Post by account_disabled on Mar 14, 2024 5:54:31 GMT
Old age is a stage in which dogs, like humans, need special care. To maintain a good quality of life for your dog as he gets older, you should pay special attention to his diet, level of physical activity and, of course, his veterinary check-ups. It is considered that a dog begins to be considered “senior” after seven years of life. Smaller dog breeds have a longer life expectancy (15-18 years) than larger ones (11-13 years). We explain the symptoms and the care your dog needs when he gets old. Symptoms your dog experiences when he gets old Loss of muscle tone and strength, especially in the legs. Exhaustion and possible appearance of degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, etc.). Gentle physical exercise is very important to minimize problems at this stage. You can find out more information about canine osteoarthritis and its treatment in this article on our blog . Decrease in some senses such as sight, smell and taste. Cognitive dysfunction with symptoms similar to Alzheimer's in humans (disorientation, memory loss...). It affects 25% of dogs over 12 years of age. Kidney failure, frequent urination and urinary incontinence are very common at this stage.
Alterations such as constipation or chronic diarrhea are also common. Tips to care for your dog at this stage If your dog urinates at home, don't scold him. He tries to take him out more often for short walks so he doesn't get too tired. To keep the weight at bay, use a specific food for senior dogs . Likewise, it is very important that your pet is permanently hydrated. Regarding joint care , you can supplement their diet with cod liver oil , especially indicated for the joints of senior dogs. It is also very convenient to supplement senior dogs with marine collagen . It helps them improve mobility and flexibility, supporting their joints, and reinforcing and strengthening cartilage, ligaments and tendons. Reinforces the care of your dental hygiene . You can use CZ Leads Disane oral hygiene powder . It is made with natural ingredients and has antiseptic properties, helping to prevent and eliminate plaque and tartar. It is very easy to administer, because you only need to mix it with the feed once a day. Another consequence of old age is white fur, calluses or problems on the pads. To combat dry pads, use a specific balm . How does autumn affect cats? October 10, 2023 Published in Blog cats changing season The shortening of days associated with autumn has consequences not only for people, but also for cats. If you have a cat, you may have noticed that it has less appetite or is more sleepy. The hours of light regulate the production of melatonin, a hormone that serves to calibrate our “biological clock” and also that of cats.
The change of season, with the arrival of autumn, is important for felines in matters such as their ual activity and appetite , although it has been seen that it is not as decisive as in humans in other facets, such as sleep and level of activity . The reduction in daylight hours causes reproductive activity to decrease . In fact, cats usually reactivate their heat season in spring, when daylight hours increase. In males, the photoperiod also influences the production of hormones and prepares them for reproduction at the same time as females. This change is more evident in cats that leave the house. Domestic animals that do not go outside, being exposed to artificial light, do not experience these changes as much. Changes in cats' appetite Regarding decreased appetite , there is also a difference between cats that go out and those that do not leave the homes. Cats that live outdoors and have food available to them all the time eat more when there is less light and temperatures are colder. On the contrary, cats that live indoors and do not go out tend to eat less when the days are shorter. Another factor to take into account is your age. While during the colder months older cats decrease their energy consumption, no change is observed in young cats. autumn molt Some cats lose more hair than usual during the fall and spring. Molting is a natural process of adaptation to changing temperatures. The problem, in addition to the need to take extreme hygiene at home, is the dreaded hairballs, which can be swallowed when grooming. To avoid this, during these times of shedding it is important that you brush your cat more often. You can also use a dry cleaning shampoo, which will help you remove excess hair. You can expand the information in this article on our blog .