Senior dog health is an important aspect of the well being of your dog, just as it is with you. As many of us know, the aging process tends to create health issues with joints, eyesight, hearing, and other areas. This is true for us, but sometimes we forget to stop and consider the fact that it is true for our companion animals as well. The only difference is that for our dogs, they reach ”middle age” a lot sooner than we do.
This is why senior dog health is so important, because the aging process can be as hard on our animals as it is on us. While your dog may not have any physical signs of aging yet, when animals hit five or six years old, it’s a good idea to begin taking them into your veterinarian for checkups twice a year. This way, you can identify issues as they begin, and start treatment sooner rather than later.
One common senior dog health issue is dog arthritis. In most cases this pain is simply due to the aging process, although it can be caused by joint injury as well. Joint pain is very common among older, large breed dogs, although it can affect all sizes of dogs. The best course of treatment for joint pain is anti-inflammatory, nonsteroidal medications specifically made for dog pain relief.
Another common senior dog health issue is weight gain. As they age, older dogs tend to not be as active as they once were, which can be due to both the aging process, and to joint pain as mentioned above. Older dogs can be placed on special diets when they begin to gain unhealthy amounts of weight, something that can be discussed and decided upon with your veterinarian.
Failing eyesight and hearing are also fairly common among older dogs, and while there aren’t too many treatment options for these types of issues, catching them early enough can give you more options. Which once again highlights the importance of taking your older dog in for senior dog health checkups every six months or so.
During these checkups, your veterinarian will give your dog and overall exam, and possibly take blood for tests, in order to make sure they are healthy. Regular exams will greatly improve your senior dog health, making his or her “golden years” healthy and happy.
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