Page 24 - Creature Companion, September 2020

PET CARE

HOW TO KEEP YOUR WHEN DOES A DOG BECOMES
‘SENIOR’?
‘SENIOR DOG’ HAPPY Just like us, dogs get older gradually
- there’s no exact age that they
AND HEALTHY? become ‘senior’, but they can usually
be considered to be of an older age
between 5-9 years old. The age that
your pet is considered to be ‘older’
By Priyanka Kaushal*
depends on what dog you have, as
typically smaller dogs have a much
et care changes as our beloved your formerly vigorous walks with longer lifespan than giant breeds.
furry family members age. him may turn into leisurely strolls. The American Veterinary Medical
PSometimes we don’t want But the truth of the matter is that the Association considers a medium-
to admit that our dog is aging. If best thing you can do for your dogs is sized dog to be elderly at the age of
your dog is going a little grey in to look aging right in the face. Caring seven years old. Ten years for a dog
the muzzle, he may be entering the for an elderly pet takes a little more is roughly equivalent to 58 human
senior stage of his life. Yes the word attention than you might think. years; for a large dog, however, that
is ‘senior’! When your vet utters this You need to become highly tuned equates to 66-78 years.
word, you may not like it as now to the subtle changes in your dog’s
your once spry playmate may stop behaviour and receptive to ways to TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF ‘SENIOR
jumping after his tennis ball, and improve his life. DOGS’
Just like humans, of course, many
factors influence the health and

longevity of our pets. Diet, lifestyle,
and genetics all infl uence your
pet's health as they age. If you need
to take care of a dog that is older,
making subtle changes to your dog’s
routine, veterinary care, and home
environment. While you would

definitely need an expert advice in
case of serious health care concerns,
however, following are a few pet
care tips to help you give your furry
friends the golden years they deserve
and you can both thoroughly enjoy
their remaining years:

24 Creature Companion | SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL. XIII • ISSUE 7 • NOIDA