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Growing older is something that happens to all of us, and that includes our dogs. It may seem like it was just yesterday that you brought home a bouncing ball of fur who was trying to chew your shoes but today that puppy is a senior dog. It’s important to provide some extra love and care for your older dog to make him comfortable and happy.

Older dogs can start to show signs of age as early as six or seven years old. When you visit the vet you should ask about having a senior health check-up for your dog. Your vet can do a blood panel and run some other tests to check your dog’s kidney function and make sure he’s in good health for his age. You should have an annual senior check-up for your older dog past the age of seven. Be sure that your vet also checks out any lumps or bumps on your older dog. As dogs get older they can be more prone to tumors. These tumors may be benign, but your vet may want to do a small biopsy just to make sure. It’s always best to catch potential problems early.

As your dog gets older some of his senses will probably start to dull a bit. His hearing may not be as sharp as it once way. His eyesight may dim a little. Even senses of taste and smell won’t be as good as they used to be. These changes mean that your dog may need a little extra help.

Many older dogs begin having problems negotiating steps and stairs. This can be due to arthritis but it’s also possible that it’s because your dog doesn’t see as well as he once did. If your dog is having problems with stairs try walking down with him. He may be able to do fine if you are there to guide him. He may also have problems seeing at night which can make him reluctant to go outside to use the bathroom at night. Try walking outside with him in the evenings and see if this improves things.

If your dog can’t smell and taste things as well as he once did he may not be as interested in his food anymore. Go ahead and doctor up his food a little to make it smell and taste more appealing to him. If you feed kibble then you may need to add canned food to make it smell and taste better to your dog. Add some home cooked food to his meals to get him more interested in eating.

If your dog refuses to eat don’t assume that he has lost his appetite. Many older dogs have dental problems that keep them from eating no matter how hungry they are. Check your dog’s breath. If it’s very bad then he may have some serious tooth decay or a tooth that needs to be removed. Look at his teeth. Does he have any brown or green-looking teeth? Take your dog to the vet and have him or her do a dental check to see if dental problems are keeping your dog from eating. Your dog may need to have a bad tooth pulled or some other problem fixed.

Many older dogs have some problems with arthritis. If your dog has severe problems you should check with your vet to see if your dog needs some pain medication. You can also look for supplements that have helped many dogs, such as glucosamine-chondroitin and MSM. There are also products that contain shark cartilage and other ingredients said to help arthritis that may benefit your dog.

Older dogs can also benefit from sleeping on good bed. Orthopedic dog beds can make your dog feel better. Look for beds that have an egg-crate type mattress or which distribute the dog’s weight evenly across the whole mattress. This makes it much easier for your dog to get up without any pain. A heated bed will also help your dog.

There are many things you can do to help your geriatric dog feel better and live a more comfortable life. If he seems to be having difficulties you should always check with your vet. Otherwise, do what it takes to make him comfortable and happy.

Caring For Your Geriatric Dog courtesy Dog Articles.

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There is no direct link between dog food and aggression in dogs. It’s probably not possible to point to one particular dog food and say that you shouldn’t feed it because it will make your dog more aggressive. However, feeding a dog a generally poor diet can be a contributing factor in aggression.

There are studies which have suggested that feeding a dog poor quality foods can contribute to aggression. Preservatives and sugar in dog food may be linked to hyperactive behavior which may increase the possibility of aggression. Artificial coloring in some foods have been linked to aggression, hyperactivity, timidity, learning difficulties and other behavioral problems. Insufficient cholesterol in the diet may also be a contributing factor in some dogs since it is needed for proper brain function. Poor diet can also contribute to allergies which can, in turn, increase a likelihood of aggression if the dog is in any kind of physical distress.

At this point some of these links between diet and aggression have only been suggested. There may be little scientific data to back up the assertions. But a poor diet can worsen health and temperament problems in general.

None of this speculation changes the fact that all dogs need to be raised with firm and gentle kindness. Puppies should be well-socialized from an early age and introduced to lots of other friendly people and dogs. But dogs should also be fed a good, nutritious food.

Dogs in general should have a diet that begins with several named meat sources. Owners should try to avoid generic fats and proteins. They should avoid foods that use corn gluten meal. They should avoid meat by-products and digest. They should avoid BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin (artificial preservatives). They should look for foods without artificial colors, sugars and sweeteners. Look for foods with fewer grains. Look for foods that meet AAFCO specifications.

If owners follow these suggestions then they will usually find good dog foods. If there is any truth to the idea that dog foods can contribute to behavior problems and to aggression, then these foods will be much less likely to have a negative effect.

One theory that should be debunked is the idea that feeding your dog meat leads to aggression or that feeding your dog a vegetarian diet will make him more peaceable. Your dog is a carnivore in the broadest sense. He is actually an omnivore in practice – something of a scavenger and able to eat lots of different kinds of food. But physically, he needs meat protein to survive and be healthy. Feeding your dog meat or diets that are based on meat protein do not make him aggressive. They merely meet his dietary needs.

On the other hand, feeding your dog a vegetarian diet can lead to poor nutrition. Your dog is not a vegetarian in any way, shape or form. One of the reasons that you so often hear corn and other grains blasted for their use in dog food is because they are vegetable-based and, therefore, harder for your dog to digest. The same is true for vegetarian-based diets for dogs.

They are harder for your dog to digest and they do not contain the meat protein that your dog needs to be healthy. In addition, they do not make your dog more peaceable or do anything to prevent behavior problems. In fact, by contributing to poor nutrition, vegetarian diets are likely to worsen behavior problems.

Can Dog Food Make My Dog Less Aggressive courtesy Dog Articles.

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