Cocker Spaniel
Exclusive to , please do not reproduce without permission! >
I. Signs of an Aging Dog
[1. Feeling disinterested in walking]
Dogs love to go for walks, and if they seem to be struggling to walk or not excited to see a leash, it could be joint pain. It may also be due to a decline in strength that causes aversion to walking. Dogs can also be weakened by old age and foot and back. It is understandable not to force the dog, but it is better to let the dog walk or exercise a little in order to improve muscle strength. Joint pain can be cured, so don’t take the liberty of judging it as an ageing phenomenon.
[2. Seems to struggle when eating]
Loss of appetite or digestive problems are symptoms of aging. Big mouthfuls of food prove to be healthy, so be aware if your dog seems to be struggling to eat and soft food is a struggle to eat. Older dogs should choose food that is easily absorbed nutritionally and does not cause a burden on the stomach. If eating seems to be a struggle, it is best to get a health check and perhaps it is time to change the content of the diet.
[3. Frequent nighttime chirping]
Dogs can develop dementia in their senior years. The most common is barking at night. But please don’t judge it as dementia arbitrarily, because the dog may just be in poor health. Even if it is dementia, the symptoms can be improved by feeding a brain-activated nutritional food and living a regular day and night life. When your dog chirps at night, never scold, but treat it gently and caress it.
[4. Easily angered]
Dogs can also show signs of depression due to stress or mental angst. It can also get upset and angry due to non-sensory debilitation. This is also an aging phenomenon, as the inability to feel what they used to feel can cause a dog to lose confidence and become timid. The change in personality of a dog that used to have a steady personality may be a shock to the owner, but this is a time to treat him more gently.
[Editor’s comment]
Older dogs are more active than people, but they can still get sick more often than in their younger years, and diseases of lifestyle or cancer, some of which are not treatable, can be troublesome for the dog or dog owner if left untreated, so it is important to take the dog to the veterinary hospital once every six months for a health check for early detection. Older dogs in the eyes, nose, ears will have the phenomenon of weakness, activity will also be sluggish, in the walk also need to match the speed of the dog, to a slower speed is also necessary. If the dog touches something very close while walking, it may have cataracts, so talk to your veterinarian early about eye drops or surgery to treat them, and there will be difficulties in regulating body temperature, so the dog’s owner will have to spend some effort on temperature regulation, and it is also necessary to keep the cold out when sleeping.
