Next, I will take owners to understand 8 common health problems of elderly dogs.
1. Dog hearing and vision loss
With age , Many elderly dogs will lose some hearing and vision, and in severe cases, they will be completely lost.
The owner cannot prevent the dog from hearing loss, but he can train the dog to adapt to life with deafness in both ears. If the dog’s eyesight is good, the owner can also use gestures to teach the dog instructions.
Dogs can also adapt to life without seeing things. Try to lead the dog when you go out, and try to be careful not to hit the furniture when you are at home. Slowly, the dog will perceive the layout of the home.
Whether it is vision or hearing loss, as long as the owner takes care of it patiently, the dog can still live a normal life.
2. Arthritis in Dogs
Both people and dogs can Arthritis develops with age. Many older dogs develop degenerative arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis.
This disease affects a dog’s weight-bearing joints, including the hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders, causing unusual pain when the dog walks.
Some elderly dogs don’t like walking and climbing stairs because of joint pain.
At the same time, osteoarthritis will gradually worsen over time, and the owner needs to take the dog to the pet hospital for further examination and relieve the dog’s pain.
3. Kidney disease in dogs
Aging of physical function often leads to Elderly dogs suffer from kidney disease, of which chronic kidney disease is a relatively serious disease.
There is no cure for this disease, but there are many ways to slow the progression of the disease in dogs.
Kidney disease also commonly causes thirst, increased urination, loss of appetite, nausea, and lethargy.
The owner needs to take the dog to the veterinary hospital for examination regularly to prevent the dog from developing kidney disease unknowingly.
4. Dog incontinence
Organs, The degeneration of muscles and nerves may cause the dog to be unable to control urination and defecation normally, and incontinence may also be caused by other diseases, so the owner needs to take the dog to the veterinarian for judgment.
If the dog does not suffer from disease, the owner can take the dog out for a walk, so that they can be convenient in the wild, and the owner should remember to clean it up in time.
5. Obesity
Many dogs gain weight as they get older Obesity can lead to arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems.
In order to keep the dog at a healthy weight, the owner can reduce the amount of food appropriately.
Although the dog’s physical strength declines and is reluctant to exercise, the owner should always take the dog out to exercise and choose some sports that are suitable for the dog, such as walking and swimming.
6. Dementia in Dogs
Some older dogs may There will be symptoms of Alzheimer’s similar to humans, and the owner may not find it at first, but the dog’s condition gradually deteriorates, which will lead to inconvenience in life.
Dementia in dogs generally causes disorientation, unresponsiveness, incontinence, unwillingness to play with the owner, anxiety, poor sleep quality, and more.
If the owner finds that the dog has the above symptoms, it is best to take it to the veterinary hospital for further examination.
Dementia is generally incurable, but owners can consult their veterinarian for medication to improve their dog’s quality of life.
7. Tumors
Senior Dogs The body of the patient often has various lumps and tumors. Most of the tumors are benign, but it still needs to be determined by the veterinarian whether it is caused by cancer.
If it does not cause health problems, surgery is generally not required. . The owner is best to feed the dog scientifically, and usually give the dog more grooming care.
8. Cancer
Cancer is very common in older dogs. And there are many types of cancer, and some owners may interpret the symptoms of cancer as signs of aging in their dogs.
In order to treat the dog’s cancer in time, the owner must take the dog to the pet hospital for physical examination regularly.
Once a dog develops cancer, the owner should not panic. There are actually many cancer treatments for dogs.
It is important that the earlier the cancer is detected, the better the dog’s chances of survival.
The older the dog is, the more the owner must manage the dog’s diet scientifically and take it out to exercise in order to effectively prevent the dog’s health problems.
If the dog’s endurance is not good, you can also choose to exercise several times a day, and the time of each exercise is shortened.
For the dog’s health, the owner also needs to pay more patience and energy, I believe that the dog will live longer with the owner’s company.
