Caring for your aging pet

Pet owners face a new set of issues associated with caring for a senior cat or dog. Poor diet and environmental pollutants speed up your pet's aging process, but with good care you can help your pet stay healthy during the senior years.

When is your companion considered to be a senior pet? As an approximate guide:

• Small to Medium Dogs: 9-11 years
• Large Dogs: 8-10 years
• Giant Breed Dogs: 7-8 years
• Cats: 10-12 years

You may notice that your older pet will sleep more, and may have greater difficulty seeing and hearing. They may be less aware of their surroundings than they used to be, and may be less tolerant of cold weather. They may not be able to keep up on long walks as they have been.

Exercise and a healthy diet are crucial during these years, as are yearly check-ups. We recommend a daily vitamin formulated for aging pets, as senior animals don't absorb nutrients from their food as efficiently as they did when they were younger. See Rx Essentials for Cats and Rx Essentials for Dogs Powder. It is also helpful to add digestive enzymes such as RxBiotic for Pets to their food to aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Your veterinarian will help you identify and address signs of aging in your pets, such as failing eyesight, food allergies, behavioral problems, arthritis, and liver and skin diseases.

In addition to providing the right diet and supplements for our aging pets, adjusting our expectations will reduces stress for you as well as your pet. With a bit of extra care, you can help your pet be as healthy and happy as possible during the senior years.