Throughout their lives, pets provide countless benefits, including the joy of laughter and the comfort of undying love, loyalty, care, and affection. As your pet enters its golden years, it is natural to think about ways you can give back to it.
Remembering that aging is not a disease is essential. Age-related problems are inevitable in pets, but with proper attention to their physical, mental, and medical needs, you can ensure that your pet enjoys a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.
Good Aging-In-Place Practices for Dogs
See Your Vet Regularly
Compared to younger animals, the health of older animals declines more rapidly with age. Senior pets often experience health issues such as arthritis, heart disease, cataracts, organ failure, hearing loss, and tumors.
Examinations by a geriatric veterinarian in Westfield, NJ, regularly can detect health problems in senior pets before they worsen to the point where they threaten the animal’s life.
Senior pets have more in-depth exams but are otherwise identical to those given to younger pets. These comprehensive checkups include dental cleanings, blood tests, and other specific checks for signs of age-related diseases.
Give More of Your Time, Affection, and Focus
Aging is inevitable, but it can be sad to see a pet you love decline in health. Spending time with your furry best friend and appreciating that relationship is more important than ever.
Do things together that you both find enjoyable, whether it is a game in the backyard, a cuddle session on the couch, or an outing to a nearby park. It will provide you with irreplaceable memories and give your pet the love and attention they crave.
Invest Extra Time in Grooming
Grooming may become more difficult or unappealing to your aging pet than when they were younger. Their fur or skin may also lose some of its luster and flake.
This can be helped by maintaining a regular brushing routine and other forms of at-home grooming. If your pet has incontinence issues or has accidents in the bathroom, you should bathe them more often.
By maintaining regular grooming appointments, you can keep your pet’s coat in pristine condition and its claws tip-top shape.
How Do You Ensure the Well-Being of an Aging Pet?
No matter how well you take care of them, senior pets can still experience issues related to aging, such as specific diseases. This necessitates a greater commitment from pet owners, such as more frequent veterinary visits at Westfield veterinary and perhaps a change in diet and living conditions.
Nutritional needs change with age, and it is common for senior animals to benefit from diets that are easier to digest, contain a variety of energy sources and ingredients, and have anti-aging nutrients.
The risk of illness increases in older dogs if they gain weight, while the risk increases in older cats if they lose weight.
Diagnostic Exams for Pets
A comprehensive physical examination and diagnostic laboratory tests are invaluable for detecting health problems in your senior dogs early. Senior pets include both dogs and cats who are seven years or older. At the time of their annual checkup, seniors should have their blood and urine tested regularly. This will help detect common illnesses in senior animals.
Even if the screening test returns normal, we still have a reference point to compare future blood samples from the same animal. Routine examinations are required for senior pets to maintain optimal health for as long as possible. You can click here for more information.
Conclusion
The health of senior pets depends heavily on preventative measures. The health of senior pets can be monitored, and problems avoided with regular examinations, diagnostic testing, and vaccinations. It is important for pet owners and veterinarians to work closely together to develop a preventative care plan that meets the unique needs of our aging pets.