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You hate to admit it, but your furry pal is getting a little older. You want to ensure that your pet is happy and healthy for many years to come. You have heard all of the hype about the new dog diets for older pets. Is there really a difference between dog food for adult dogs and kibble recommended specifically for seniors? How do you know when to switch your pet to a different diet?

The best resource for information about dog diets is your pet’s veterinarian. Only you and your vet know the specific needs of your pet the best. Discuss with your vet your concerns and questions. He or she will be able to advise you on what changes, if any, need to be made to your dog’s diet.

If your older dog does not have any health problems and maintains a healthy weight, there is no need to change your dog’s diet from adult to senior dog food. On the other hand, if your dog has trouble keeping the weight off or digestive issues, you may need to switch. If weight is the only issue, consider slightly lowering the amount of dog food you give to your pet. This may be all the change your dog’s diet requires.

A senior dog is classified as a dog in the last third of their life span. Larger dogs, for instance a Great Dane, live to be about 9 years old. Around the sixth year of life, you may want to consider a senior dog’s diet. A poodle, on the other hand wouldn’t reach senior status until

About age ten due to the longer life expectancy. Primarily, the decision to change your dog’s diet should be based on health condition rather than actual age in years. Your vet will help you to determine when the right time is to alter your dog’s diet.

Dog food especially prepared for senior dogs typically has less calories. This helps to combat any weight issues. The senior dog food also contains more fiber for the different needs in your dog’s diet. As dogs age, they tend to suffer from constipation. This extra fiber will help remedy this problem.

Renal failure can be another medical problem for senior dogs. How can your dog’s diet help this problem? Reducing the amount of protein in your dog’s diet will decrease the work load for the kidneys. For this reason, senior dog food frequently has lower protein content than regular adult formulas.

Whenever possible, allow your dog to eat dry dog food to encourage excellent dental health. The dry kibble helps to reduce plaque and tartar buildup. If your older pet refuses to eat the food dry, you may need to moisten it with water or purchase moist, canned varieties.

If your vet recommends, supplements may be helpful as part of your senior dog’s diet. Some pets are unable to eat properly due to oral issues. Other older pets are unable to gather all of the nutrients from their food for various health reasons. Supplements such as daily vitamins and glucosamine can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy diet for your dog.

Glucosamine helps to encourage joint health. For senior dogs, glucosamine can combat arthritis and hip displasia.

Vitamins C, A, and E may prevent the natural aging process and encourage better health for senior dogs. Talk to your vet about adding such supplements to your dog’s diet.

You want what is best for your pet. Your senior dog needs to have a diet that meets their special nutritional requirements. You and your vet can work together to decide what is the best diet for your senior dog. Your dog’s diet directly affects his or her health. Take care of your pet by monitoring your dog’s diet closely with the aid of your veterinarian.

Is There a Difference in a Senior Dog Diet courtesy of Dog Articles.

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It’s a truism that our dogs can’t talk to us. They can’t tell us how they feel or if there is something ailing them. In fact, most dogs tend to hide ailments. Your dog may have an injury or be in pain and you might not know it for several days unless you are paying close attention to any departure from his normal behavior.

You can learn to tell if your dog has a health problem by doing the following:

1. Pay attention to your dog’s daily routine. Did he finish his food? Did he follow his usual bathroom habits? Is he drinking his normal amount of water? More? Less? All of these things can tell you important information about your dog’s health. They are often first indicators that something may be wrong with your dog.

2. How is your dog’s overall condition? Has he lost weight? Gained weight? Is his coat shiny or is it looking bad? Again, these are important indicators that your dog may be experiencing a change in his health. Watch them closely. It can be easy to miss your dog gaining or losing weight since it may happen gradually, but if your dog begins losing hair or having other skin problems, these are usually very noticeable and they can be an indication of thyroid problems, allergies or other conditions.

3. How is your dog’s energy level? Is he as active as he usually is or does he lie around more? Is he lethargic? Is he hyperactive? A change in your dog’s energy level can indicate a change for the worse in his health. Lethargy could be an indication of anything from hypothyroidism to heart failure.

4. Is your dog sensitive about his ears? Ear problems are very common with dogs, especially long-eared breeds and breeds with long hair. Ear problems can take the form of yeast and bacterial infections. If left untreated they can even lead to hearing lost or require surgery.

These are some of the things that are easily observable. You can also check your dog’s gums to see if they are healthy and pink. If they are too pale that could be an indication that your dog is not processing oxygen as well as he should — perhaps a sign of hemolytic anemia or a cardiovascular problem.

If your dog is limping for more than a few hours you may need to take him to the vet to see what the problem is. Dogs can twist or sprain a limb the same way people can, but if your dog limps for more than just a short period of time he could have a bony growth or be feeling some form of arthritis. Your vet would need to make the diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

With dogs, as with humans, there are so many possible health conditions that it’s hard to say what might be wrong with your dog just by looking at him. However, you can usually tell by looking at a dog if something is wrong, even if you don’t know exactly what it is.

You know your dog better than anyone. If you sense that something is “off” or just not right with your dog you should trust your instincts and take your dog to the vet. Better safe than sorry where the health of your dog is concerned.

How to Identify Canine Health Problems courtesy of Dog Articles.

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