Looking After Your Older Dog

Rehoming an older dog from Dogs Trust• Olderdogsoftenfindthemselves

lookingforanewhomeintheirtwilightyearsandaresometimesoverlooked.Thisisagreatshameasdogsmakelovelycompanionsatanyage!

• Youmaythinkthatolderdogsaremorelikelytohavebeendiagnosedwithhealthproblemsandworryaboutthecostimplicationsofrehominganolderdog.Insomecircumstanceswemayofferfinancialsupportforidentifiedconditions,sodon’tletthisputyouoff!

• Youcanteachanolddognewtricks!Olderdogsstillenjoymentalstimulationandtrainingaslongasitisnottoophysicallystrenuous.Theytendtohavebettermanners,comehousetrainedandarenotasdestructiveasapuppy.

• Olderdogsareoftencalmerandmorerelaxingtobearound.Theyalsoneedlessexerciseleavingmoretimeforyourself.

• Whenrehominganolderdogwhatyouseeiswhatyouget.Hispersonalityhasalreadybeenshaped,sothereshouldbenosurprisesinthefuture.

• PopalongtoyournearestDogsTrustRehomingCentreandmeetallourlovelydogsthatarewaitingforanewhome.

• IfyouwouldliketosponsorourOakfieldOldieswhoarelivingatourolddogshomepleasevisitwww.dogstrust.org.uk

If you are interested in rehoming a dog, supporting Dogs Trust or for more information and factsheets about all aspects of dog ownership, please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk or contact:

Dogs Trust17 Wakley StreetLondonEC1V 7RQ

Tel: 020 7837 0006

Reg. Charity Numbers: 227523 and SC037843

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Dogs over the age of 7 are considered by some to be old, but this depends a lot on the breed. The ‘average’ life expectancy of a dog is 13 years, however smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds. Old age brings many changes; some sudden, others gradual, and you will need to be on the lookout for those that signal problems and be prepared to make allowances for those little inconveniences that come with caring for an elderly dog. By preparing for their later years, we can all enhance the quality of life that they deserve.

Feeding • Astheybecomelessactive,olderdogs

canbepronetoputtingonweight.Switchingtoacompleteseniordietthatmaybelowerinproteinorfatwillhelpkeepextraweightoff.

• Feedingsmallermeals2or3timesadaycanbegoodbutwatchoutforthosein-betweenmealsnacksorscraps.

• Ifyourdogsuffersfromneckorbackpainraisingthefoodandwaterbowlwillreducediscomfort.

Exercise • Olderdogscanbecomelessenergetic

andsleepmore.Onwalksletyourdogsetthepace.Trytogoforfrequentshortwalksinsteadofonelongone.

• Yourdogmaynotwanttogoonlonghikesashegetsolderbutitisstillimportanttoexercisehimenoughsothathestaysfit.Hisdailywalkswillgivehimmentalstimulationandkeephisjointsmobile.

• Hemayshowsignsjointstiffnessinthemorningorafterstrenuousexercisesoensurehehasacomfybedtosleepon.

• Youmaywanttoproviderampstohelpthemnavigatestairsoracartoeasethedifficultiestheymayface.

Health • Olderdogsmaystrugglewiththeir

sightandhearing.• Yourdog’seyesmayappearcloudy,

whichcouldmeanthathehasoldagechangesorcataracts.Seekveterinaryadviceonthis.

• Mostdogsadjusttofailingsight,sinceitisusuallyagradualprocess.Trytoavoidmovingthefurnitureinyourhouseandleavingobjectsinhisway.Keephimontheleadduringexercise,especiallynearroads.

• Yourdogmaylosetheabilitytohearcertainsounds.Hemayforexamplebeabletohearawhistle,butnothisowner’svoice.Becreativeindevelopingnewformsofcommunicationwithyourdog.

• Youwillneedtopayparticularattentiontotheconditionofhisteethandthelengthofhisnails.Hisnailswillbelesswornashiswalksgetshorter.

• Ifyourdoghasn’tbeenneuteredalready,theremaystillbebenefitsindoingsoatanolderage.Seekveterinaryadviceonthis.

• Yourdog’scoatmaychangeincondition.Dailygroomingwillbegoodforhiscoatandisagreatopportunityforyoutocheckhimoverforanynewlumpsorbumpsthatmayindicateaproblem.

• Twiceyearlyveterinarycheck-upsareessentialforanageingdog.

Behaviour • Tohelpyourdogremainmentally

activetrytoprovidenewandinterestingaspectsintohisroutine.Makeplentyoftimeforgamesandinteractionwithhim.

• Olderdogsmaystarttoexhibitsymptomsofsenilityincludingcompulsivebehaviours.Seekadvicefromyourvetatthefirstsignofbehaviouralchanges.

• Yourdogmaybegintobarkmoreoften;thismaybebecausesomethingistroublinghim,orbecauseheisgoingdeaf.Seekveterinaryadviceonthis.

• Asdogsgetoldertheycanbecomelesstolerant.Itisimportanttorespectyourdog’sspace.

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