Senior Dogs
Senior Dogs and the Aging Process - Getting Old is Not an Illness
By Annette Masse
Every dog owner notices changes in his or her 4 legged friends as it ages.
The fist sign is usually the appearance of gray fur on its muzzle. And the second sign is usually the loss of muscle mass, which can be replaced by fat cells. As dogs get older just like people they get general wear and tear on there body. This means the deterioration of tissue and bones. When a certain level of wear and tear has been reached an illness may occur.
photo: sanctuaryforseniordogs.org
Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium play an important role in the regeneration of exhausted cells. With an increase in age nerve cell loss occurs and brain function slows down. The result may be the reduced ability to react to new routines. Hence, the saying, "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks."
Here are a few examples of how an older dog may act:
- Learning new things may be difficult because the connections between the nerve cells are not made as quickly as in the dog’s younger years.
- Your dog may react slower to new stimulation. An example may be, they might not remember where they are, after they wake up from a nap. You may see them a bit disorientated until they figure it out.
- They may also sleep more. It takes more sleep to heal the slower nerve cell connection loss.
Remember, senior dogs are capable of adjusting to new surroundings just at a slower pace. Daily events, routines, low stress, healthy diets and love will make your senior dog happy into his golden years.
Learn about this info and more. Sign up for a FREE dog owner mini course called "Love your DogZ" at the link below.
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