Amy Morford - Dog Eldercare: Caring for Your Middle Aged to Older Dog

Dog Eldercare:

Caring for Your Middle-Aged to Older Dog

Dog Care for the Older Canine

Amy Morford

Copyright 2014 by Speedy Publishing LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher , addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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-- 1st edition

Manufactured in the United States of America

PUBLISHERS NOTES

Disclaimer

This publication is intended to provide helpful and informative material. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem or condition, nor is intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this book. Always consult your physician or qualified health-care professional on any matters regarding your health and before adopting any suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use or application of any contents of this book.

Any and all product names referenced within this book are the trademarks of their respective owners. None of these owners have sponsored, authorized, endorsed, or approved this book.

Always read all information provided by the manufacturers product labels before using their products. The author and publisher are not responsible for claims made by manufacturers.

Digital Edition 2014

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS BOOK

How This Book Will Help You and Why

Mid-Life and Senior Dog Issues and Answers

Author Amy Morford wrote Dog Eldercare: Caring for Your Middle-Aged to Older Dog to help dog owners understand the aging process of their pet. To take optimum care of an aging dog, owners need to be prepared for routines like diet, exercise and health needs to change radically as their dog ages.

You Will Learn

- How fast different breeds age

- How to calculate your dogs real age

- The visible signs of aging

- The most common diseases that affect older dogs.

- The importance of vet care, dental care and medical tests

- Tips on grooming, bathing, clipping nails and massage

- How to recognize the special needs of senior dogs

Morford details and explains all of the important issues youll need to deal with and encourage the proactive quality care that will vastly improve your elderly dogs quality of life on a daily basis.

This guide will help you provide compassionate care for your canine best friend as he or she evolves from puppy or young adult into a dignified and happy senior companion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy and Bruno

Amy Morford has over twenty years of dog training experience with companion dogs, sport dogs and working breeds. Amys motivation to write about dogs stems from her love for them and their unbiased loyalty and devotion. Amys goal is to provide helpful, accurate information to assist dog lovers with raising and training a well-mannered, good-tempered, happy, healthy, well-adjusted companion, friend, partner and/or family pet.

Be sure to bookmark and subscribe to DogTrainingPlace.net for articles, tips and tail-wagging fun.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

The joy and excitement of a puppy will eventually lead to the heartache and agony of an aging dog. This book is dedicated to dog lovers who have experienced the loss of a beloved friend and companion, just because time ran out.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

When Is A Dog Considered Old?

The most common (but not the most accurate) way to determine your dogs approximate age is to multiply seven dog years by one human year; however, this method varies greatly with the size and breed of the dog. For example, a larger breed dog may be considered a senior at the younger age of six or seven years. On the other hand, a smaller breed dog may not be considered a senior until the age of 18, or even 20. Generally, middle-aged to senior-aged dogs are about seven years old.

The only way to find out the exact age of your beloved pet is to visit your veterinarian. Scheduling a consultation will also ensure your pets future health as he or she grows older.

What to Look For and Expect As Your Dog Ages

You may begin to notice that your dog is starting to move around more slowly, that he or she seems to sleep for longer periods of time, and that your dog hesitates when using stairways or jumping into the car with you. There may also be noticeable differences or subtle changes in the ways your dog lays down, and gets up. You may notice decreased physical and/or playtime activities, and excessive sleepiness. Stiffness in the joints is common in older dogs and may indicate arthritis, which can cause even more discomfort during weather changes like colder temperatures, rain, or increased humidity. Lastly, hearing loss, cataracts (the cloudiness or bluish color of the dogs eyes), and the graying of hair on the muzzle, paws, and face may begin to show from anywhere between six to ten years of age.

Follow a Veterinarian-Recommended Strict Diet and Exercise Plan

Plan for your dogs future years by making regular scheduled appointments with the vet, and keep to a strict age-appropriate plan tailored specifically to your pets special needs. Knowing when your dog enters his senior years; helps you to make proper and timely changes to your dogs routine so that he or she will enjoy a healthy, long, and happy life.

Realize That the Aging Process is Stressful for Your Dog, Too

An aging dog can occasionally become confused because he or she does not completely understand what is going on. In fact, barking at inappropriate times and the loss of bladder controlespecially during the nightcan also indicate that the added stress and confusion may lead to dementia.

Dementia

Dementia can manifest in many ways, due to the variety of breeds of dogs. Its also common for a dog suffering from dementia to become lost in a familiar place. A dogs dementia can also be hard on the family; the ailing dog may alienate him or herself from the rest of family.

Muscle Atrophy

As your aging dog becomes less active, some minor loss of muscle mass in the hind legs can occur with old age. If there is noticeable loss in muscle mass within the area of the stomach and head, this may indicate diseases such as Cushings disease. The most common form of Cushings disease is caused by the overproduction of a hormone by the pituitary gland in the brain that in turn controls the amount of cortisol produced by the adrenal glands. Some of the more common signs of Cushings disease include hair loss, a pot-bellied appearance, increased appetite, and increased drinking and urination, called polydipsia and polyuria (PU/PD). Hair loss caused by Cushings disease occurs primarily on the body. Less common, more advanced indications of the condition are weakness, panting, and abnormal walking (stiffness when standing or walking with the paws knuckled over).