Older Dog Care - Frequently Asked Questions

As we have mentioned before, older dog care is quite different than caring for a young pup. Unfortunately, most people don't know how to properly care for their aging pet. Below are some of the frequently asked questions that we hear.

Should more fequent walks be a part of older dog care? Absolutely, but the reasons change. If he is still a normal, healthy dog, the same frequency as always will be just fine. But if your pet is beginning to show signs of arthritis, it is important to get him moving more often during the day. Older dogs also tend to get lazy. More frequent moderate walks will improve circulation.

Is my dog's bladder weaker at about 8 or 9 years old? Actually, what is sometimes interpreted as a weak bladder is actually a bladder infection or the onset of a kidney problem. Bladder infections are common at all ages. Kidney disease however is most common in an older dog. It is one of the two most common problems in an aging pet. The other is a bad heart.

My housebroken older dog is starting to urinate in the house for no reason. Is this most likely a medical problem or is he being spiteful? Start by eliminating medical problems before you punish your pet for disobedience. If he is urinating in the house, chances are it is a bladder problem. If however he is drinking more water than normal and also going inside, it could more likely be a kidney problem. As always, if you suspect something is medically wrong, see your vet.

Should more exercise be part of my older dog care, or is it bad for him? Exercise is very good for an older dog unless there are medical reasons that say otherwise. Heart problems would be a reason to really limit exercise. No matter what, all exercise should be within reason and not excessive for an older dog. For instance jumping hurdles is probably out, but walking is a great healthy exercise for dogs of any age, and for you. In this respect dogs are alot like humans.

Does older dog care include a different diet? The short answer is yes. Older dogs should have less total protein but a higher quality protein. Dogs of different ages do require different diets. That's why there's so many different types of commercial dog foods available. The companies are trying to capitalize on the different needs at all ages. Younger dogs need a high concentration of protein, middle aged dogs do great on the protein that exists in average good quality dog food, and older dogs need lower amounts of higher quality protein.

Too much protein produces more nitrogenous wastes, and that means more work for the kidneys. Older dogs with kidney problems could be put on prescription dog food or small amounts of high quality protein. If you are making your pet's food, these high quality proteins are found in eggs, yogurt, tofu, ricotta cheese, farmers cheese, cottage cheese and hard mild cheeses along with a lot of raw, grated vegetables. But if your pet has eaten nothing but commercial dog foods, be careful about introducing these new foods into his or her diet.

Kidney problems require low protein and heart problems require low salt. And quite frequently these two problems go together in older dogs.

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