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Aged/older dogs
As our dogs age, their diet, lifestyle and quality of life need special consideration. An aged dog's diet should be altered somewhat. Older dogs are less able to digest bones and require less protein than younger dogs. Nutrients become harder for your dog to absorb from food, so some vitamins and possibly an iron supplement may be required. There are excellent products available especially designed for mature dogs; ask your veterinarian and check your supermarket. Older dogs that lose interest in food may even require an appetite stimulant, which can be obtained from your veterinarian.
Also consider the dog's hearing and eyesight, which often become impaired as they get older. As dogs age, they may become more cunning, leading us to believe that their hearing has become impaired when, in fact, the dog has learned to avoid doing what we ask. When you are certain that your dog is going deaf or blind, certain compensations need to be made for him. For dogs with impaired hearing, you may have to walk over to him, rather than call him, and use hand signals he will recognize. Older dogs may not always hear a visitor or stranger approaching the house.
Dogs over the age of seven often develop cataracts in their eyes, which may impair vision. For the dog that suffers impaired vision, adjustments may have to be made to the placement of house or garden furniture to allow the dog freedom of movement until he learns his way around. If you need to move the furniture to use it, remember to once again move it out of your dog’s way. This can work if the dog's quality of life is still good as his other senses will gradually take over.
Also, consider the day when your dog may no longer make the stairs. Some older dogs lose the use of their back legs. If you feel your dog is unhappy or not enjoying the quality of life he deserves, then you may need to think about euthanasia. This is no easy decision to make, but if and when you do, be sure to go to the veterinarian and he will explain that the dog will be given an injection; he will not feel any pain and he will die peacefully.
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