From the first glance a puppy or an adult dog catches our attention, we know in an instant that this puppy is coming home with us. Our love for our canine friends brings a tremendous amount of joy to our lives and to our whole family. Their affection and unconditional love warms our hearts every time, day after day. As the years pass with all the fun, trials and tribulations, our pet will reach a time in their life when they will need extra care and attention. Having had them with us for years, we should be able to easily recognize the signs of aging. This is when we need to step in to help slow the process and keep them healthy and mobile as long as possible.
Every dog breed is different, therefore each breed will be conflicted with different health issues and life expectancy. It takes more than just knowing the age of our dog, we must also pay attention to the aging signs they exhibit. These signs will tell us how well our pet is doing.
Most small and medium size breeds will start manifesting some form of aging around the age of seven, whereas large breeds may start to exhibit these signs as early as the age of five. There are several things we can keep in mind for our pet’s well being.
Here are some typical tell tale signs your dog is aging:
- LACK OF FUR LUSTER AND DRY FLAKY SKIN
- STIFF JOINTS AND TENDONS
- MUSCLE ATROPHY
- SLOWER MOVEMENT AND LACK OF VIGOR
- DIGESTION ISSUES
- WEIGHT GAIN
- HARD TO QUENCH THIRST
Although genetics and surroundings will play a determining factor in the aging cycle, we can also have a meaningful effect on prolonging these factors. As we said before, dogs can start aging from five years on, depending on their size and breed. Once they reach age nine they are considered old. So what can we do to influence and slow down the aging process?
Although it is always important to pay attention to their diet throughout their lives, after age five this becomes a must on our part. At this age we may notice a change in their appetite. Some dogs tend to eat less and become more picky as they get older. It is important that we find a high quality dog food, that our pet is willing to eat. It must also have the right ingredients with essential vitamins and minerals that will nourish their bodies.
Here are some things to keep in mind when formulating a healthy diet for your aging dog or pet:
- PROTEIN A good source of animal protein is needed to keep muscle mass.
- FATS The food should contain at least 10% of good fats which will help with their
skin & coat. - FIBER Choose a brand that has no more than 5% fiber. This will help their digestion
and intestinal balance, as well as helping with the absorption of the nutrients. - ANTIOXIDANTS These smart molecules will protect the immune system by protecting the cells
from free radical damage.
As with humans, another way that we can ward off aging issues is to support their joint health with vitamins and supplements. This can play a key roll in easing arthritis and other joint ailments.
Providing arthritis and joint pain relief for dogs is a huge industry and something that most of us find ourselves searching for at some point in our dog’s lives. Dog soft chews seem to be everywhere these days. Choosing a tasty and all natural dog joint care soft chew or tablet is not always easy, as there are so many different options out there. Many of us might become overwhelmed. Keeping in mind that the most important thing is your dog’s health and wellness, you need to have a good understanding of the available options. This can help make the decision of which supplement is best for your pet a little easier.
A quality dog arthritis supplement can provide noticeable joint pain relief for dogs. When choosing an anti-inflammatory hip and joint supplement for dogs, it should contain natural ingredients that are specific to certain ailments that your dog may be battling.
Glucosamine is a well known commonly used supplement which helps maintain the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints and helps cushion the cartilage around the joints, thus improving dog mobility and flexibility. Glucosamine for dogs can play a very important role in reversing and repairing cartilage damage in your dog and will significantly aid in canine joint care. Additionally, glucosamine for dogs with MSM provides even more help. MSM is a non-toxic natural analgesic that blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. Therefore, it plays a huge role in relieving swelling and helps flush waste out of the body. The benefits will be felt by your canine in no time. Dogs with a sufficient amount of MSM tend to age slower than those who are deficient.
Another natural supplement that greatly aids in canine wellness is hemp. Hemp has a perfect 3:1 ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids. Omega fatty acids help cognitive function in older dogs and aid in proper brain and eye development in puppies. Adding hemp to your canine companion’s diet will provide essential amino acids that are extremely beneficial for healthy immune function. Pet owners have also seen benefits from hemp for treating pain and anxiety as well as seizures.
By paying attention to our pet’s care, diet and supplementation, we can help prolong their aging and decrease the affects of predisposed health issues they may be prone to. This is our way of making sure that our beloved pets can have a more active and happy life, well into to their senior years.
