When Your Dog Gets Older (and Stitch's Story)
04-03-2022
He was 9 months old when I first saw him, our Stitch. Tied up on a balcony in one of the streets in our old neighborhood in Lisbon. A choke collar with pins around his neck and the leash so short that he could only sit or stand, lying down was not possible. Completely emaciated and not socialized at all. In the full sun, without water or food.
With a ladder from the neighbors, Joe was able to put down some water and food. Eventually, we were able to convince the owner to surrender Stitch to us, because we could give him a better home.
And what a gift he has turned out to be. After a lot of training, with help from our bitch Nala and lots of love, Stitch is the best dog you could ever wish for. Yes I know, he has a lot of competition from your dog 😜
And now 9 years later...and he is now 'old'. What can you do to help your best friend as he gets older? Below we give some tips.
Adjust the exercise
Every dog has its own energy level. One needs a lot of exercise to get rid of the energy and the other a little less. And even though sufficient exercise is important at any age, keep in mind that your dog can handle or needs less as it ages. Joints become stiffer and the heart may be in poorer condition.
Stitch was a 'high energy' dog in his early years. He went on all walks with Joe, so in the beginning 10 walks a week. Nothing was too much for him. Now we are on 3 walks a week. With rest days in between.
How much you should restrict is difficult to determine, because every dog is different. Keep a close eye on changes in your dog. Is she sleeping more and more? Is she getting up with more difficulty? Then slowly reduce the exercise. But is she still a bit restless in the house or very playful? Then she can still handle it all easily.
Please note that older dogs sometimes need to pee more often than before. They have more difficulty holding their pee. Plan an extra pee round(s) and certainly do not/never punish your dog for an accident in the house.
Reduce the amount of food if necessary
If your dog gets less exercise, make sure you give him less food. Overweight is a risk. If your friend has a big urge to eat, a so-called glutton 🤤, you can also switch to the light version of the current food. This way you continue to give the same amount of food, but with fewer calories.
Support with natural supplements
To provide extra support for the joints, you can give your dog Glucosamine Complex specially from Groene Os. This is a powder of glucosamine and chondroitin, plus extra nutrients. For example, it contains calcium for the bones, magnesium for muscle function, vitamin C for the formation of collagen and frankincense resin for the joints. If you want to know more about this, click here .
Stitch gets a few pumps of salmon oil with sheep fat over his food once a day in addition to the glucosamine. The vitamins A and D in this help to strengthen the bone structure. It increases resistance and the omega 3 and 6 ensure a shiny coat. And it is super tasty, he says.
Invest in a good dog bed
As you get older, getting up becomes more and more difficult. If you have been lying down for a long time, you are a bit stiff or let's say that it is not going so smoothly anymore (I speak from experience). This also applies to your dog. An ergonomic dog bed provides stability to the body. It is often made of foam rubber, which ensures that the weight of the joints is well distributed and that the body does not touch the hard surface.
For older dogs or dogs with (increased risk of) joint pain, arthrosis, hip dysplasia, there are also orthopedic beds. These are ergonomic beds with an extra top layer of memory foam. The double layers relieve pressure points at the hip, knees and shoulders because the foam forms to the contours of the body and an optimal pressure distribution is created.
Dogs sleep an average of 12-14 hours a day and this will increase as they get older. A good dog bed is therefore a great gift to give your dog.
At Dogguardian.nl we have chosen the Swedish brand BIA. They have been producing ergonomic beds and mattresses for over 50 years, without the use of animal products, with the main goal of the comfort of the dog. Do you want to read more about BIA and their products? Via this link you go to the collection page.
Be alert to signs of physical complaints
Deafness, blindness, dementia, incontinence... These are all medical problems that an older dog has an increased risk of. You can help your dog by being alert to the signs and seeking medical advice from the vet. Here are a few examples:
- change in eating and drinking behavior > may indicate dental problems, diabetes or kidney problems;
- having to urinate more often, having accidents in the house or dribbling > may indicate incontinence or other bladder problems;
- bumping into things, red or cloudy eyes > may indicate an eye condition such as blindness;
- difficulty getting up, stiffness, limping > may indicate osteoarthritis;
- respond less well to sounds (such as the doorbell), commands (obedience) or his/her name or bark a lot more > may indicate deafness;
- change in behavior, confusion, restless behavior (pacing back and forth), sleeplessness, decreased obedience, getting lost/disoriented > can indicate dementia. De Groene Os has written an interesting blog article about dementia in dogs and cats. Click here to read the article.
Hug!
Of course this is always our favorite activity! Sometimes more for me than for him, but Stitch accepted it long ago 😄. But a nice cuddle also gives you the chance to physically check your buddy. Is he in pain somewhere? Or sensitive spots, irritations on the skin? Or swellings and lumps?
Many vets also offer a senior check for older dogs and cats. During these extensive consultations, your pet will be thoroughly checked for possible age-related ailments. Ask your own vet about this.
Finally
The term 'senior' is quickly used in marketing strategies, especially around food. Slogans such as "From a certain age, you have to switch to senior food, otherwise your dog will get too fat".
We believe that every dog is individual and cannot be lumped together. The amount of food, the amount of exercise and weight gain or loss has a lot to do with your dog's metabolism, build and energy level. And besides, there is no such thing as 'senior' food for humans.
Everything described in this blog article are also points of attention that you can take into account when your dog gets older. But certainly does not apply to every old dog. What I want to say is, do not be guided too much by nice slogans but pay attention to your dog. You know your dog best and can quickly notice changes. And if you have any questions or doubts, ask the vet or us for advice.
Source:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/seniordogs
https://degroeneos.nl/dementie-bij-hond-en-kat/
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