Visit the vet regularly for your senior dog

Once your four legged buddy ages , a lot of bodily changes happen and as a pet parent you may not be able to recognise these changes. So, it makes good sense to schedule a visit to the vet at least twice a year. You can schedule a senior wellness exam for your pet and along with the vet can discuss health issues regarding senior dogs and how to tackle them.

These are what you can expect from your visits to the vet:

• You will discuss behavioural changes, nutritional requirement, sleep patterns, exercises, family interactions and daily routine changes.
• Body condition evaluations will be done to determine if your dog is overweight, underweight or the ideal weight. If your dog is overweight it will get difficult for him to move around and being underweight is also a sign of underlying illness. Your vet will help you on how to monitor your dog’s body condition at home which will aid in assessing his condition between visits.    
• Consult your vet on the kind of food that is best suited for your senior dog.
• Ensure he has a full dental check up as dental diseases are common among senior dogs.
• You can consult with your vet on vaccination schedules that is best suited to your elderly furry pal
• Senior dogs are as susceptible to parasites as their younger counterparts. Once they turn old, they may not be able to care for  themselves like before when they used to be afflicted with fleas or ticks. Your vet will be able to help you in this regard.

Happy parenting!