Just as with you and I, your pets age is a consideration that must be thought about as your dog matures. It is easy to overlook, especially if your dog is in its prime, however, your aging animal has new needs that must be met just as with any other aging animal or human being.

A change in lifestyle, preventive measures and lots of love can help your dog in its journey from prime time to down time. First, just how old is your dog - really?

Depending on the breed and size, your pet may have a life expectancy from around eight years (for most of the giant breeds) to fourteen or more (for the toy/smaller breeds). Keep in mind that these are only approximations- your pet, depending on its health and quality of life could live longer (or shorter) than these figures. Most dogs fall anywhere between these two.

Additionally, your dog will begin to show signs of aging based on its quality of life, condition of health, size, breed and hereditary considerations. Medium sized dogs,such as spaniels, may begin to show signs of aging around 7 or 8 years of age. Giant breeds may do this as early as 5 or 6 while small/toy breeds may wait around until 9 or so. Again, remember these figures are approximations.

It seems that in many dogs, work is one key to living a long and full life. Most dogs recorded for living long periods of time were working animals- active herding dogs, movie stars/ actors, or involved in other types of mental and physical stimulation. This above all seems to be a key factor in helping your dog live to a point closer to its true life expectancy- and in a way of better and fuller health.

In a mixed breed animal, age is harder to predict, but an active knowledge of their background or size does help in predicting this figure.

Changes in dietary requirements, an understanding of potential diseases and of your dogs potential needs is your best defense in helping your dog in this time of change. Many things may hamper your dog from play or simple day to day activities as it ages. Arthritis is just one example. Also, as with humans, dogs will tire and slow down much faster as they age which leads to one of the most common mistakes people make with their aging pets- OVER FEEDING.

Just how this happens can be quite easy. The pet teaches its human to feed it by begging, looking cute, doing a favorite trick, etc. until the owner gives in. Over time this added caloric intake can take its toll and result in extra weight. This is one of the major areas that can cause health problems as the dog grows older.

To detect if your dog is overweight simply run your hands down the animals sides. If you can easily feel the ribs and there is a degree of tapering near the dogs mid section (just in front of the hind legs) your pet is probably not overweight. If you are unable to feel the ribs and there is to tuck up, chances are your dog is overweight. Your vet can offer you ways to alter your dogs diet if it is too heavy or can answer any other questions you may have concerning your pet and obesity.

Exercise is an invaluable component for any type of weight loss- for animals or humans. Initiate play with your pet. Encourage it to play catch, fetch or whatever games you played with it when it was younger. Even walking your dog can be quite beneficial- for both you and your pet. Remember not to overdo it, however. If your dog begins to pant heavily, allow it to rest. Some animals, like children, dont know when to stop once they begin to play.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR:

If your dog shows any of the following symptoms:

Clouding of the eyes(beware the whitish, hazy discolorations)

OR

New lumps underneath, or on top of, the skin

OR

Troubled breathing/ extensive coughing

OR

Has problems eating hard foods/ bad breath

OR

Shows signs of controlling its urinary capabilities

OR

Has problems of stiffness/ lameness in getting up(especially after sleeping)

IS

Unresponsive to verbal commands or you calling its name

Consult your vet

The benefits of a healthy and fit dog highly outweigh that of an unfit animal. First, the risk of getting heart disease or other health problems such as diabetes, is much lower. Also, with early prevention, many age related health problems can be averted. Consult your vet with any questions or at the first sign of any health problems concerning your animals.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com, is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Check out http://www.total-german-shepherd.com for more information.

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My friend was grief stricken. Her body heaved with sobs, and in
between she kept repeating: “He was so young. I never thought I’d
lose him so soon.” No, she hadn’t lost a son or brother, but she had
lost a friend. “It’s like losing a member of your family,” she cried.

She was referring to the death of Jack, her beloved Golden Retriever
puppy, who had contracted a condition known as Juvenile Renal Disease.

Regrettably, this and other kidney conditions are common threats to
your dog’s health, and as we’ve seen, the effects can be devastating.

The good news, however, is that with the correct type of dog care,
much can be done to prevent and even cure kidney disease.

So what exactly do the kidneys do, and what causes them to become
infected?

First things first!

The job of the kidneys is two-fold: they balance
a whole variety of chemicals in your dog’s blood AND they filter out
waste material through the urine.

When there are just too many toxic substances in the body, the dog’s
kidneys can become infected. (We can define a toxin as a substance
which is in the wrong place, or which is performing the wrong
function.)

Common symptoms of kidney infection are drinking copious amounts of
water, and frequent passing of dilute urine (that is, clear urine with no
smell). This can lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss and
a wasting of the muscles.

Many toxic substances are to be found in the plastics that dogs love
to chew on, in unclean water and even in certain chemicals that are
used in the processing of dog food. The resulting kidney disease can
be debilitating at best and fatal at worst.

Conventional treatments don’t always work, and in any case they tend
to be hugely expensive. Wouldn’t it be better to avoid the onset of
these conditions, and even to help your dog combat them (under a vet’s supervision, of course) if they do strike?

So what can I do?

The safest bet is to go down the path of natural dog care:

* Make sure that all the toys you allow your dog to play with are toxin
free and chew -proof. There are many stores and online retailers who
can help you choose the safest products.

* Train your dog not to chew on litter and other discarded materials
when you are out and about.

* Give your dog only pure water to drink. Puddles, canals and lakes can
be devastating! These days you just don’t know what toxins are lurking therein.

* In some areas even the tap water is suspect. So-called
’softened water’ can be harmful and some areas have a high sodium
content in their drinking water. Better to make it easier on your
dog’s kidneys by filtering all water before filling his bowl.

* Many vets tell us that exercise is a key ingredient in the fight
against kidney infection. Most people seem to be under the impression
(as I was!) that exercise is only to keep a dog fit and to combat
weight gain.. Apparently it also has a crucial role in helping
stimulate the kidneys to do their job.

* Finally, there is nothing to beat natural dog food, not only in the fight
against kidney infections, but also against a whole host of other ailments.
Many pre-packaged dog foods contain less than nutritious ingredients
as well as a range of preservatives and other chemicals - many of which are
toxic.

* Natural dog food stores and online retailers will help you make
the right choice here. You can even buy ingredients and herbs that
are good for your dog and cook them yourself, but if that is too
daunting a prospect there are a range of suitable alternatives. These
will contain the nutrients, amino acids and vitamins your dog needs.

Kidney disease, then, need not be the fatal condition it once was. We
now know so much more about its causes and how to prevent it, and even
how to boost a dog’s immune system so that she herself can shake off any
infection.

Let’s hope you and I and our dogs never have to suffer the same tragic experience as my friend and her dog!

Interested in learning more about natural care for your dog? Visit
Frank McGinty’s site for some excellent news:
http://www.familysoftshop.com/dogcare

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All responsible dog owners know that when your pet shows signs of feeling ill or gets injured that it’s time for a visit to the veterinarian.

Naturally, it is important to take your pet to the vet when there is a problem, but many people forget the importance of taking their pets to the doctor when they are healthy! Taking your Pit Bull to the vet for routine well check-ups and vaccinations can prevent many serious medical conditions, and treat others early on before they have a chance to progress and endanger your Pit Bull’s health.

No matter how good the care you provide for your Pit Bull is, you may miss early signs of disease that the vet would be able to spot at a routine visit. Catching many diseases early can help prevent them from becoming major health issues. Animals often try to hide any sign of illness, because it can be a sign of weakness to other animals. Your Pit Bull’s ability to hide symptoms makes them that much harder to catch early on.

Taking your Pit Bull for preventative care can often save you quite a bit of money. Diseases left untreated can be very costly to treat, amassing tremendous bills along the way. By early diagnosis and treatment, you can prevent it from ever getting to that level, therefore saving yourself a lot of money.

By having routine visits with your Pit Bull, your veterinarian will learn what is normal for your dog, as no two animals are quite the same. In learning what is considered normal for your Pit Bull, your vet will be better able to tell when something isn’t quite right, and provide prompt medical treatment. Your vet will keep records of every visit, so that he can refer back to them, which will help in treating old problems, and diagnosing new ones.

At your yearly well checkup, your vet will also check to see if your Pit Bull is getting the right diet he needs. The vet will suggest changes to help if your Pit Bill is overweight, or malnourished. This can be vital to your pet’s health. Obesity is a major problem that can cause your pet to suffer from a variety of medical problems. It is also crucial that he get proper nutrition, and your vet can prescribe supplements as needed.

Providing routine veterinary care is a vital part of taking care of your Pit Bull. You are responsible for his well-being, and your vet can help you make sure everything is as it should be. Please don’t take these yearly preventative check-ups for granted, your Pit Bull’s health depends on them.

To learn all about Pit Bulls and how to train a Pit Bull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

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