Being a pet owner is a rewarding responsibility as this can improve your heart health, keep you fit and active, and help you lose weight. Some people also choose to have a pet as this can help them improve their social life, keep stress at bay, and add meaning and purpose to their lives.
Taking care of a pet can improve your life in many ways. But, as a pet owner, you should not only think about your own wellness. You should also pay attention to the health of your animal companion, especially as they start to age. Regardless of how healthy their diet or how active their lifestyle is, your pet will eventually age, and this would require more responsibility on your part.
For you to maintain your aging pet’s health, take note of the following tips:
1. Use Natural Supplements
As your pet grows older, their body will naturally become weaker, which means that they can no longer produce essential vitamins and minerals on their own. It’s your responsibility as a pet owner to ensure that they’re properly and adequately provided with these vitamins and minerals. You can easily attain this goal by giving them natural supplements.
Natural supplements for aging pets can easily be purchased from websites, such as Pet Honesty, and other local pet stores around the world. However, if you haven’t experienced buying natural supplements for your aging pet, narrowing down your options can be tough. Having too many options can get very overwhelming.
To help you out, make sure to buy natural supplements that contain the following ingredients as these can support an aging pet’s body, brain, and joints:
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial to aging pets as these have anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate symptoms of arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids can also improve an aging pet’s cognition, allowing their mind to stay sharp even when they’re old.
- Probiotics: Probiotics can improve your aging pet’s digestion and immunity. When taken in sufficient amounts, probiotics can inhibit the activity and growth of harmful bacteria in their body.
- Mushrooms: Mushrooms can provide several health benefits to aging pets. For one, the beta-glucan found in mushrooms can prevent the growth and spread of tumors in your aging pet’s body. Natural supplements made from mushrooms can also support your pet’s kidney and liver functions, as well as prevent viral infections.
2. Feed Your Aging Pet With A Complete Diet
As mentioned, your pet’s body will change as they age. Aside from giving them natural supplements, feeding them with a complete diet can guarantee that your pet will receive the essential vitamins and minerals that their body needs. Moreover, giving a healthy and balanced diet will ensure that the natural supplements you give to them can work effectively and provide the expected benefits.
When your pet starts to age, make sure to change their diet accordingly. During this time, your aging pet should follow a diet that’s nutritionally complete, made from high-quality ingredients, and is apt for the current stage of their life. You should also read the labels of the foods you give to your aging pet to ensure that these contain high amounts of fiber and fewer calories. Since your aging pet can no longer burn calories as fast as before, it’s important to give them food with lesser calories to prevent lethargy and obesity.
3. Regularly Exercise With Your Pet
It’s common for aging pets to become less energetic, but this shouldn’t become the reason why you would let yours lie down on the floor all day. Your aging pet no longer has the vigor to play all day, which is why you should be the one to encourage them to remain active.
Another way of taking care of your aging pet’s health is to exercise with them regularly. Exercising is an easy and effective way for your pet to burn calories, enhance blood circulation, and strengthen their muscles. As long as done in moderation, exercise can also improve your aging pet’s brain and heart functions.
When choosing an exercise for your dog, make sure that you consider their level of stamina and strength. If you’ve been taking your pet for walks for years, then, going on a walk even when they’re old might be easy for them. However, if your pet isn’t used to exercising, it’s best if you start slow and gradually progress. You can start by taking them for a five-minute walk every day for a week before adding another five minutes in the next week.
4. Act Fast When Your Pet Seems Sick
If you’ve had a pet for years, you’ll know that certain changes in your pet’s behavior aren’t always a cause for concern. When your dog starts to vomit yellow foam or bile, for example, you’d know that this isn’t a serious concern as long as your dog continues to eat and stay active.
However, it won’t be the same when your pet’s already old. Since they have less physical reserves and their body is more prone to illnesses and diseases, it’s highly important that you seek medical attention the moment your pet starts to vomit, stop eating, or show symptoms of lethargy and diarrhea.
If possible, you should not wait for 24 hours or for another symptom to show up before taking your aging pet to the vet. Once you notice that your pet starts to act strangely, it’s best if you immediately rush them to the nearest vet. When taking care of your aging pet, time is of the essence. The consequences of any health condition can be fatal to your pet if you let them stay at home instead of taking them to a vet.
Work With A Vet
Along with your dedication to taking care of your furry friend throughout their life, it’s also important to regularly visit their vet. Vets have the training, experience, and equipment to properly check and diagnose your pet for any age-related health conditions. The earlier these problems are diagnosed, the higher chances your pet will have in recovering and living a healthy life again!
