Dog Health Questions

You must have noticed that there are many dog health question about diseases with similar symptoms. Do not waste your time thinking about the possible causes and take your dog to the Dog Veterinarian. Be confident of your veterinarian's actions, and if you do not feel comfortable with him change immediately. The following guidelines should be followed during all the age phases of your dog, but it is particularly important in old dogs. Have your dog undergo regular checkups, from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. You can also help by paying close attention to your dog and closely examining him yourself. Either way your dog should visit the veterinarian once a year for a complete checkup and vaccines. If your dog has more than eight years, it is advisable to have him examined twice a year. 

Work with your Veterinarian: You must always try and help your veterinarian communicate with your dog.  The more information he gets, the easier it will be for him to understand the condition that your dog is in. When we are at the veterinary with our dog, we tend to get nervous and forget the simplest things that might turn out to be really important. This is why you should make an effort and prepare a list at home of all your dog's symptoms. It is very important to follow your veterinarian's guidelines word by word. At times, this might be difficult because your dog might be bothered by the treatment. Try to avoid the use of force and try to make it a nice experience for your dog. Dogs tend to get nervous when they are given pills or drops, but if you act correctly your dog will feel fine with his medication. For example, Andra receives her pills inside a piece of cheese. This way it is impossible to forget about her medication since she always asks for it. On the other hand, our dog Ben would always notice every time we tried to camouflage his pills. We strived to find new ways of administering the pills and finally we were successful. Our method was to stick the pill deep in our dog's throat and then show him a delicious treat so he would swallow the pill and receive the treat. I am sure that if you have the same problem you will be able to find a creative way to give your dog his pills. 

When my dog reached an old age, he did not lose the thickness of his hair, which is a normal change caused by hormones. Furthermore, several old dogs become negligent in regards to personal hygiene. This may be caused by their lack of memory or by the vertebrate and articulations that become rigid. Either way, it is important to control the hygiene of your dog's penis, vulva and anus. You should try and caress your dog when undertaking these cleaning efforts, that way he will consider it a pleasant experience. Old dogs also need special care when it comes to feet. An old dog does not run as much, and his journeys tend to be shorter. This means that his nails will grow longer since they will not break as a result of active efforts. You should try and control your dog's nails with regularity or take your dog to a place where he can get his nails cut or treated with oil if they start shattering.

Old dogs might also suffer from dental problems. The excess of dental plaque and the inflammation of the gums occur frequently on dogs. Watch out for these inflammations because they might cause serious problems in the kidney, liver and heart of your dog. Do not worry because extractions and other dental treatments are common in a clinic for animals. The eyes and ears also need special attention, and you must take extra precautions in this area as your dog gets older. Another thing to consider is that an old dog tends to lie down more often and this could develop calluses on his elbows. Using Vaseline or other similar substances might resolve the problem. Having a soft bed for your dog might help as well. Regular exercise also forms part of a dog's adequate care. Maintaining an old dog in good health is not difficult if you pay close attention to your dog and treat him with love. Dieting for Old Dogs