Mary Allen
Life prolonging – we reveal how you can do a lot to ensure that your protégé can reach old age healthy and fit.
Social Contacts
Dogs are social creatures – just like us. Interactions, both with us and with conspecifics, are therefore a must. Regular – and above all stress-free – contact with other dogs strengthen social skills.
Species-Appropriate Nutrition
Whether you give dry or wet food or feed it raw at all – high-quality food that is as natural as possible is best for the dog. It is important to observe him, and what he tolerates well, legacies, coat, and vitality are reliable indicators.
Healthy Weight
The key to keeping your dog fit and healthy in old age is to maintain its ideal weight. As the dog gets older and problems with joints arise, obesity can even have a significantly life-shortening effect.
Cuddling Together
Physical affection releases the cuddle hormone oxytocin in both humans and dogs, which makes them fall in love and happy. It strengthens the bond between four- and two-legged friends and thus ensures well-being for both.
Enough Exercise
Exercising in the fresh air is not only good for the dog because it also keeps mum and dad fit. He needs to sniff (!), to be able to let off steam, discover nature, and keep his musculoskeletal system going.
Getting Enough Sleep
Even if they want to be there everywhere and are up for any action: we have to make sure that our dogs get their well-deserved sleep and can thus regenerate sufficiently. It should be around 17 hours a day.
Undisturbed Rest Periods
In addition to sleep, dogs must also be allowed their resting phases, they need three to four hours a day just to lie around the alert. Especially when things get stressful, you should give them quiet, undisturbed places.
Prudent Health Care
A regular health check does not harm a certain age and allows any illnesses to be identified early on. How often this should be the case is best discussed with your veterinarian.
Healthy Pearly Whites
Tooth decay is a serious problem in dogs. Because it is not just the teeth themselves that are affected, infections can also affect other organs. Brushing your teeth, regular check-ups, and chewing things help.
Paying Attention to Its Needs
Dogs are excellent observers and adapt more and more to us as we live together. We should do the same, respond to their needs – in doing so we will see how we can learn and grow together.