Ways to Keep an Old Dog Comfortable

Growing old is inevitable. Even for our pets. The skin becomes loose, the bones weaken, joints stiffen, and the energy and vitality once known begins to fade. It's a sad thing watching a dog that's been such a close companion grow old. But even though we can't prevent our dogs from aging we can do things to keep them comfortable. Below are some ways to keep an old dog comfortable.

Provide your old dog with a comfortable bed.

Old dogs may not complain about sleeping on the floor, but I can assure you they'd be much more comfortable on a soft bed. This doesn't mean you have to let them join you in your bed, but purchasing a dog bed or even providing them with cushions or fluffy blankets will make an old dog much more comfortable.

Old dogs need to stay warm.

Since old dogs tend to have joint stiffness and more pain, keeping them warm can help relieve some of the discomfort. The cold causes the body to tense up, increasing tension and pain. You don't, however, want to keep them too hot either; the heat can be just as uncomfortable as the cold.

Make sure your old dog has plenty of water.

Every living creature needs water to survive. It's vital to our energy, hydration, digestion, and even the lubrication of our joints. Make sure your dog has plenty of water to drink; it will help with some of the stiffness, prevent dehydration, and give him a little more energy. Water is an essential way to keep an old dog comfortable.

Keep a Flea Preventative on your old dog.

Fleas cause terrible itching, pain, and discomfort. Some dogs are even allergic to fleas. An aging dog usually has many other discomforts to deal with, being tormented by a flea problem will make them even more uncomfortable. Apply Advantage or Frontline topical flea preventative every month to keep your old dog comfortable and flea free.

Keep an old dog comfortable by feeding her high quality food.

If you can, feed your old dog a high quality food such as Iams, Science Diet, Hills, or Eukanuba. These quality brands make pet food with the best ingredients. They also provide customized pet foods for old dogs and dogs that have specific conditions such as obesity, renal failure, skin conditions, and so on. A high quality food can make a huge difference when trying to keep an old dog comfortable.

Make sure you old dog gets mild exercise.

Take him out for a short walk or let him roam around in the yard a bit. Although old dogs have less energy, exercise is still good for them. Most old dogs aren't going to be able to withstand a long walk or an energetic game of catch, but a short stroll can do them a lot of good, and greatly increase an old dog's comfort.

Don't let children play rough with an old dog.

If you've got children in the house, make sure they aren't being too rough with an old dog. Children don't always understand that a dog is old and can't handle certain things. Explain to them that the dog is getting old and can't play as rough as he used to. Teach children to be gentle and kind. Doing so is an important way to keep an old dog comfortable.

Take your old dog to the vet for regular checkups.

It's a good idea to take an old dog to the vet for checkups every six months. They're immune systems are weakening and it becomes easier for them to develop conditions and problems that can create a lot of discomfort. Regular visits to the vet will make it more likely that you'll discover any conditions that need attending to, and will help to keep your old dog comfortable.

Most of all, Give your old dog lots of love and attention.

Just because an old dog doesn't push for your attention the way a puppy or younger dog would doesn't mean she doesn't crave the love and attention she did when she was younger. Pet him, brush him, talk to him, spend time outside with him, and praise him. Old dogs need love and attention just as much if not more than other dogs. I can't think of any better way to keep an old dog comfortable than this.