1. Characteristics of aging in dogs

Changes in weight, inability to move, changes in skin and hair, thin and dry fur, severe hair loss, body weakening, muscle atrophy, fluid between joints It begins to dry out, causing inflammation and discomfort. Bad breath caused by dental and oral problems. Hearing decline, some animals gradually lose their hearing. The lens of the eye becomes cloudy and slightly gray-blue. The fur around the mouth, nose, and ears turns white or yellow.

2. Six common diseases in elderly dogs

As dogs age, their body organs and other functions will degenerate, especially the heart, joints and vision. Common diseases and precautions for old dogs include the following:

A) Aging heart, prone to ascites

The most common disease for old dogs is heart disease. If the heart ages, the energy of each blood output will be reduced, and the blood cannot return to the heart smoothly, causing "ascites phenomenon". Water accumulates in the abdomen and limbs, causing edema and edema. In addition, the lungs are also prone to water accumulation. Dogs with water accumulation in the lungs will have symptoms of cyanosis, the mucous membrane will turn black and purplish gray, and they will be severely panting after walking for a few steps. These are all clinical symptoms caused by heart diseases.

B) Pancreatic decline, pay attention to caloric intake

The pancreatic function of old dogs will gradually decline. If too many calories are given to old dogs, resulting in obesity, they will easily develop diabetes. You should pay attention when your dog has the "three excesses" - eating too much, drinking too much and urinating too much. If you eat a lot and still lose weight, you should have a detailed examination immediately (diabetes may also cause cataracts). In addition to diet control, diabetes must inject insulin and regularly measure blood sugar quality every 1-2 months to confirm whether the dog's health condition has deteriorated.

C), joint atrophy and degeneration, difficulty in movement

Joint atrophy and degeneration will cause difficulty in movement of dogs, which is also a common disease in elderly dogs. Joint surgery is difficult, time-consuming and risky. Except for paralyzed dogs, surgery is generally not recommended. Doctors recommend using medication and frequent rehabilitation training to improve the condition. Dogs with poor joints need to exercise appropriately to lose weight and reduce their burden. In addition, Modi Dog and Cat Joint Tablets can be taken daily in proportion according to body weight to maintain the joints of dogs.

D), visual nerve decline, reduced activity

Cataracts will develop in the dog’s eyes as they age. When the owner looks at the light and sees that the dog’s eyes are not as clear as before and appear white and foggy, it is Start paying attention to whether his behavior is stumbling or if he suddenly becomes cowed and afraid to move. For dogs with eye degeneration, if it cannot be improved through surgery, it is recommended that owners do not change the furnishings at home as much as possible.This prevents the dog from being injured by bumping or falling without noticing the change.

E), hair problems, difficult recovery

After dogs get old, hair health problems such as hair loss and hair loss will become increasingly serious as they age. If the owner takes good care of it and provides appropriate nutrition, the problem can be alleviated. However, if they are not cared for properly or are infected with parasites such as fleas and mold, older dogs will need more time to overcome the disease than younger dogs in terms of recovery ability.

F), dental problems, pay attention to dental calculus and periodontal disease

Dogs are born with bad teeth, because their gums are shallow and easy to loosen; in addition, dogs mostly have canines, which are prone to dental calculus. leading to periodontal disease (along with severe bad breath). In addition, when faced with the problem of dog tooth loss, you should let nature take its course, and do not forcefully remove the teeth and cause a broken jaw bone. In the treatment of dental calculus, teeth can be cleaned and appropriate medication should be given after cleaning. To prevent dental problems, you need to regularly clean your teeth from an early age, eat more hard food and do oral exercises to effectively avoid problems.

3. Daily care for old dogs

If the dog is over 7 years old, it is recommended to take the dog for a full-body health check-up at least once a year, including drawing blood, testing body functions, and confirming liver and kidney indexes. and blood sugar levels, etc. If necessary, a chest X-ray may also be taken. Regular health check-ups are very important to prevent diseases before they occur, provide timely treatment and medication adjustments, and achieve the purpose of early detection and early treatment. In addition, it is best to have the same veterinary doctor regularly and establish detailed medical tracking records to facilitate subsequent consultation at any time. The change in the amount of exercise in elderly dogs will weaken the digestion and absorption capacity of the gastrointestinal tract, and the filtration and detoxification functions of the liver and kidneys will deteriorate. Therefore, attention should be paid to reducing the hardness of food in the diet, and timely supplementation of nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamins, trace elements, etc. Adding Modi probiotics to adult dog conditioning in daily life improves gastrointestinal function and promotes nutrient absorption and digestion.