Your Senior Dog
The Senior Years
Everyone grows old, including our loyal canine companions. Though science hasn't figured out a way to stop the ageing process, there are things we can do for our dogs to keep them active, happy and healthy well into their golden years.
One of the most important things you can do is to feed your dog a diet formulated for his age. Iams® Senior features new nutritional breakthroughs developed by the geriatric research team at The Iams® Company. As your dog ages, a complete and balanced diet can help him to maintain health and ideal body weight, maximise his ability to stay healthy and maintain muscle tone and digestive health.
The Senior Years
As your dog reaches his senior years, remember these tips:
Minimise stress and change.
Avoid big moves or changes in your dog's schedule. If you must disrupt a routine, give your dog some added attention to ease the adjustment.
Regular exercise.
Taking your dog for two 15-minute walks each day helps maintain muscle tone, enhance circulation, promote digestion and prevent weight gain.
Smaller, more frequent meals.
Instead of one large portion a day, try two or three smaller meals, which also will help increase your dog's metabolism, burn calories and provide all of the needed nourishment.
Routine veterinary checkups and immunizations.
Regular dental care and thorough physicals will help you identify subtle changes in your dog's health. At home, take a few minutes each month to closely examine your dog for any irregularities such as odd-shaped bumps or lumps. If you do discover something unusual and it seems to be growing rapidly, call your veterinarian. Early detection and preventive treatment can go a long way toward extending life expectancy.
Great-tasting, high-quality premium pet nutrition.
As your dog ages, he may become less interested in eating. Offer palatable, nutrient-dense food to encourage productive, efficient digestion and maintain essential bodily functions. There is still much to learn about canine geriatric nutrition. For now, however, it must be appreciated that every animal ages at a different rate and in different ways. Monitor your dog and especially watch for changes at around seven years of age (five years for large breeds). Adjust his diet accordingly. With the help of your veterinarian and appropriate life-stage nutrition, you can help your pet live a comfortable, healthy life.
