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How to Look After Senior Pets

Senior pets are more susceptible to injuries, illnesses, and conditions that are associated with aging than younger pets. Our precious old companions can obtain comprehensive wellness care from veterinarians to optimize their health and prolong their lives. This program focuses on identifying and addressing developing issues at the earliest stage possible to provide the least invasive treatments. Making subtle adjustments to your pet’s routine can help them live a healthier and much more positive life.

What treatment do senior pets need?

Many pet owners find it reassuring and rewarding to see their pets age. It isn’t easy to think that the same bundle of energy that was tearing around the yard many years in the past is now the quiet and delightful old companion curled at our feet. When your pet begins to slow down, gain weight, or stiffen up, they require your support and understanding. 

Unlike a fellow person, your pet can not take responsibility for its own treatment. Your pet is highly dependent on you to keep them healthy and balanced. So here are a few suggestions for your senior pet as they encounter some of the challenges that come with aging.

Regular Grooming

Your pet may have problems or be less willing to groom itself as much as it did when they were younger. You may also notice that their hair is getting less lustrous, or they have flaking skin. Regular grooming practices in your home, including regular brushing, will help with this. You may also need to wash your pet a lot more frequently, especially if they have any bathroom accidents or suffer from incontinence. 

Bringing your pet to the groomer on a regular basis will also help maintain their nails trimmed and their coats healthier as well as lustrous. On the other hand, having your veterinarian or groomer check your pet’s glands regularly with an anal glad expression for dogs is also a wise decision to ensure that their anal is healthy.

Joints and Activity

As our pets grow older, they become less active because of stiff joints. Degenerative joint illness and arthritis affect 90 percent of pets over the age of ten. It can be difficult to identify if your pet is in pain. There are, however, a few indications of arthritis that can be observed in your home.

  • Hard time getting out of bed
  • Stairs are too steep for them to climb
  • Stopping frequently during walks due to lack of interest
  • Stiffening in colder weather

A physical examination of the limbs and back may be part of a regular vet checkup to aid in detecting arthritis. In order to alleviate your pet’s discomfort and reduce the development of joint disease, your veterinarian can prescribe pain medication or supplements. ?Alternatively, veterinary accupuncture for senior pets can also reduce the pain of arthritis.

Increased Veterinary Care

Geriatric pets should have semi-annual vet checkups instead of annual visits to find and address early indications of health issues or other problems. Senior pet checkups are comparable to those for younger pets, but they are more detailed. They may include dental treatment, bloodwork, and certain exams for physical signs of more common diseases in senior pets. You can check this link to learn more about geriatric care for pets.

Ultimately

Even though your pet is growing older doesn’t mean you can’t have the wonderful relationship you’re used to. The first step in preserving your pet’s health is to educate yourself on the particular demands of older pets. With careful care and attention, your pet can be there for you as you enter your senior years.

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