Senior Dogs Research Paper

All of us will get old, humans and animals alike. Along with old age comes several adjustments that need to be done, particularly in diet and physical activities.

Like humans, senior dogs also go through various changes; thus, it is important to consider their dietary needs as well, as their diet when they were younger would be different from now. Luckily, there are some senior dogs that can still function well even at old age, being as active and physically stable as they are when they were younger. Then again, it would depend on their diet and amount of physical activity.

It is said that a dog is considered “old” when it is already in the “last third of his normal life expectancy”, according to the website PetEducation.com. For example, …show more content…
For one, they are more prone to joint problems or cognitive dysfunction.

Accidents can also happen at home, when they are unable to control their bladder like they can before. Senior dogs may also be less tolerant on young children, and experience low quality of sleep.

Their vision may also be affected, as well as their hearing. They would need more rest time and a comfortable and quiet place to do so. As a result, they would tend to be overweight. It would be harder to lose their weight when they are older, given that they have limited physical capabilities to do so.

Their oral health will also be affected and be more prone to dental disease. In worse cases, they can be more susceptible to kidney or heart disease.

Given these health problems, a special diet will be needed to alleviate the effects of old age.

Most older dogs would need a diet that is lower in calories and enough amount of protein, fat, and fiber. While we can give senior dogs their usual food, it should be in smaller amounts.

Senior dogs are more prone to constipation, thus they need fiber, such as adding wheat bran into their regular dog food. Moreover, for dogs with kidney problems, a diet low in phosphorous will be …show more content…
Apparently, smaller breeds’ life span is longer than larger breeds. Nevertheless, a dog’s health and strength decline as it ages -- regardless of breed. Their metabolism slows down as well, thus requiring lower amount of calories in their diet.

Aside from that, giving your senior dog a food specific to their age does not mean it would be better for their health too. For specific health problems such as kidney or poor digestion, a separate special diet will be recommended by your vet.

On the other hand, giving your dog some supplements won’t hurt either. For example, you can give your arthritic dog some vitamins and supplements such as MSM, chondroitin sulphate, and glucosamine to support its joints. Likewise, you can also give your dog a vitamin/mineral supplement if it does not eat a complete balanced diet due to certain reasons. Meanwhile, some owners give their senior dogs additional supplement such as antioxidants. Giving your pets small amounts of fruits and vegetables would be nice, too.

Before feeding anything to your senior dog, consult with your local vet first so he or she can give the right diet for your pet, depending on its health

Show More

Canine Health Care Graded Assignment

Dr. A. Wegner Essay

Essay on Fair Housing

Animal Experimentation Essay

Annotated Bibliography Eicher

Parks For Pets Final Package Essay example

Response plans Essay

Non Profit Analysis Essay

Animal Protection Laws Essay

Rabies Research Paper