Thursday, November 3, 2016

How To Care For Your Senior Pet

   November is National Senior Pet Month and since Bentley is considered a senior, I thought I’d let him share some important tips.
Bentley: “Thanks, Mom. I became what is a senior dog two years ago. It doesn’t seem possible that 7 years old should be considered senior but that is what ‘they’ say. On December 3rd, I will be 9 years old and while I still feel great, I need a little more attention than I did as a pup. Here are a few ideas to help an older dog.
Bentley Basset Hound is being examined by his veterinarian.
Visit your veterinarian
   Senior wellness checkups are important to make certain our eyesight and hearing are still in good shape. Your vet will also feel all over your body for any lumps, bumps or anything out of the ordinary. I have two senior wellness visits each year. Warning: this can tickle.
Bentley Basset Hound feels the need, the need for speed.
Stay Active
    Daily activities are a must to keep our minds and bodies working. We want to play and take walks just the same as younger dogs. Sure, we may walk a bit slower but there is much to be said about taking some time to enjoy the scenery. I love playing with Pierre and we wrestle just as much as when I was 5 years old. Playing with Mom and Dad is one of my favorite things to do. It helps keep them young too.
Dr. Harvey's Golden Years supplemennt
Daily Supplements
   Mom adds Dr. Harvey’s Golden Years to my dinner each evening. It is all natural and the difference in my energy level was obvious when she started adding it. Many dogs benefit from adding glucosamine to help with aging joints. Always check with your veterinarian before beginning any new supplement.
Bentley Basset Hound watching me stir his Dr. Harvey's Veg-to-Bowl
Great food
   Food is one of the most important things that you can do to ensure your senior dog stays healthy. Make sure that you are feeding an age-appropriate diet. Many kibbles have age categories for their food. You don’t want to feed puppy food to a senior dog. Our Dr. Harvey’s Veg-to-Bowl is fed according to age and weight. It is the same food but a different amount for puppies under 18 months and for dogs over 7 years old. The main thing that I recommend is to become a label reader. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients or if the meat is way down the list, avoid that food.
Bentley Basset Hound and me love each other unconditionally.
Love Your Senior Pet
   If you are lucky, you will earn the love of an old dog. I know that the hair on my face is turning white. It is a little premature in my opinion but still looks very sexy. (Am I right, Emma?) Mom sometimes gets tears in her eyes when she thinks of me getting old. She really shouldn’t worry because I plan on being her best friend for many years to come. One thing that I am sure of is that she will love me until the end of time. Unfortunately, a lot of senior dogs find themselves being surrendered. Can you imagine being dumped at a shelter just because you are old, maybe have difficulty walking or can’t always make it outside to relieve yourself? Yeah, me either but it happens more than I’d like to think about. A dog would never abandon their human because they got too old. If anything, we’d love you even more. Please afford us the same care.
   This last thing is really hard to talk about but it is something that can’t be avoided. The time might come when we need help to cross the Rainbow Bridge. It is not going to easy but please don’t make us face that time alone. We want your face to be the last thing that we see. You are our whole life and if you aren’t there, we will be scared when we need you the most. Remember, we never really leave you. We stay forever in your heart. Also, don’t say that you can never get another dog because it hurts too much to say goodbye. Think of all the fun, laughter and love that you’d miss without the pitter patter of four feet. Adopt a senior dog that needs a great home. I know that you have so much love in your heart that it would be unfair not to share it with another dog. By the way, all of these tips go for senior cats too.
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21 comments :

  1. Wonderful tips! Senior dogs are the best!

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  2. Very good advice there Bentley
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  3. The white fur makes a guy like you look very distinguished! Since I have so much white on my face, I won't turn colors. I'm ten, but Mom still doesn't think of me as old or senior. I have plenty of energy to do all the things I love. Stay healthy my main squeeze!

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  4. those are some great tips and as a nearly 10 year old - I know all about being a senior doggie :)

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  5. Great advice, Bentley! Good food, supplements, vet check ups and most importantly LOVE! As a senior myself I can attest that we senior dogs enjoy giving love to our moms and dads all the time!

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  6. I love my old dogs, Nellie is such a great senior, I hope I have her for a while.

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  7. Senior dogs are often just puppies on the inside.

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  8. These are great tips, and very important. Our vet always does special blood tests for seniors too. Seniors really make the best pets, and there is nothing happier than to see you enjoying life so much even as you age!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  9. Bentley my friend I hear you. I cannot tell you how insulted I was to receive a post card from my vet when I was 7 that read, "it is time for your Senior Wellness exam". But alas age is just a number and here I am 7 years later still feeling very chipper for an old lady. And as you saw at the corn maze I'm very agile too
    Hugs madi your kitty friend

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  10. Thank you for the very interesting post. So much important information for our senior dog. Thanks again.
    Kate

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  11. We took good care of my elderly colleague Joey dog last summer before he crossed the Bridge. Ghostwriter even cooked special home made yum yum dinner for him. I also remember Miss Ginger when she was very old.

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  12. Great tips - even the tough part... I am a senior dog, too, but I don't feel senior at all. Mom says she feels senior enough for both of us.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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  13. Great advice ! Your last tip is very impawtant, thank you for giving that information. Purrs

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  14. What wonderful information!! As a pack of 75% seniors, we totally get it :-). Thanks so much for sharing!!!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

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  15. Yes two seniors at our house. We get supplements in our food too and lots of love
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  16. Good advice! It will be awhile before we need this advice cuz mom says we are not allowed to get old. BTW, are you going to cover the election on your newscasts?

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. Thanks for asking. We will be covering the Blogville election because it is the one that matters to BFTB NETWoof Dog news!

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  17. Oh, Bentley obviously gets lots of great care! I actually really looking forward to the day when Rita is an old dog. That probably sounds weird - but our last dog passed away from cancer at only 2 1/2 so we missed out on all that senior-dog-love with her!

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  18. Such nuggets of wisdom, Bentley. Even though Sam is considered a senior, neither he or I believe it yet I know it's important to keep a senior lifestyle in mind. Thanks for sharing! ღ

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  19. You're the coolest senior dog around, Bentley! I know you'll be keeping your Mom on her toes for years to come. A super healthy diet & lots of exercise are so important! Adopting a senior dog can be the best decision a human can make.
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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