Pets are one of the best parts of life. They provide unconditional love and companionship and can ease loneliness and depression for anyone who has them around. When older pets get sick, or you choose to find a new home for your elderly pet, that doesn’t mean the end of their lives. If you choose to remain with your senior pet, you must make some changes to ensure they are comfortable. Many dogs and cats live a long life if they are provided with excellent care. Here are ways to care for senior pets.
1. Keep Them Active
No one wants a dog or cat that sleeps all day. You’ll want to keep your elderly pet active, but if they can’t get around, find ways to keep them stimulated and engaged. For dogs, this could mean letting them play in the yard and swim in the summertime. It could mean interactive toys like feather wands or bunny balls for cats. Never leave your senior pet alone for long periods as they can become depressed too.
Regular exercises can help your pet stay healthy and active. It can also cut your costs on vet bills later. Aerobic exercises such as swimming and walking are the most beneficial for keeping their cardiovascular system strong.
2. Provide Proper Nutrition
As your pet ages, paying attention to their diet becomes more important. Do not mistake feeding them an abundance of cheap but unhealthy treats. If you are one of those who feed their dog table scraps, stop immediately. Adding chemicals and preservatives to these foods can adversely affect your senior pet’s health. It’s important to get the proper nutrients into their system through the food they eat every day.
A proper diet is extremely important, especially for senior pets. Here are some nutrients you should look for when choosing their food.
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
3. Take Them to Pet Caregivers
If you do not want to deal with the burden of caring for a senior pet, you can find someone to take care of them. There are many caregivers out there who will come to your home and provide your pet with meals, companionship, and activities. You need only provide their necessities, like food and water.
Some homes with experts offer at-home euthanasia in Philadelphia for senior pets. It is the last option since you will have to deal with the emotional pain of losing your pet.
4. Regular Vet Checkups
It is important to take senior pets to the vet regularly. It is recommended that most pets go to the vet once a year. However, when they are senior pets, you should go every six months or less if they start showing signs of illness or having pain in their limbs and joints. These check-ups can reveal problems with your pet before they get worse and more expensive to treat.
5. Visit The Dentist
If your pet still has teeth, you should visit the dentist regularly. You may not be able to see that their teeth are decaying, but most pets have no problem letting you know when it hurts them. Have them checked and cleaned by a vet or dentist as soon as possible to keep them healthy and out of pain.
6. Regular Grooming
Dogs and cats need regular grooming, or their fur can become matted, dirty, and infected. You can choose to groom them yourself with a brush and comb or pay for visits to the groomers. Either way, your pet’s health needs to ensure they are cleaned regularly.
7. Spend Quality Time with Them
It is important to spend quality time with your elderly pet. Whether you are playing with them or sitting down talking, it should become a favorite activity of theirs. This will help them remain active and engaged and keep their minds occupied. This will also reduce the chances that you will be depressed after their death. All seniors need love and affection, so make them feel special.
Conclusion
These are just some of the ways that you can take care of your senior pet. There are many other ways that you can provide them with love and happiness as they get older, but these should be a good start. Always remember that a happy senior dog is a healthy dog, so keep them active and healthy so they can live a long life.
