How to Help your Dog as they Age: Caring for Senior Dogs

Our dogs are members of our family and as such we want to help them as they get older. There are some simple ways you can help your dog as they age.

My oldest dog, Sadie, will be 11 years old in May! She has been with me through graduating college, buying my first home, getting engaged, having a baby, and so much more.

Now that she is getting older, I want to make sure she has the best quality of life that I can give her.

This post is sponsored by Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 

Simple Ways to Help your Dog as they Age

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Temperature: When dogs age, they aren’t able to regulate their body temperature like they used to. Make sure they are kept inside on really hot or cold days.

You can even buy them a heated bed to help them during the winter months.

Joints: Just like us, older dogs can have joint problems from all of the running and playing they did when they were younger.

If you notice that your dog has problems with stairs or jumping on furniture, you may want to get them a ramp or even an elevated food bowl to help them eat.

There are supplements that you can give them as well. Talk with your vet to see what might work for your dog.

Weight: I have noticed that Sadie is putting on a few pounds since she isn’t as active as she once was. Make sure that they stay at a healthy weight.

If dogs become obese this can cause even more joint pain, not to mention other health problems.

Exercise

Make sure that your dog stays active but not too much. They can start to have heart problems around their senior years so you don’t want to push them too hard.

A nice walk around the neighborhood or playing fetch in your yard every day should give them the exercise they need.

Make your Senior Dog More Comfortable

Nutrition

Giving your dog proper nutrition is important at any stage of life but even more so in their senior years. They can start to lose vital vitamins and minerals that may effect them both mentally and physically.

I actually have been switching Sadie over to the Purina Pro Plan® BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+® brand of dog food.

 

 

Sadie has been eating the food for about a week and it can take 30 days to start seeing a difference in your dog. I am hoping that it will help give her more energy and help with her memory.

Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ formulas contain enhanced botanical oils that are shown to promote alertness and mental sharpness in dogs 7+ so I am hoping to see a change in her.

She loves the taste and seems to enjoy her new food. I am cutting back on her portion size so that she can lose a few pounds. She is a good old girl and I want to have her around for many more years to come.

If you have a Senior dog, you should try the Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ formula to see if it has a positive change in them.

Spoil Them

Our fur babies won’t be around forever so it is nice to spoil them every once in a while. Getting them a new toy can help their memory and keep them active.

I love the pet subscription boxes like Barkbox or Pupbox. Every month you will receive a box filled with all of the toys, treats, accessories and training information you dog needs.

They are specifically made with your dog’s age in mind.

Our dogs need even more care from us as they age. Take them to the vet every 6 months to a year for their checkups and give them the proper love and nutrition that they need. What are some ways you help your dog as they age?