“I know how to raise dogs and cats every day, and cook so many delicious foods for cats and dogs. If you don’t get married or have children, who will take care of you when you get old?”

Pet owners:

Just kidding, everyone knows that time is not forgiving. Do not spare cats and dogs. It doesn’t matter who takes care of us in old age, but we are the only ones who take care of cats and dogs in old age.

Our group has been sharing our experience in raising "children" for 7 years. Many old viewers' babies are slowly entering their old age, and they can't help but want to know more tips on caring for elderly dogs.

I don’t have much experience raising elderly dogs, but I also take care of Grandma Yangwei (11 years old).

So today I will write a guide on how to care for the elderly: the main line will teach you how to choose dog food for the elderly (copied from the homework version), and the side line will show you how to care for the elderly in life.

At what age does a dog reach old age? Dogs of different sizes begin to age at different times. Generally, large dogs/giant dogs start to age earlier. For example, golden retrievers may start to have white hair around their mouths around the age of 5.

In the third edition of "Dog and Cat Nutrition", it is said that the age at which small dogs enter their senior years is 11.5 years old, and that for cats is 12 years old.

Parents can observe the condition of their dogs. Their muzzles are gradually turning gray, they are not active, their legs are a little weak, they prefer to sleep, etc. These are all indications that the pup is entering old age. .

If your old baby has no health problems and does not need a special diet, then keep the key points of this lesson:

Looks difficult?

Then remember this twelve-character mantra: high protein, low fat, high fiber and low starch.

Some cuties always say that dogs should eat low protein when they are old, otherwise the kidneys will be burdened...

But there is currently no research showing that healthy elderly dogs eat high protein. Protein increases the metabolic burden on the kidneys. On the contrary, a high-protein diet can meet the dog's daily essential amino acids, and can also increase and maintain the old baby's muscle tissue.

As old dogs get older and exercise less, their energy needs will definitely gradually decrease compared to those in their prime.

On the premise of ensuring sufficient energy intake, it is recommended to choose dog food with lower fat & starch to avoid eating too much and causing obesity.

Whether it is a large dog or a small dog, joint wear/arthritis will occur to some extent in old age. At this time, maintaining a healthy posture is particularly important.

Now that the atmosphere has been heightened, I quickly smashed the dog and shouted to evaluate his posture.

Source: American Pet Obesity Prevention Association

As an elderly dog, Yang Wei (neutered) was really fat in the first two years. After the physical examination, the doctor gave me an ultimatum: I must lose weight! !

After eating less + a low-carb, low-fat, high-fiber diet + appropriately extending the time to relax, I successfully lost 10 pounds and became the devil's ideal figure. The child also became more confident.

According to the food selection idea of ​​high protein, low fat, multi-fiber and low starch, we have taken stock of a wave of high-quality dog ​​food for senior dogs that have been tested recently. Click on the rating card to jump to the detailed evaluation. If you don’t know how to choose it yet Let’s copy the homework:

Maybe there are little cuties who want to ask, why is it full-term dog food? Is it necessary to feed senior dogs food?

If senior dog food meets the food selection standards highlighted above, you can feed it! Of course, you can continue to choose full-term dog food. The most important thing is to follow our twelve-word food selection mantra.

When we figure out the most important thing about a dog’s life: what to eat, we start to deal with the little things around the dog.

Cats and dogs should have regular physical examinations at least once a year, and older cats and dogs should have a physical examination once every six months if possible. Never have the mentality that there is nothing wrong without a physical examination! !

Old dogs and cats often suffer from degenerative diseases, such as joint disease, endocrine disease, heart disease, tumor, kidney disease, etc., and more items need to be checked. (Click on the picture to read more about how to avoid wasting money on physical examinations for cats and dogs)

The outdoor time of old dogs may gradually decrease automatically, but appropriate walks are necessary for elderly dogs. It can maintain joint flexibility, muscle tone, improve gastrointestinal function and maintain good posture.

When playing wildly on the grass, be careful not to engage in too high-intensity running, jumping and catching and throwing games. After all, we are also old men and women.

Workers can’t help but walk twice a day. According to their family Depending on the dog's physical condition, he can be walked for 20-30 minutes at a time.

Parents with more free time can shorten the time of walking the dog each time, increase the number of dog walks, and the dog will be happier!

When people get old, they need to install guardrails and crutches at home, and dogs also need to pay attention to the maintenance of their joints when their legs and feet become inconvenient.

Usually reduce or better not let elderly dogs climb stairs. If your home has marble, tile, wood and other easily slippery floors, you can lay out non-slip mats/carpets in the dog’s activity areas. Otherwise, slipping and getting up frequently will cause secondary damage to the joints.

It is best for small dogs to learn to use pet stairs to get up and down the bed/sofa from an early age. Jumping up and down seems to have no impact when they are young. Once the joints are worn out and you are too old to use the stairs, jumping up and down is another secondary injury.

Tooth care starts from a young child! After all, every time you undergo anesthesia when you are old, there are great risks. Compared to taking the risk of having anesthetized and ultrasonic tooth cleaning, brushing every day is more cost-effective!

Protect the old and lovely teeth and gums so that the dog can eat happily. Waiting for the toothache to eat, which will lead to anorexia, and the gain will not be worth the loss!

I believe this is the question that many, many lovely parents are most concerned about. The simple answer is: Eat what you should eat, and don’t eat what you shouldn’t.

You can eat fish oil, you can eat lactoferric, you can eat chondroitin, you can eat Brady probiotics; don’t take calcium supplements blindly, throw away the nutritional cream immediately, joint powder is useless, lecithin There is no need for it, there is no need for coenzyme Q10 if there is nothing wrong with the heart...

How about it? Many people think that they will not be deceived into buying health care products when they are old, but they have already stepped into many pitfalls when it comes to cat and dog health care products! ! !