CANINE COMMUNICATIONS

Celebrating Canine Seniors

   Our senior dogs deserve to be celebrated. Like anyone of maturity they have life experience and wisdom. They generally know the ways of the world they live in and are no longer the ones who pull wildly on leads, chew shoes, have accidents in the house, or want to play endlessly. 

   This is not to say that they do not enjoy a brief game of ball retrieval or being a little mischievous every now and then, however, they generally know the rules and know when to quit. 

   Senior dogs deserve, and need, a bit of understanding and special care. It is important to remember that our dogs mature and age at a much quicker rate than we do. For example: a 10 year old dog can actually be compared to a 65 year old human, or depending on breed, a much older human.

   Just like in humans, as the body ages, arthritis and general body stiffness start creeping in. Physical stamina becomes reduced and hearing and eyesight become decreased, therefore, it is extremely important to adjust activities and expectations of your older canine friend. For example, that 5 mile hike you do every other day, may have to be adapted to a 2.5 mile hike, for your senior friend.

   At home, you may want to start adding supplements to your dog’s food that will help with joint stiffness and mobility. You may also want to change your dog’s diet to one more suitable to the decreased activity of an older dog.

   It is also a good idea to invest in a soft bed for the comfort of your dog’s older joints.

   For the dog who has decreased hearing, be hyper aware of letting him or her off-lead in areas that are near traffic or heavily wooded, because your recall or whistles simply may not be heard.

   When a dog begins to lose its vision, try not to change things in your home too drastically, otherwise you may find that your dog is running into objects or tripping over them.

   Senior dogs can also, sometimes, become confused. If this happens, try to comfort your dog with your touch and your voice.         

   Since senior dogs enjoy more down time than younger dogs, take advantage of this to spend quiet, peaceful times enjoying your canine friend. You will find that after a hard day, this will be the perfect therapy for your peace of mind and soul.

   Just take a few minutes to look into the beautiful eyes of your canine senior, to realize just how special he or she is.    

Written by: Jackie McGowan St. Croix owner and operator of

Mud Puddle Paws Dog Grooming Spa

   http://www.simplesite.com/MudPuddlePaws