caring for an elderly dog:
Do: Keep your eyes open for any changes in your dog both physically and mentally. Keep a close watch on anything that is different from the general norm.
Don’t: Put your own lifestyle before your canine companion, ensuring their walks are suitable for their age and try and avoid major changes to their routines.
Do: Keep their brain active by playing with them in simple exercises, which can have both physical and mental enhancement.
Don’t: Don’t write off an older dog and feel they don’t want to be active, there is a general thought that once an old dog gets a problem, we can’t do anything with them anymore.
Do: Make a list for your furry friend, think of the things they really love doing with you, like going for a walk and help them tick it off in a way that suits their needs. However, expecting them to run miles together, having them struggle on wooden and tiled flooring and “replacing” them a bit too early are big no-nos for your senior canine companion.
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