Our pets are like us, they grow old, and they reach their senior years. When they reach this stage in their life, a lot of things change, and with these changes comes a different type of care, diet, and activity. Knowing when your pet is considered old can help us manage these changes and how we can make their lives better.
When our pets were younger, we could see how full of energy they were. Perhaps, we have observed that their stamina could have been longer, but age does have its negative effects. Our pets do not know when they are old, but they certainly can feel it. Age brings deterioration to our pets, and it is up to us to make sure that they go through it smoothly.
How can we take care of senior pets?
We have to understand when a dog or cat is considered old. Large dog breeds age faster and may be considered to be in their senior years at age six, and small to medium dog breeds and cats may be considered old at age seven. When they reach these years, the changes in their body are quite apparent. They may have significant weight gain, and their facial features may also droop.
This stage in their life brings not only superficial changes but also physiologic changes. Senior pets have a high tendency to develop arthritis and other skeletal system disorders. We can notice them being slow and have issues with mobility, but that is only the start of the issues. You can also learn more when you go to West Chester Vet Med Center and talk to a vet. We want to take care of our pets as much as we can, even in their senior years, and here’s how we can do it.
Geriatric Vet Care
There is a specialized type of care for older pets. This service provided by vets is a critical expertise that helps enhance our older pet’s life; this is geriatric vet care. Elderly dog care expertise focuses on certain diseases that are common to our pets and ensures that efficient management and treatment for these issues are done. Getting them on routine check-ups helps in maintaining good health.
Preventive Treatments
A lot of pet owners sometimes miss a scheduled vaccination or parasite prevention treatment for their pets. When our pets are older, having preventive treatments like vaccinations should not be neglected since older pets are susceptible to illnesses and infections. You can click on this link to lern more.
Adapting to Behaviors
Taking care of older pets must be done with the help of vets, but caring for older pets should also be at the same degree of commitment at home. Their behaviors change; we have to understand that their level of activity has decreased, and we have to change the routine we expose them to in order to prevent injury or discomfort.
Conclusion
Our pets grow old too, but the rate at which they experience it is much faster than ours. We have to make sure that we recognize the changes that may happen and get veterinary help in caring for our pets. Routine check-ups, vaccinations, and specific home care could help our pets go through aging smoothly.