Hint: It’s Not Only His Age
As your dog gets older, you begin to notice changes in his actions and behaviors. Aging pets tend to enjoy lying around and taking quiet naps in the sun a little bit more. They may have bursts of running, playing and chasing balls, but they don’t seem up for countless hours of physical exertion.
This doesn’t mean that your aging dog loves you any less. But his body is simply being slowed by the natural aging process. As your aging pet becomes a senior, remember that old age is a blessing and not a disease.
Looking for the Signs
Decreases in your pet’s stamina are pretty noticeable to an attentive pet owner. And those decreases in activity levels can serve as potential indications of an underlying issue and not just old age. For example, if your dog is suffering from a metabolic condition, such as hypothyroidism or heart disease, then it’s possible for him to recover some degree of his stamina with the right treatment.
Your aging pet gives you signs he may be experiencing pain and distress with symptoms that might include:
- Difficulty getting up
- Lameness or limping
- Overly reluctant to climb up onto beds or furniture
- Noticeably slower on stairs
- Slower to respond to treats or praise
- New postures when sitting or lying that are unusual to your dog
- Reluctance to turn his head
- Decreased desire and enjoyment from being petted, brushed or carried
Nobody Grows Old Gracefully Anymore
Getting old isn’t easy. This holds true for your pets too. Many dogs tend to be stoic by nature, so having them checked out regularly with your veterinarian is part of being a good pet parent.
If your aging pet is experiencing pain and difficulty that results from aging, there’s still hope. Speak to your local pharmacist at Asheville Compounding Pharmacy about supplements that can be beneficial to your pet, such as:
- Glucosamine. This substance is found naturally in your dog’s cartilage. He uses it to aid in forming and repairing body tissue and cartilage. Natural glucosamine production slows in aging pets. This can put a serious damper on a game of catch because it drastically impacts the rate of repairs to his body. Slowed glucosamine production leads to pain and stiffness in the joints and can eventually lead to arthritis.
- Boswellia. For better or worse, your dog isn’t a puppy forever. And as he ages, your pooch can feel pain for a variety of reasons. Some medications that are typically prescribed to pets for pain can have dangerous side effects. Boswellia (Indian Frankincense) can actually slow some of the degradation of cartilage damage, as well as providing relief from pain without those risks.
- CBD oil. You may be surprised at all the benefits CBD oil holds for your dog, including:
- Anxiety reduction
- Pain relief
- Seizure treatment
- Appetite enhancement
- Cancer prevention
- Treatment for many other diseases
Treating your furry friend with CBD oil is safe and easy. Since CBD oil is a natural remedy that doesn’t contain the psychoactive ingredient THC, you can ease your aging pet’s discomfort and calm his nerves without upsetting him. And he may even want to play catch for a while.
