Do you have a medium to large dog older than five years? Maybe you have a small dog over 7 years of age?
When medium to large dogs reach the age of 5, or small dogs hit the 7-year mark, they are considered to be in their ‘middle age’. This is the time that small aches and pains will start to appear. (If you can see the 50-year mark approaching, you know what I’m talking about!)
Medium to large dogs are more prone to arthritis than small dogs, but small dogs still have their share of aging issues.
There are several things that you can do to make your dog’s life a little easier. Let’s examine two of the simpler ways to help your pet be comfortable and perhaps prolong his life.
Do you have a Senior Dog?
First and foremost, do not leave your dog outside in the harsh winter months. The severe cold exacerbates any pain an animal may have and is especially bad for arthritis or hip dysplasia. If you refuse to have your dog in the house, fix him up with a heated doghouse. It doesn’t cost much and can be easily done. Look on the Internet for instructions.
Get your pet a good-quality bed. Your dog spends approximately 70% of his days asleep, and just like you, he needs a bed that won’t put pressure on his bones. The floor does not meet this qualification! Pillow dog beds are sold in so many varieties and styles now it is very easy to match your décor or your personality!
When looking at dog beds, select the heated beds. Some of the heated beds run on batteries and can be placed outside. They also sell orthopedic beds that you can look at and dog beds that are both heated and orthopedic.
TIP: If your dog appears to have problems at night getting his rear end to stand up, that means he is having pain in his hips. Give a medium to large dog 1 (one) buffered aspirin; give a small dog a baby aspirin (one), or one of the low dose aspirins. This will help relieve the pain for up to 12 hours.
