5 Signs That Your Dog Is Aging - Don't Ignore Them
Hi Readers,
If you are like me, then you love your dog so much that you wish he could live forever!
Unfortunately, we can't ignore some of the changes that occur as the years go by...
Every dog ages differently, but there are some common changes that occur as the body ages. Today I want to tell you about some of the most common things that happen as our dogs get older.
1. Loss of hearing. As dogs age, the nerve cells and hearing apparatus degenerates, resulting in a slow loss of hearing.
2. Loss of vision. The lens of the eye becomes cloudy with age. Natural changes result in lenticular sclerosis, which typically does not cause significant vision loss. However, cataracts may develop, which do interfere with vision.
3. Decreased activity. As dogs age, their metabolic rate slows and as a result, they become less active.
4. Weight gain. Elderly dogs require 30 to 40 percent fewer calories. So simply eating a normal maintenance diet, often causes obesity.
5. Infections . As the body ages, the immune system weakens, making it harder for your dog to ward off infections.
One more important thing to consider - your dog's teeth.
Do you brush your dog's teeth?
If not, after a few years of neglect, your dog may suffer from tooth decay, bleeding gums and tooth loss. To make matters worse, the bacteria that causes all these problemscan travel through the bloodstream and eventually damage your dog's major organs.
If brushing your dog's teeth is not something you are already doing, you really must start, and do it at least three times a week.
It's simple to get your dog started on the road to better dental health (and fresher breath). Start by picking a good doggy toothbrush. For best results, do not use a human toothbrush, because your dog's teeth are different than yours.
We've tested a lot of different dental care products and I recommend the Kissable Toothbrush from the Cain & Able dental collection. This really is a great brush - especially for those of you who are new to this whole "doggy tooth brushing" thing.
Brushing your dog's teeth makes a world of difference. In fact, the American Animal Hospital Association says that brushing your dog's teeth could add as much as five years to his life.
So even though life is not forever, I will take as much time as I can possibly get with my dog.
Until next time,
Dr. Jon
P.S. - Here's an example of a dog that has dental disease:
See the tartar on the teeth and how the gum margin is inflamed? Does your dog's mouth look like this?
One of our Pet Place veterinarians, Dr. Karin Szust, tried the Kissable Toothbrush on her dog, Nena. Karin raved about the toothbrush. And Nena didn't mind the brushing a bit. She even liked the taste of the vanilla toothpaste. And Karin was so pleased with her dog's fresh breath that she gave her a great big kiss!
Based on our positive experience with this product, we have arranged with PetProductAdvisor.com to make the 3-sided Cain & Able Kissable Toothbrush plus a tube of their all-natural vanilla flavored toothpaste available to you for a special price.
To get more details on this special offer and to get your precious doggy started on the path to good dental heath, clean teeth and healthy gums (not to mention FRESH breath), go to: www.petproductadvisor.com/doggietoothbrush.
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Healthy Dog Teeth
Keeping your dog's teeth clean can help keep your dog healthy.
Use a soft toothbrush. Start by offering your dog a taste of the dog toothpaste. The next time, let him taste the toothpaste, then run your finger along the gums of the upper teeth.
Repeat the process with the tooth brush. Get the bristles of the brush along the gum line of the upper back teeth and angle slightly up, so the bristles get under the gum line.
Work from back to front, making small circles along the gum lines. It should take you less than 30 seconds to brush your pet's teeth. Do not try to brush the entire mouth at first.
If all that your pet lets you brush is the outside of the upper teeth, you are still addressing the most important area of periodontal disease - prevention.
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