Month: April 2014

Eye Care for Senior Dogs

To properly care for your dogs eyes, do the following:

  • Keep eyes clear of muscus at all times. Infections are often caused by bacteria that overgrow on mucus. Use a sterile eyewash and/or eye wipes to keep eye area clean.
  • Apply a protective ophtalmic ointment under the top lid to protect the eyes before bathing, facial cleanings, and insecticide treatment. Even tearless shampoos can irritate if too much gets in the eyesor if it is not rinsed out soon enough.
  • Keep all hair out of the little guys eyes since scratches to the cornea (the clear membrane across the surface of the eye) can result from contact hair.  Trim the hair using blunt nosed scissors, cutting parellel to the edge of the eyelid. This is especially important when the skin folds near the eyes in certain breeds.
  • Tear staining is a common problem with certain breeds of dogs.Normally tears flow across the surface of the eye and drain through tear ducts, You should clean hair in affected areas at least weekly with a tear stain  remover product.

If  your old guys eye appear a bit hazy or opaque it may be normal. This  can be a normal change due to aging. Your vet will be able to distinguish if this is age-related clouding which is called nuclear sclerosis or it may be cateracts.

During your weekly maintenance check, position yourself in good light and look closely at your dogs eyes. Healthly eyes should be clear and moist.

Your dog does not have a safe way to keep his eyes clean.  They rely on us as “good parents” to make sure all is well.

LONG LIVE THE SENIOR DOG!!!

Mental Illness in Senior Dogs

Most canines show some mental slow down between the ages of  three  and five. The exact cause is being studied , but so far unidentified. Most vets believe that mental illness in dogs appear to be genetic. Again , nothing proven so far!

I want to make sure that we are aware of this issue. This is when parents take senior dogs  to shelters.  What!!! I know, difficult to believe, but true.

If you know what to expect and how to treat  this illness, I believe that this will prevent this drastic action from occuring as often as it does.

This is a list of some of the behaviour that occurs:

Complusive Behaviour

A pet suffering from compulsive behaviour might exhibit by unnecessary biting , chewing or licking itself-especially its flanks, constantly cha chsing

his tail.

Hyperactivity

Dogs can suffer from Hyperkinetic. This will cause an elevatd  heaert rate and rapid breathing.

Decreased Activity/Appetite

A Dog exhibiting significant  decerease in its activity may be depressed Medication and behaviour therapy may aid in relieving  a depressed dogs symptoms.

As always, wellness checks are vitally important with your vet to stay ahead of any problems with our seniors.

LONG LIVE THE SENIOR DOG!!!

Tips For Caring For Senior Dog

Schedule regular visits with your veternarian. Your dog needs to be examined twice yearly, even if he appears healthy. Many diseases are hidden and not apparent.

Remember , it is much cheaper to prevent disease than it is to treat it.

Ask for body evaluation during each vet visit. Body condition is crucial to determine whether your senior is over or underweight.  Ask your vet howyou can evaluate at home, in between visits. This can be helpful in determining what kind of  food should be given.

Feed your dog a high quality diet.  Also, learn to read the dog food label and choose a diet that is appropiate for your dog’s  age and lifestyle.

Use food to keep your dog at his ideal weight. Overweight dogs have a higher incidence of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, skin disease, even cancer.

A diet with a carefully chosen carbphdrate blend can also help keep your overweight dog feel satiated.

Consider fortifying your senior dog’s diet with fatty acids suh as DHA and EPA. They have been shown to be useful for dog’s with mobility issues due to arthritis or other joint diseases. Supplements such as glucosamine and chondrotin are also beneficial for senior dogs.

Take care of your dog’s mouth. Brushing your dog’s teeth may seem like a silly idea but it can help keep your dogs mouth healthy. If you cannot brush, consider dental treats and toys that keep the teeth clean.

Excercise cankeep your olderdog lean and maintain healthy joints and muscles. Tailor your dogs excercise to his needs. Stop when he tells you.

Provide your dog with toys to keep your senior’s mind engaged. Food puzzles, for example, are notonly useful for entertainment but for weight loss purposes as well.