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A Dog's Golden Years
Mark Pyrc
Given proper care most dogs have whole and good lives. Unfortunately,
an beloved pet never seems to live long enough. Every breed has
various life expectantcies. Caring for an aging dog requires changing
his surroundings for his welfare. As dogs get older, they develop
stiffness, pain in their joints, generalized infirmity and certainly
increase in health troubles.
Adjust his setting to lessen anxiety. Safeguard him from extreme heat and cold. Older dogs are unable to regulate core temperature as well as a younger dog.
Make an effort to give your dog frequent exercise. Make sure your dogs health coincides with his exercise practice. If your dog shows signs of intense panting or refuses exercise, you need to change his routine.
Rework his diet and feeding schedule to his needs. As dogs grow old they are less lively and need less calories. Prescription diets are offered. Chat about particular diets with your animal doctor.
Mature dogs can undergo hearing failure and declining eyesight. Provide for his safety.
Senior dogs require special dental treatment. They are prone to begin having gum troubles and infection. Complete dental cleaning should be performed by your veterinarian every six months (anesthesia is needed). Ensure comprehensive bloodwork is performed.
Mature dogs need extra bathing and grooming. Dry skin can be a natural part of getting old or it can be a sign of an underlying medical situation. Senior dogs also require more frequent nail trimming.
Keep in mind his life span compared to humans. If he is 14 in dog years, he may suffer the same aging ailments of an person that's 80 years old. Keep with twice a year animal doctor visits. Elder dogs could do with more care with their getting on in years concerns.
Protect and keep those memories for as long as you can! With appropriate care, your dog can live and enjoy many good years to come.
This news arrived on: 10/06/2009
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Posted Comments:
10-15-2009 15:36
dawn lane wrote:
In Mallorca they dont take that into consideration
I agree that a dog's golden years are important but try telling that to the spanish dog owners of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.
I am a tourist/resident of Majorca and spend 6 weeks on the island every two months. My neighbour, Teresa Risco Fernandez of flat 6, 28 Avenida des Forti, Cala D'Or, Mallorca lives below me with a 17 year old mutt named Tengo. He was a charasmatic and charming dog who had a wonderful life chasing seagulls on the beach with his mates, getting three long walks and plenty of loving. Then his owner's boyfriend moved out in January and since then he has been shut in a broom cupboard with a 2 feet fenced off area in which to do his business. When his mistress comes home, he barks with joy but his reward is a smack and back into the cupboard. Many of us have suggested letting the dog be re-homed or that we will give it a walk but she shrugs and says "I want it to die." Reports to the local police are met with laughter as they tell us "This is Majorca. We dont have the resources to check out every dog being cruelly treated.
Can you imagine how you would feel beng locked in a dark cupboard 24 hours for months on end. This dog is now mangy, blind in one eye and can hardly walk because of the length of its nails.
What can any of us do about it? Probably bombard the owner with hate mail and also the local police 0034 971 582 200 and demand that they check out this dog. Maybe the amount of telephone calls to them just might make them take some action.
I have spent many sleepless night worrying about the plight of this animal and only the hardest hearted person would ignore the situation.
I am a tourist/resident of Majorca and spend 6 weeks on the island every two months. My neighbour, Teresa Risco Fernandez of flat 6, 28 Avenida des Forti, Cala D'Or, Mallorca lives below me with a 17 year old mutt named Tengo. He was a charasmatic and charming dog who had a wonderful life chasing seagulls on the beach with his mates, getting three long walks and plenty of loving. Then his owner's boyfriend moved out in January and since then he has been shut in a broom cupboard with a 2 feet fenced off area in which to do his business. When his mistress comes home, he barks with joy but his reward is a smack and back into the cupboard. Many of us have suggested letting the dog be re-homed or that we will give it a walk but she shrugs and says "I want it to die." Reports to the local police are met with laughter as they tell us "This is Majorca. We dont have the resources to check out every dog being cruelly treated.
Can you imagine how you would feel beng locked in a dark cupboard 24 hours for months on end. This dog is now mangy, blind in one eye and can hardly walk because of the length of its nails.
What can any of us do about it? Probably bombard the owner with hate mail and also the local police 0034 971 582 200 and demand that they check out this dog. Maybe the amount of telephone calls to them just might make them take some action.
I have spent many sleepless night worrying about the plight of this animal and only the hardest hearted person would ignore the situation.
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