Pet Owner’s Guide: How To Keep an Aging Dog Comfortable

As your beloved pooch ages, you must adjust its lifestyle and provide the comfort it needs to ensure healthy aging. If you are the proud owner of an elderly pup, there are simple modifications you can make to keep your furry companion safe. By providing exercise and caring for its emotional needs, you’ll keep your canine feeling cared for. Keep reading this post to learn about these tips on how to keep an aging dog comfortable.

Get Some Exercise

Every dog loves a good walk, even seniors. As your pup ages, daily doses of exercise are still as important as in its youthful years. However, don’t overdo it. While you can’t go for jogs or long hikes anymore, you two should stroll around the block. This provides your pup with mental and physical enrichment, which is healthy for its mind and body. Too much movement can be as dangerous as under-exercising your furry friend.

If you don’t know your dog’s limit, talk with the vet about suggestions. Likewise, pay attention to your pooch’s natural signals when you walk. If it begins lying in the grass and loses interest in your outside time, strive for shorter walks.

Make At-Home Accommodations

As dogs age, arthritis can set in, making jumping onto the couch painful. The thought of letting age stand between the two of you and cuddle time may feel a bit heartbreaking. Luckily, there are accommodations you can make.

For instance, you could buy or make a doggy ramp so that your pooch can easily get on and off the couch. You can also use this ramp to help your dog walk off your porch or climb into the car.

Add Supplements to Its Diet

Food provides the body with varying sources of nutrition, and senior pups have different dietary requirements than puppies or middle-aged dogs. Since arthritis is common in older dogs, many vets recommend feeding your four-legged friend various supplements for hips and joints.

Fatty acids rich in omega-3, B12, and glucosamine-rich foods ease that discomfort so that your pup can enjoy its golden years.

Tend to Emotional Needs

Aging dogs may experience behavior changes, such as increased anxiety or becoming more reserved, which warrants a shift in our approach to providing love and attention. Engage in gentle and soothing physical contact, like massages and calming strokes, to alleviate stress and maintain a strong bond.

Understanding this tip for keeping your aging dog comfortable is important because you and other household members need to be mindful of the animal’s body language. Respect your dog’s boundaries by stepping back if it seems uncomfortable or reluctant to engage. Shower your fur baby in all the love it deserves.