As well as aged humans senior animals have special peculiarities and requirements. Now you'll have to apply much more effort to maintain your pet's health.
Biological time for different breeds goes at different rate. As a rule, large breed dogs grow old slower than little ones. The average threshold is eight years. By this time the dog needs all your love and care.
Living functions of the aged organism are not as active as in the bloom. Therefore the animal becomes more receptive to any infection and injuries that would earlier pass unnoticed.
The rate of metabolism reduces, the tone goes down, the locomotor system becomes weaker and some disorders happen in the internals. Now you must restrain the dog's diet, especially this concerns animal products.
HOW TO SAVE THE HEALTH OF THE AGING ANIMAL?
You must constantly keep an eye on the way your pet' look: whether he is cheerful and healthy or sluggish and indifferent. Senior animals may get arthrosis, disorders of cardiovascular system and lungs diseases, otitis, cataract, paradentosis, enuresis, etc. When the owner watches carefully his animal, he may identify some disorders, begin the treatment in time and prolong his pet's healthy life.
Thus, arthrosis is revealed at sudden decrease in motion activity. Cough and short breath may indicate pneumonia. If the dog constantly shakes her head, scratches the ears and you see egesta coming out, perhaps she has otitis. Moreover, some dogs become deaf with age. Some eye diseases that may occur, such as gray cataract, conjunctivitis may even cause blindness. Watch closely the dog's teeth and gums, since at oral inflammations pathogens can easily get into blood. You must clean the dog's teeth and remove tartar regularly. Urogenital system needs special attention too. Difficulty of urination is the ground for showing the dog to a veterinarian immediately.
And at last, remember that vaccination and regular medical check up are needed at any live stage.
PROPER FEEDING FOR SENIOR ANIMALS
One of the major problems emerging with age is obesity. The fact is that the animal consumes more calories than uses. To determine the extra weight one may palpate the animal's ribs. If they are hardly pronounced at touch, the dog needs to lose weight. Put him on a low-calorie diet or give 15 percent less the usual daily portion.
Another problem is the reduction of renal activity when the excretion of protein metabolism products slows down. To reduce the risk of renal disorders the amount of protein in the diet must be cut down.
Aged animals often suffer absence of appetite and one may need remarkable patience and actor's gift to make him eat.
These recommendations will help you:
* Feed you pet with small portions but often. Divide the daily ration into 2 - 4 parts.
* Heat up the food to the animal's body temperature (38-39'C)
* If your pet declines to eat, take the bowl away after 10-15 minutes. He will certainly want to eat when later you'll offer him the fresh portion.
* Add PEDIGREE rations for senior animals into the diet.
* If the animal refuses to eat the Ration in the form of cans, you may mix the dry version to the usual food.
For senior animals some diets with specially selected combination of vitamins and minerals are developed. They do not inhibit renal and heart functioning and help prevent disorders of urinary tracts.
HOW TO FEED ANIMALS CORRECTLY?
As was said, feeding the aged animals has its own peculiarities. Therefore the first step in choosing the diet is to consult a vet. Depending on the dog's health the doctor will recommend proper food. There are commercially prepared combinations specially made for different life stages and physiological features of animals, such as PEDIGREE Rations for dogs.
They make the process of feeding noticeably easier and provide the high-quality and well-balanced diet for the animal. Several choices of such Rations are possible. For example, dogs with renal dysfunction can be offered Dietetic Rations with low protein content (Low or Medium Protein Diets). For animals with overweight there are Low Calorie Diets. This Ration is produced in the form of dry food. For dogs with digestive system troubles the special Conditioning Diets are produced and are also dry.
Dietetic PEDIGREE Rations for dogs are delicious and are to the taste of fastidious animals as well. They are made on the basis of the latest research in veterinary medicine and dietology. However one should consider, that only a veterinarian can prescribe these diets to your pet. Stick to his recommendations and apply Dietetic Rations only to the animals who need them.
Translated by Tatiana Karpova (Moscow)
(MSU, Biology faculture, Dep. zoology and ecology).