As pets age, they may require more TLC to stay happy and healthy. According to vets, dogs are generally considered senior if they’re more than six years old, and over eleven-year-old cats are often seen as seniors. That’s why it’s important to start giving your senior pet the extra care they need as soon as possible.

Here are some tips for effective senior pet care:

1. Comfortable Bed for Sleeping

Older pets may have a harder time regulating their body temperature, so it’s important to provide them with a comfortable place to sleep. You can purchase a pet bed designed for older animals or make one yourself out of a soft blanket or towel.

2. Easier-to-Chew Diet

As pets age, their teeth may start to wear down, and they may have trouble chewing their food. You can buy pet food that is easier to chew or break the food into smaller pieces.

For instance, a senior dog can still enjoy a good game of fetch, but you may want to provide them with smaller treats that are easier to chew. Also, watch out for your pet’s weight since obesity can be a major health issue for older pets.

3. Extra Water

Older pets may not drink as much water as they used to, so it’s essential to watch their intake. You can place a water bowl near their bed or food dish or buy a pet fountain that encourages them to drink more.

4. Regular Vet Visits

Some pet owners tend to forget that their senior pet still needs regular vet visits. Older pets can develop health problems just like people do, so it’s important to catch any early issues.

Take them to your trusted vets, such as KMVet.com, to track your pet’s health and ensure they get the care they need. The vet may recommend specific treatments or medications to help keep your pet healthy and comfortable during their visit. For instance, your aging cat may need to start taking thyroid medication.

5. Physical Activity

Just because your pet gets older doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy physical activity. In fact, staying active can help keep them healthy and happy.

You can take your senior dog for walks, play fetch or tug-of-war, or even take them for a swim. Monitor their energy level and adjust the activities as needed.

For cats, provide them with a scratching post and plenty of toys to keep them amused. You can also set up a small climbing area, such as a cat tree, to give them a place to explore.

6. Vaccination and Parasite Protection

Older pets are more susceptible to diseases and parasites, so keeping them up-to-date on their vaccinations and deworming is essential. Speak with your vet on the best way to protect your pet against common threats.

7. Oral Protection

Pets’ teeth can also start to wear down as they get older, leading to dental problems. You can help protect your pet’s teeth by brushing them regularly with pet-safe toothpaste and giving them chew toys that help scrape plaque off their teeth.

You can also purchase a pet water additive for felines that helps reduce plaque and tartar buildup.

Keep in Mind

As your pet enters their golden years, you must keep these tips in mind and ensure they’re getting the care they need. Your senior pet will be happy and healthy for many years to come with extra love and attention.

Also, choose a vet that specializes in senior pet care (like this vet San Diego) and can provide you with the best advice for keeping them healthy and comfortable.

When faced with the loving gazes of our four-legged companions, pet owners may find it challenging to resist the temptation to reward them with food. However, too many treats or overstuffed food meals may harm your pet’s general health and well-being. According to studies, more than half of dogs and felines in various nations are obese or overweight. Obese pets are more prone to suffer from many health issues that shorten their lifespans and compromise their lifestyle.

Various Health Risks of Pet Obesity

Obesity has a significant negative impact on a pet’s health. Excess weight in pets is becoming an increasingly major health concern for our companion animals, particularly dogs and cats. It is a condition that their owners only seldom recognize as a real problem. Although some individuals find it endearing, it poses a severe health risk. 

Caring for our pets is a duty that falls squarely on our shoulders as pet owners, and regularly bringing them to a Clovis pet hospital can help them avoid health risks. Here are some possible health risks that overweight cats and dogs may encounter.

Heart and Breathing Problems

Heart disease and hypertension are two of the many side effects of being overweight. It is also associated with breathing problems. Obese dogs are more likely to have tracheal collapse and laryngeal paralysis. If left untreated, these airway conditions may progress to a respiratory crisis, which can be deadly for pets.

Arthritis

One of the most common issues with excessive weight in pets is the risk of arthritis, specifically in older pets. Arthritis triggers the cartilage in the joint to deteriorate. The increased weight placed on them will put additional strain on their joints, causing the bones to rub together more intensely, which can intensify their pain. The veterinarian can prescribe pain medications, but losing weight can significantly assist in alleviating some of the discomforts.

Infections and Skin Diseases

Obese cats and dogs typically have extra skin folds, which may lead to bacterial infection. The irritation causes your pet to scratch, lick, and bite the affected area, can worsen the condition, and result in body odor and hair loss. Overweight cats struggle with grooming themselves, which causes their fur and skin to look unhealthy. The infection can usually be treated with appropriate veterinary treatment from a Family Pet Hospital; however, unless they lose weight, the conditions will continue.

Liver Disease

Obese pets’ organs and systems must work harder to keep up with their increased metabolism. The pet’s overworked liver may no longer be able to detoxify its own body and clear out toxins because of fatty liver. When the liver isn’t functioning properly, it may cause numerous life-threatening health problems and require immediate medical attention. To prevent liver disease caused by being overweight, you can talk to your veterinarian about getting annual exams, or you might as well enroll your pet in a wellness program.

As a Summary

The issue with our pets being overweight is not only physical; excess weight causes or worsens various severe medical problems. Our animal companions rely on us to make wise decisions on their behalf. Ensure that you feed your pet according to appropriate nutritional recommendations and not based on good advertising or a low price. Consult your veterinarian for suggestions for maintaining a healthy weight for your pet. So you’ll have longer years together, and your pets will be happier and healthier.

Over the years, veterinary medicine has positively evolved, from basic to specialized practices and techniques. These aspects developed into more modern, sophisticated, and technologically advanced. Because of this, the ability of professionals to carry out exquisite dental procedures intensified at a higher level than ever before.

Dental Surgical Procedures for Pets

Pet oral surgeries similarly progressed in time, unrolling a multitude of legitimate alternatives. These potential options are presented to owners so they can choose one based on two aspects. The first is the procedure they perceive as best for their fur babies, and the second is their current monetary condition.

The introduction of these strategies became popular worldwide to a point where it became a considerable enigma for pet owners. Because of the influx of information, individuals ended up being indecisive regarding the best solution suited for their pets. So, before visiting a facility like Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital to consult a veterinarian, ensure to gain a substantial understanding of these treatments by reading through this write-up.

Comprehensive Teeth Restoration

It is a fact that dental infections prevail for every species considering that a range of consumables contacts the mouth. This can trigger significant oral problems when improperly managed and constantly ignored. This can eventually lead to a condition termed carious lesions.

This usually happens when the outer surface of a tooth suddenly breaks down, creating a hole, thereby exposing the enamel or dentin. However, according to veterinary dentists, this case is not typical in pets, particularly dogs and cats. However, there are two surgeries to resolve this concern when it abruptly comes about.

The first one is restoring affected teeth by taking advantage of a cavity preparation method. This procedure aims to remove the compromised tissue, changing it with a biomechanically acceptable prosthetic tooth. Second, via enamel restoration by safeguarding the dentin and pulp to stop further destruction.

Endodontics and Orthodontics

Endodontics and orthodontics are two separate practices of dental surgeries. However, these approaches have a similar objective: to treat pets with soft tissue concerns. The difference between these two is that endodontics focuses on root canal treatment to solve diseases involving the tooth’s inner tissues. Meanwhile, orthodontics deals with the improvement of abnormally positioned teeth.

The inner tissues surrounding a pet’s tooth are vulnerable to trauma, causing significant inflammation and irreversible damage, leading to severe necrosis. Therefore, inducing increased levels of pain and discomfort. So, to retain the essential teeth structures, pets go through an endodontic procedure.

Imperfectly aligned teeth can injure the teeth and gums, resulting in tooth-on-tooth or tooth-on-tissue wear and tear. When left untreated, this case can progress into long-term damage and life-threatening dental disorders. This is why orthodontic treatment is done for pet patients with such complications.

Presume you wish to book a consultation with a professional to assess whether or not your pet calls for this specific surgery. All you have to do is go online and type in “veterinarian near me” to locate a potential health facility.

Periodontal Flap Surgeries

The name of this surgery speaks for itself; this operation entails the management and repair of periodontal pockets within the teeth. It is a restorative procedure best for pets diagnosed with periodontitis. This is a condition wherein the surrounding structures, such as the bones and tissues, start to collapse. Thereby influencing the viability of the gums and teeth.

So, the main goal of flap surgery is to deal with infection by preserving the impaired tooth. Veterinary dental specialists facilitate this treatment in four species-specific ways. First, apically repositioned flap, second, laterally positioned flap, third, free gingival graft, and finally, guided tissue regeneration.

A treatment verdict will be based upon several facets. The pet’s age and health, the owners’ ability to maintain at-home oral health, the severity of the case, and the functional significance of the contaminated structure.

Suppose you intend to schedule your pet for this type of surgical procedure. In this case, search for a “vet dentist near me” to spot reputable professionals who can excellently perform the job.