One of the hardest parts about owning a pet is watching as they begin to slow down due to their age, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot do things to make your pet's golden years more enjoyable and comfortable. Listed below are three steps that you can take that can improve your elderly pet's quality of life and potentially increase their lifespan.
Make Dietary Changes
One of the most important things that you can do in order to keep your pet healthy in his or her elderly years is to make dietary changes. A major reason for this is that there are pet foods out there that are specifically formulated to benefit the changing needs of an elderly pet. For example, many of these pet foods take into account that your elderly pet is not going to be as active as they used to be, which means the food will have fewer calories in it in order to help your dog avoid becoming overweight.
In addition, some of the pet foods that are formulated for elderly pets will incorporate vitamins and minerals that are intended to combat some of the issues that elderly pets face. This can include supplements in the food that are intended to stave off arthritis symptoms or even help your pet's joints heal.
Consider Upgrading Your Pet's Bed
Another step to take that can greatly improve your elderly pet's quality of life is to consider upgrading his or her bed. You should consider getting either a heated or a memory foam bed because this can greatly reduce the pain and discomfort that accompanies arthritis, which is one of the most common issues that elderly pets develop. The heated bed will help the pet's joints relax, while the memory foam bed will take a lot of the pressure off of the pet's joints while he or she is sleeping, which will allow your pet to sleep more comfortably and be more active when he or she wakes up.
Speak To Your Vet
Finally, one of the best things that you can do when your pet gets older is to speak to your vet and discuss what you can do to increase your pet's lifespan. Your veterinarian will be able to look at your pet's specific condition and give you advice as to what needs to be done to improve his or her health to the point where he or she will have a longer lifespan, such as increasing exercise time or changing the diet up or even investing in nutritional supplements.
Speak to a veterinarian today in order to discuss what he or she would recommend that you do in order to make your elderly pet much more comfortable and healthy. Making dietary changes, upgrading your pet's bed, and speaking to your vet about increasing your pet's lifespan are all simple and effective ways of taking care of your elderly pet. Contact a company like Phoenixville Animal Hospital - R B Wolstenholme DVM for more information.
Share9 January 2017
Hello, my name is Katrina, and I love my dog. We live out in the country, so he is able to run a lot. He even has neighboring dogs who come to see him and play. However, fresh air and exercise are not the only things he needs. He also needs a healthy diet, the right shots, and care for his mental health. If you are a pet owner, you will love the tips that I plan to include in this blog. I'm going to focus these posts on everything you need to know to keep your dog happy and healthy. I hope these ideas help you, and I wish you and your pet many years of happiness and good health together.