What What to Expect as Your Dog Ages

Author:  Kelly Marshall

dog to our one year, and there are some who say it is six years to our one year.
Many dog owners take their pet for screening tests when they start to reach a certain age, this is a wise thing to do because if there is an age related problem with the dog then it will be detected early on and may add extra years to the animals life. If for example your dog is drinking more, weight loss or gain, vomiting or diarrhea, panting or coughing all the time then it is time to visit the vet quicker than normal.
All dogs can have excess weight gain or loss just the same as humans; they can also suffer with arthritis or problems with their thyroids that is why regular health checks are very important.
When a dog is young and bounding and jumping around all over the place and running like a greyhound when off the lead, they will have a good appetite. As the dog gets older generally this appetite will not be what it used to be as he is less active. Those who feed their pet great amounts of food as the animal is getting older are actually doing more harm than good. It must be remembered that dogs can suffer from obesity and this can be a serious health threat to the animal.
As your dog grows older do regular checks for lumps that may not be noticed if you have a breed of dog with a long coat. This can be important for checking for any lumps or bumps that may be starting to grow, if any are found then a trip to the veterinarian is essential. Sometimes a lump or bump can be fatty deposit on the dog but a health check is necessary and important, so is keeping a check on the dog’s nails.
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About Kelly Marshall: Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to buy teacup dog clothes online.