Pets age faster than us and usually the years fly away with them adding warmth and love to our lives. Before we realize it, 8-10 years have passed and our beloved dog has traveled through the stages of puppy-hood, adolescence, youth, and then on to its golden years.
As dogs become geriatric, their needs change.

They slow down and tend to sleep for longer durations. Incontinence becomes a problem and in such cases they should be provided with an orthopedic bed with a machine-washable cover. The orthopedic bed makes things easy for their bones by providing support and warmth. Metabolic changes that occur with age make it difficult for the pets to regulate their body temperature. Owners need to keep this in mind when taking them for a walk in the sun or during cold weather.

Of the five senses, only the sense of touch remains as acute as it was in the animal’s youth. Hearing, sight, smell, and taste lose their acuity. Take your pet to the vet at least twice a year as it ages. Get an ENT check done and take the doctor’s opinion on the pet’s food requirements.

Geriatric pets will require a diet low on protein so that the digestive system, liver, and kidneys are not stressed too much. An increase in protein can lead to a loss of calcium and weakening bones. A balanced intake of carbohydrates helps increase the generation of helpful bacteria in the gut and added fiber intake helps in bowel movement. Since both physical and metabolic movements in old pets are reduced, their energy requirements are reduced concurrently, this should be considered when planning a diet for them. Learn about therapeutic diets that will benefit your pets in their old age. These include heart and kidney diets as well as diets that can help contain arthritis.

There are many excellent senior diets available that are recommended for pets older than seven to eight years of age. Some diets are even designed for specific medical problems associated with older pets, such as heart and kidney diets, or diets that can minimize the symptoms of arthritis. Senior pets are different from young pets and they benefit from a diet that reflects their changing dietary requirements.

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