By: The Pet Times
Like us, a dog's requirements changes as he nears middle age.
If you are 50 plus, then you will realise that your dietary
requirements are different to when you where in your teens.
This is the same for dogs. As a rule of thumb, a dog who is 7
years old is really 50 years old in dog years.
These days, with the higher quality of veterinary care and
nutrition available, our pets are living longer which is great.
However, the down-side of this is that they are at a higher risk
of developing age-related conditions such as arthritis, kidney
disease and canine Alzheimer's.
Warning signs of these problems can include bad breath,
sleeping more, increased urination and drinking and changes in
weight and behaviour. I, for one, can definitely relate to
this. Therefore, when your dog reaches 7 years you must look
for these signs but it is even better to take precautions.
The best and easiest precaution is switching dog food. This
switch should be to a dog food specially formulated for older
dogs, which can slow down aging and help prevent the
development of age-related diseases.
A 7 plus dog food should contain higher levels of antioxidants,
high quality protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals
and optimum levels of fibre. It should also be enriched with
glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate to help support healthy
joints and cartilage.
Symptoms of age-related diseases are usually only detected when
there has been significant damage, so don't wait until you
actually notice something wrong with your dog. As an example,
kidney disease is one of the most common diseases among older
dogs, but the symptoms will only show once 75% of kidney
function has been lost.
Therefore, it is of great importance that once your dog reaches
7, you look seriously at his dog food and make the necessary
changes to his diet.
Interesting Facts.
1. A dog becomes a 'senior citizen' at about 7 years of age
which is equivalent to a 50 year old human.
2. Switching to a dog food specially formulated for older dogs
can slow down the development of old-age diseases.
3. Mature dogs run a higher risk of developing diseases like
arthritis, kidney disease and canine brain aging
(Alzheimer's) .
4. A dog which is well cared for can live between 10 and 15
years.
5. Approximately 40% of pets are seniors.
6. The oldest recorded canine, an Australian Cattle Dog, lived
to 29 years. That's about 203. Unreal!!
REMEMBER - Prevention is better than cure. Don't wait until it
is too late. When your dog reaches 7 review his dog food and
make sure you switch to a 'senior' dog food.
In closing, if you notice any changes in your dog or
discomfort, PLEASE immediately seek veterinary advice. If you
follow these few simple points, then you and your best friend
will share many wonderful years together.
About The Author: I write articles about the wellbeing of dogs
and their owners. My speciality is the Corgi breed, however all
dog breeds are included. For comprehensive information and
quality products, visit my website at
http://www.corgidog world.com
