Features Of Keeping Older Dogs

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Thanks to Ira Vladimirova and Sergey Zakopayko for their help

Here is autumn … What did she bring us? And she brought us a cold snap, humidity, shortening of daylight hours … Who else, but I do not like autumn. I really do not like going to work and back in the dank darkness, wrapping myself in thick sweaters and dreaming about a hot bath all day … Perhaps this is age? Let's talk about what aging animals need during this period.

No matter how politically correct the beginning of old age is called - "mature age", "elegant age" - from a certain moment in any organism slowly but surely regression begins. For someone it is faster, for someone slower, it depends both on a genetically inherent predisposition and on a lifestyle. And no matter how good our "elegant age" animal looks, it already needs additional care, especially in autumn.

The change of seasons is a heavy burden on the body. In the spring, despite the spring vitamin deficiency, this change is easier - nevertheless, changes in the weather are in a positive direction. In autumn … And if we also take into account that for some reason winter always catches our country by surprise (it is already cold and windy outside, and the batteries, at best, are like fresh milk) … It is in the fall that more serious problems await us. Firstly, this is a stronger moult, because a serious fur coat must be grown in order not to freeze in winter.

And then there are fleas, which also do not want to winter on the street, begin to attack especially evil. So in the fall we are expecting an exacerbation of skin sores, first of all - flea dermatitis and demodicosis. Secondly, cold and dampness is not a gift for joints. We are waiting for an exacerbation of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This is very important for older dogs, especially large breeds, as well as for animals that have ever suffered fractures, dislocations and other injuries of the musculoskeletal system.

Thirdly, autumn is a time for exacerbation of urinary system diseases. This is typical for all animals, but cats with cystitis and urolithiasis still come out on top. There are many objective reasons for such a surge, but the most commonplace is that the batteries are already slowly heating up, the window sills are warm, and the windows are not always glued … Barsiks and Murki bask on the warm window sill, and comes through from the window cracks …

In addition, contrary to the well-known saying, it is the kidney cells that are not restored, therefore, with age, unfortunately, renal failure always develops, and this requires special care and a special diet.

To make our old people (and pets starting to age) experience less difficulties, it is enough to follow a number of simple rules

The most important thing (it does not depend on the season) is proper feeding and maintenance. It is necessary to feed older animals more often, but in small portions (the total, daily dose of feed should not exceed the recommended one). If you are feeding prepared foods, choose special foods for older animals (or medicated foods if recommended by your doctor).

If you give homemade food, then remember that at this age the need for protein is reduced (in particular, an excess of nitrogen has a very negative effect on the kidneys), but you cannot give it at all, which means that we give meat to a minimum (for 1 part of meat - 2 parts of the garnish), but of high quality. In order for the animal to receive the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals, it is necessary to give vitamin and mineral supplements to homemade food, but, given that older animals have special needs, and special supplements should also be given - for aging animals.

Remember the magic word SENIOR (senior) - this is not a title of nobility, but the English word "senior", "elderly". All feeds and additives for older animals, as a rule, have the word SENIOR in their name. Only one "but" - if the animal has a suspicion of oncology - before you start giving it vitamins, show it to the doctor, if necessary, do a cytological analysis.

It is useful to give courses of antioxidant drugs (Mexidol or Emicidin) - they bind free radicals, protecting cells, improve oxygen uptake, including by brain and heart cells, and have an anti-stress effect.

Elderly animals should be protected from stress, hypothermia and overheating. It should be remembered that aging animals, just like humans, change behavior, taste preferences, deteriorate hearing, scent and vision, and reduce immunity. Old animals can become grumpy, unsociable, or, on the contrary, constantly demand attention and climb into their hands. Due to poor vision, disorientation in space can be observed, in this case, without special reason, you should not rearrange furniture in the apartment and not place the animal in unfamiliar rooms.

A completely decrepit animal may show signs of urinary and / or fecal incontinence - this is not a whim of behavior, but a sad truth of life. Use diapers. There is another problem - intestinal atony and constipation, in this case it is the owner's duty to help the pet to relieve itself (enema or manually extracting feces from the rectum).

Weak immunity gives a green light to parasites (fleas, ticks, worms) and pathogenic microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, viruses), so an older animal should be treated for fleas, ticks and worms in the same way as a young one. The same can be said about vaccinations - they should continue to be done annually, because dogs of any age can get sick with hepatitis or leptospirosis, and "childhood" diseases - the plague and the "Olympian", can also appear in old age.

Monitor the condition of the eyes, ears, mouth, genitals, skin, hair. Maximum patience and attention is required from you.

Show the animal to a doctor at least every six months

Recently, a woman with an old poodle approached me with a request to just look at him and give recommendations on how to behave with him. She had no special complaints, but I did not like the dog, and I sent her for a full examination. As a result, a tumor was found on the spleen - a little more, and the dog would have died, but fortunately, the operation was performed on time.

Now about the autumn problems

As for flea dermatitis and demodicosis, everything is in our hands: regular treatments with drops or sprays against fleas and ticks will reliably protect your pet. If the dog suffers from demodicosis, a preventive course of Immunoparasitan can be carried out twice a year (after consulting a doctor).

In addition, if your pet has a hard time shedding from year to year, regardless of the reasons, give him a course of vitamins with biotin in advance (for example, Canvit Biotin for dogs, Felwit Biotin for cats) and herbs that relieve skin itching and inflammation (for example, Phytoelite Pure Skin). Older animals often have problems: dandruff, baldness, increased skin greasiness, because the condition of the coat and skin directly depends on the functioning of the kidneys, liver and intestines.

It makes sense to conduct a course of drugs that improve their functioning (Kidney tea, Lactobifid, Biocorrector, Essentiale).

The joints must be protected: do not walk for a long time in dank, damp weather, do not give the animal unnecessary stress, after walking and washing, thoroughly dry the wool with a towel or hairdryer; older dogs, especially smooth-haired breeds, are best walked in waterproof, insulated overalls. Even if chondroprotectors are not prescribed for your pet for permanent use, it is very good to conduct at least monthly courses of a drug that restores and strengthens articular cartilage (for example, Canvit Chondro or analogues) twice a year.

Don't let the animal get fat! Excess weight, in addition to negatively affecting the work of internal organs, puts an increased stress on the joints. An elderly animal should have at least moderate, but constant physical activity: daily measured walks, especially in sunny warm weather.

Well, and finally, about the kidneys and urolithiasis. How many times have they told the world … In any suspicious case, take at least a urine test !!! Frequent painful urination with blood accompanies not only urolithiasis, but also cystitis and kidney failure.

Each of these diseases requires its own treatment, and a diagnosis can only be made based on test results. The results obtained six months ago do not reflect the picture of the disease in the present! Self-medication does not lead to good !

We draw two conclusions from all this.

First, don't get in trouble. Drive from window sills, insulate windows, do not overfeed, do not give anything harmful (fatty, fried, smoked, salty, spicy, flour, sweets, protein overfeeding - feeding a large amount of meat, fish).

Second: if a trouble has happened to your pet, first of all, you need to do a urine test (and for the sake of completeness, blood tests would be good), and consult a doctor with its results. Both for prevention and for treatment (until results are obtained and the appointment of a comprehensive treatment), many additives have been developed. These are Phytoelita Healthy Kidneys, and Cat Erwin (tablets and tea made from medicinal herbs), and Zdorovyak (a yeast preparation with cranberries and methionine), and Navita Prevention of Urolithiasis (a vitamin and mineral supplement with lingonberry bearberry), and many others.