Proper care of our senior scotties will insure them spending many wonderful years with their families. Thank to Julie Hill for contributing this article.
The last time you went to your doctor, did you talk about things to watch for until your next yearly exam? Keep the same thing in mind for your aging canine friends. While the life expectancy for the average American is around 80 years, the same can’t be said for our furry friends. If we’re very lucky and are blessed, we can hope for 12-15 years with them. Don’t rely completely on your veterinarian for everything. It’s up to you to notice the subtle changes in your pet on a day-to-day basis. Are they drinking more water? Do they have horrible breath? Do they ignore you (more than normal)? How long has that bump been there and has it grown? Most of us are constantly petting our dogs every day. While you’re doing that, use it as a time to check them over for any strange lumps or bumps. Do you see where your dog goes to the bathroom in the yard? Does it look the same or has that changed? All these things need to be addressed and brought to your family veterinarian. As our pets age, they can develop diabetes, liver or kidney problems, arthritis, and gingivitis, which can lead not only to the loss of teeth, but to the liver or kidney or even heart disease. Then next time you schedule an appointment with your vet, be sure to check for a more senior physical. Ask about doing a more complete exam of your aging pet besides just a hands-on exam with the vaccinations. Talk to your vet about doing a chest x-ray, a blood screen with a thyroid check, an EKG especially for older pets could be very important in detecting early heart disease. Talk to your vet also about proper nutrition as your dog gets older. Would they benefit from a supplement such as Dasequin/Cosequin for their joints? Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the simple things, too, like fleas or nails that are a bit long, that can cause discomfort to your aging friend. We owe it to them to keep them as healthy as we can, for as long as we can.
Proper care of our senior scotties will insure them spending many wonderful years with their families. Check back for informative information we will be posting shortly.