Tips for older dogs please

[hiredandsqueak]

Bella is approaching thirteen now and appears to be slowing down a little. She's still enthusiastic for her walks but she runs less and has stopped getting me up at the crack of dawn enjoying a lie in instead. I want to keep her happy and healthy for as long as possible so what are your best tips. No concerns from vet when he checked her over last month, he described her as very fit for her age so I want that to continue.

Could you look at adding a joint care supplement to their diet. Speak to your vet about the best ones, look ahead and research what the next steps are with regards to arthritis meds and painkillers etc so you are prepared.

More mentally stimulating activities, lick matts, treats rolled up in old towels, treat puzzles, snuffle matts.

My old girls enjoy a sardine mixed in with their dinner. A good way of getting fish oils into them.

Also my very doggy friend uses Yumove for her older dogs, it's expensive but she swears by it.

My older boy has Riaflex joint supplement, he's got a really supportive memory foam bed, and he gets fish oils added to his food.

We also do a technique of "half lead walk, half free running" so he keeps his muscle density.

We pts our darling 15yo down 10 weeks ago- it was surprisingly ok; mainly because she’d had a very good last few years. My only regret is that I didn’t push her a bit more, when she lost interest in walks I didn’t insist and I wonder whether she then lost muscle tone (it was a fine balance though, she became wobbly so I worried about carrying her back). We took her regularly to the vets in the last months, she was on lots of meds and I also took lots of photos and videos- very useful for observing her decline and also reassuring seeing her running fast just a few weeks before she died.

Thank you for all these tips. I will speak to the vet about supplements and possible arthritis meds. I dread anything happening to her, we rescued her only four years ago but she is a huge part of our lives. She'd had a rough life so I want her to have as long as possible enjoying the good life she has now.

Joint sure has the same ingredients as Yumove but buying three for the price of two on Amazon works out at half the price.

Make sure the bed is deep and soft as older dogs can get bare patches and even calluses on their elbows otherwise.

We are in the same position as our dog is now 12 , he also has numerous health issues unfortunately . He’s been on a joint supplement for many years and also has yudigest now as well as his daily medications . Ours still goes offlead everyday but he is definitely slowing down .