Keeping your best friend active and alert
when he becomes an old friend as well

There are few bonds of love and devotion quite as absolute as those between a dog and his or her family. Considering how quickly 10 or 13 years seem to pass, it can be hard to believe that your walking companion is suddenly considered a canine senior citizen.

Just as people age differently, however, so do dogs. A lot depends on breed and genetics as well as the dog’s lifestyle and diet over the years.

At this time in a dog’s life, it’s extremely important to schedule a wellness exam at least once a year. That’s likely to include a senior blood panel, which can tell you a lot about how your best friend is aging. It’s also possible that behavior simply attributed to “old age,” such as slowing down or stiffness, can actually be the result of a treatable medical condition --a thyroid issue, for example.

Just like a person, as a dog ages, he or she may be subject to certain afflictions not as common in a younger animal, such as diabetes, arthritis, liver or kidney disease. And as we all know, an obese animal is not going to be as healthy or age as well as one in a normal weight range, so keeping your canine pal fit and trim is something you should strive for during his prime.

The quality of your dog’s diet is an especially important consideration when you’re caring for a geriatric pooch. A food with high quality protein sources and other ingredients is a vital part of maintaining an older dog’s quality of life.

Certain changes in a dog’s personality can also occur as a result of aging, such as not responding to verbal commands due to a hearing loss, or a newly developed separation anxiety. Many of these problems can be dealt with by simply being attuned to your dog’s changing needs.

Just because your dog is now up in years doesn’t mean he is ready to retire as your best buddy. In fact, if you’re thinking of adopting a dog, an older one should not be overlooked. Sure, puppies are cute, but mature dogs have learned so much more. Typically, they are housebroken, don’t chew everything in sight, know what “no” means and have grown accustomed to living in a “pack” with human beings. Adopting an older animal from a shelter also shows that you don’t believe a dog is expendable just because of his or her age.

Just remember that aging is not a disease. If your best friend is now an old friend, it means you’ve taken good care of him or he wouldn’t have made it this far. With a high quality diet, proper veterinary care and some luck, you’ll be able to continue enjoying his companionship for a good long time to come.