Senior Care

No dog owner wants to think about putting a dog to sleep, but it’s a decision that you may find yourself making towards the end of your dog’s life. Although heart breaking, dog euthanasia is sometimes the kindest option for your canine companion. It’s never easy having to put your dog to sleep, but planning in advance and doing your research before the sad day arrives may help you be prepared and understand it all a little better.

As our furry friends age, their needs shift, and we need to adapt how we care for them. Grooming isn't just about making our dogs look good; it's a vital part of keeping them healthy and clean, especially as they reach their twilight years. Grooming gives you a chance to monitor any new lumps or bumps and is a great way to spend quality time with your dog at a time in their life when you are maybe exercising them less.But don't worry; by making a few changes, using the right approach and eating the right senior dog food, we can ensure our ageing pets stayhealthy, happy and well-groomed. Grooming Routines for Senior Dogs Adjusting Frequency and Methods: Tools and Products Suitable for Sensitive Skin: When picking out grooming tools, go for softer brushes and combs made for sensitive skin that will still be effective but avoid any potential discomfort. Grooming Your Dog with Joint Pain and Mobility Issues Techniques to Minimise Discomfort: As dogs age, long grooming sessions can become challenging or even painful – as holding certain positions while you give them a thorough grooming isn’t as easy as it used to be. Instead of doing a long thorough groom every week, do short sessions each day, focusing on a different part of the body.If you bring your dog home from a walk wet or muddy, clean them up straight away and make sure they are thoroughly dried. This is especially important for senior dogs dealing with arthritis or joint pain, and it will ensure that your dog doesn’t get matted, tangled or dirty, leading to long and potentially uncomfortable grooming sessions. Keeping on top of coat care with short more frequent grooming sessions will keep your dog’s coat in tip top condition, while not putting strain on ageing or painful joints and muscles. Positioning and Support During Grooming: It's important to find the best grooming positions that put the least amount of strain on your dog's body. While your dog may have been happy to stand for hours while you groomed them in their younger days, being able to lie down for at least some of the time can make things far easier for them now they are older, stiffer and possibly achier Often doing some of the grooming their own bed can be ideal for them – plus you can move them around without joints or bones being knocked or hurt on hard surfaces. Using pillows or supportive harnesses (if you use a grooming table) can provide extra comfort and support, making grooming a pain-free experience for your veteran dog. Senior Dog Bathing Tips Choosing the Right Shampoo for Senior Dogs: Choosing the right shampoo is super important for our older dogs. Keep an eye out for products that will still suit your dog’s coat type but that are specially made for senior dogs and that have a neutral p H balance to avoid any skin irritation. Avoid products that contain ingredients like harsh chemicals and strong fragrances. Hypoallergenic shampoos and conditioners are far better choice since they are less likely to irritate sensitive skin. Safe Bathing Practices for Dogs with Limited Mobility: Bath time can be a challenge for those with limited mobility. Taking it step by step and using non-slip mats both in the shower and in the bathroom itself, are important to prevent your dog from slipping or having to brace themselves to prevent sliding – which can put strain on ageing joints and muscles or even cause injury. A walk-in shower/bath with a handheld attachment is ideal but if you need to get use a high-sided bath, ramps can be invaluable for you both. Water should be warm but not hot as your senior dog’s skin is likely to be more sensitive to heat, and hot water can dry out skin and exacerbate any hot spots. Brushing and Coat Maintenance Gentle Brushing Techniques: Brushing an older dog is a delicate balance of being gentle and using the softest possible tools, while still getting right through their coats to detangle and keep both hair and skin healthy. A lot will depend on your dog’s coat type how you can best do that. Little and often is the best mantra here. Look on grooming your older dog as a social bonding experience: Older dogs need your love and attention as much as they ever did. They are at a time in their lives where you might be giving them less exercise and training, and so interacting with them less. Grooming and even a spot of canine massage gives you a way to spend quality time with your senior dog. Dealing with Matting and Shedding: All coated dogs get matts and tangles but the secret to keeping your dog’s coat healthy and comfortable, is to remove these tangles as soon as they start to form. This is especially important in older dogs who will find it uncomfortable to stand for long periods while you detangle them and fight with old matts. The right tools, like de-matting combs or brushes, along with grooming sprays, can make dealing with tangles far easier but nothing beats keeping on top of these. Regular maintenance is better than dealing with a tangled mess later on. Senior Dog Nail Care Signs of Overgrown Nails and Their Impact on Mobility: If your senior dog is exercising less or isn’t walking on roads or pavements as much as they used to, their nails can become overgrown. Overgrown nails are not just an aesthetic issue; they can lead to pain, joint problems, mobility issues and discomfort. Spotting the signs early on can help avoid bigger problems in the future, and checking your senior dog’s nails should be part of every grooming session. Tips for Trimming Nails Without Causing Pain: Trimming nails should never be a painful ordeal. Safe methods and tools, like nail grinders, can help avoid pain or discomfort. If you are not confident trimming your dog’s nails yourself, visit your veterinary practice or local groomer who will be able to help quickly and easily and may be able to show you how to do it yourself in the future. When looking after your dog's claws, ensure you have a calm environment and take your time. It’s important that you do this without any stress to your dog and if you are using nail clippers, without catching the sensitive quick that runs part of the way down the claw that will cause pain and bleeding. Using Treats During Grooming Incorporating Dog Treats to Ease Stress: Incorporating dog treats can make grooming sessions more enjoyable. Just make sure to pick treats that are good for older dogs and consider their dietary needs. Positive Reinforcement Strategies: As your dog ages, the time you spend together becomes even more precious, and grooming, while it has always been a part of your dog’s life, is the perfect way to maintain your relationship, spend quality time together, and interact in a positive, mutually fulfilling way. Coupling this with delicious treats, makes this time even more positive and reinforcing for your dog – and for you too. In conclusion, regular grooming routines are very important for keeping our senior dogs healthy and happy. Adapting our grooming routines to suit the needs of our ageing dogs isn't just a responsibility—it's a way to show how much we love and care for our lifelong pals. With a few changes and the right approach, we can help them grow old gracefully, healthily and comfortably.

When our cherished pet is no longer in our lives it can be devastating, whether you are coping with the loss of a cat, the loss of a dog, or indeed any other pet. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. The loss of a pet is an incredibly sad time for owners and it’s always a stressful and upsetting time. If your pet has been unwell, or is very old and naturally approaching the end of their life, you may already have plans in place for their eventual passing. However, even the best-laid plans can be disrupted by external factors or by grief. If you’re struggling with the loss of a dog or cat in the immediate aftermath, always ask for help from a friend, family member or veterinary professional. What happens when a pet dies naturally? If your pet dies at home, it may be difficult to handle their remains. You may wish to call your vet or another professional service, such as a company that can assist with disposal. Following the death of a pet, their body may still show signs of what can look like life, such as the following: • Twitching, as a result of natural nerve spasms after death. • The release of air from the mouth when moved. • The release of bodily fluids and gas. These can all be quite upsetting for owners to witness, especially if they aren’t expecting them. They aren’t, sadly, signs that your pet is coming back to life. They are simply the natural bodily functions and what happens when a cat or dog dies naturally.

When we’re working out how old a dog is in human years, the popular opinion is to multiply their age by seven. While it’s true that one year for human development is quite different to one year for a dog’s development, the actual number of dog years to human years depends on several factors, such as breed and size. We all wish our canine friends could live as long as us humans do, or even longer if possible. But the reality is their life span is not the same as ours and many dogs are already full-blown adults by the time they are two years old. In this article we’ll show you the easiest way to convert dog years to human years to find out exactly how old your dog is. Why the most famous rule to calculate dog years to human years can sometimes be wrong? You’ve probably used the following easy-math rule for calculating how old your dog is: multiply their dog age by seven to get their age equivalent in human years. The formula was likely based on the fact that while most humans get to live until they’re 70, dogs live on average 10 years. However, this rule doesn’t always offer reliable results. The dog’s size and breed play an important part in their life expectancy, with smaller breeds usually living longer than larger breeds. Larger breeds live shorter lives, so they mature more quickly. Large and giant breeds are usually considered to be ‘seniors’ by the time they’re five, while medium-sized dogs won’t reach old age until they’re seven. Small and toy breeds reach seniority around the age of 10. How to calculate dog years to human? According to the UK Kennel Club, the general guidelines for determine how old a dog is are the following: • The first two years of a small dog’s life is roughly the same as 12.5 human years, while it’s 10.5 for a medium dog, and nine for large dogs. • Each additional year of the dog’s life is then multiplied by between 4.3 and 13.4 years, depending on the breed, to find their human age. Dog age calculator We’ve taken these guidelines and turned them into a visual, easy-to-use dog age calculator, so you can find your dog’s age in seconds. Make sure you choose the option that suits your pet (small breed, medium breed or large breed) and use the slider to find out the equivalent human age of your dog. What is the oldest dog in Britain? Britain’s oldest dog, a Jack Russell called Meg, reached the grand old age of 25 in November 2014 – that’s approximately 113 in dog years!

You may have noticed some grey hairs on your dog, or sensed that they’ve started to slow down a little – this is all perfectly normal as they approach their senior years. When does my dog become a senior? Just like us, dogs get older gradually - there’s no exact age that they become “senior”, but they can usually be considered to be of an older age between 5-9 years old. The age that your pet is considered to be “older” depends on what dog you have, as typically smaller dogs have a much longer lifespan than giant breeds. Large and giant breeds may show signs of ageing a little earlier while small dogs, who generally live the longest, may not become senior until they’re eight or nine. Lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise and medical history all play a part in how long a senior dog will live, but the important thing to remember is that your later years together could be some of your most rewarding. After all, you’re both wiser as well as older! Read our tips below on how to make the later years of your dog’s life some of their most rewarding. Home life