Caring for an elderly pet can be difficult, and you might not have imagined what it would be like looking after a senior animal when you first adopted your pet or when they were still in their youth. So, if you are struggling to cope with your pet’s ever-increasing needs and ailments, here are some of the best tips for those who are trying their best to look after elderly pets.
· Give Them Supplements
There are many specialist supplements that have been developed for pets who have specific medical needs, which can help them to stay healthier and feel better in themselves for longer. For instance, if your pet has mobility issues, Buddy and Lola offer certain supplements that act as a joint support treatment for dogs with bad mobility and can help your pet to feel years younger once again if they take them regularly. This can then give them a better quality of life in their final years and allow them to cope with any medical condition that they may have long-term.
· Change Your Lifestyle
Although your lifestyle may once have suited your animal, you must ensure that you have a lifestyle that still suits your pet now that they are much older and not as active as they once were. For instance, you may have to reduce the number of hours that you leave them home on their own and shorten the walks that you take them on. You may not also be able to leave them in boarding kennels so often or take them with you on trips, especially if they have a medical condition.
· Follow Their Lead
Your pet may not be able to go for as long a walk as they used to each day or eat as much as they used to, and this is okay. It is important that you respond to what your pet is telling you and that you react to signs that they are feeling uncomfortable or that they are in pain. You should only walk them as far as they want to go, which might be different each day, for example, to ensure that this does not worsen their health problems.
· Don’t Avoid the Vets
Many people avoid taking their pets to the vets because of the expense. However, it is important that you take your pet for a regular check-up and that you schedule an appointment at your local clinic at the first sign that something is wrong with your animal. This could save your pet pain and discomfort while also preventing you from having to pay huge vet bills at a later date.
· Show Them Affection
The top way that you can look after your elderly pet, though, is to show them affection. Elderly pets may not ask for affection and attention as much as younger animals, but this does not mean that they should be ignored. So, you should make sure that your pet is showered with love in their final days.
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