Page 25 - Creature Companion, September 2020

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Watch Your Senior Dog More Keep Your Senior Dog’s Handicaps Try Using a Dog Support Sling: If your
Carefully: As they age, we need to in Mind: Many senior dogs senior dog has mobility problems,
keep a close eye on them, so that have decreased hearing, vision, a dog support sling or a specially
they don’t get into situations where and mobility, so make sure the designed dog harness can be a big
they can get in danger or hurt others environment is safe. Contact your help. Dog support slings are designed
or themselves. vet if you notice any of the weird or to help make walking, climbing stairs,
serious symptoms for an extended going to the bathroom, or getting into
Schedule regular vet visits: Your period. the car easier for your senior dog.
veterinarian can advise you on the
best routine. It's important to get Keep Floors Clutter-free and Avoid
your pet to the vet. Regular medical Changing Furniture Locations: A
exams give you and your pet the dog’s sight, smell, and hearing, all
advantage in catching age-related deteriorate with age. This forces
health problems. your dog to rely more on memory
when moving around the house. For
this reason, avoid moving furniture
as much as possible and minimize
clutter on fl oors.

Add Non-Slip Rugs to Hard Floors:
Just like humans, dogs can start to
lose their balance with age. A slip
is much more painful for a dog with
osteoarthritis than it would have
been when he was younger. The best
solution is to buy a non-slip runner to
Keep Your Dog Active: As dogs age, cover any hard floors. Yoga mats can Spring for Some Supportive Canine

it’s important that they continue to work really well and are inexpensive! Therapy: If your older dog is limping
get plenty of exercise. Regular walks or seems stiff and painful, there are
and park visits help keep your dog’s a number of effective, safe, natural
muscles strong and supple, prevent alternatives to conventional pain
obesity, or stimulate his appetite medication for his pain. Veterinary
as needed, as well as improve his physical therapy, veterinary
mood and prevent anxiety and acupuncture, laser therapy are a few
boredom. Muscle mass is the main examples.
driver of metabolism, and dogs that
lose muscle mass develop frailty Buy a Portable Ramp to Help Your
syndrome, which accelerates the Dog Get into the Car: As your dog gets
aging process. older, tasks that were once simple
need a bit more thought. Getting in or
out of the car is a great example, as a
dog with a joint pain may be reluctant
to jump. In such a case, buy a portable
ramp, so he can walk into the car
without putting pressure on his
joints. Make sure you practice using
the ramp before he actually needs it.

Buckle Up When Riding in the Car:
If you’re driving your dog to your

SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL. XIII • ISSUE 7 • NOIDA | Creature Companion 25