If your pet lives to a ripe old age, there are a few things you can do to make its life easier towards the end. Some normal symptoms of old age in dogs are a white beard and eyebrows, occasional slight limping, cloudy eyes, arthritic stiffness and slowness of movement, and sporadic anxiety attacks. Here are four ways you can care for your pet in its golden years that will help make its life easier.

Observe the Symptoms

It’s best to keep a closer eye on the behavior of your pet as it ages. The symptoms of underlying problems may show only gradually. The Center for Canine Behavior Studies identifies the common medical problems to look for in older pets. These include:

•          Arthritis in the knee and hip

•          Dental problems

•          Kidney disease

•          Urinary incontinence

•          Cancer

Some of these symptoms are obvious, but some are subtle and require recognizing even insignificant changes in your pet. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the better chance it can be cured.

Dogs can also develop a sort of Alzheimer’s disease called canine cognitive dysfunction. You can get tests from your vet that help you measure any of these symptoms.

Cancer kills half of all dogs over 10 years old. Any slight changes in appetite or thirst, sleeping patterns, energy levels or lumps and bumps should be reported to a vet immediately.

Limping is one of the most common symptoms. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) provides a support structure to the knee. If the ACL is torn or otherwise damaged, the symptoms are slight lameness in the affected hind leg. If not treated, the lameness can become quite severe. Treatment for dog ACL requires a brace that fits onto the leg and gives support while the ligament heals.

Modify the Diet

You have always given your pet a balanced diet, but as a pet ages, its energy levels reduce, which may contribute to obesity. Since obesity can cause other even more serious diseases, it’s important to modify your pet’s diet as it gets older to prevent weight gain.

The best way to do this is to find a pet food that is specifically designed for older animals. It will be low in fat and contain fewer calories, so your pet gets the nutrition it needs without an overdose.

Keep up the Exercise

Regular exercise will help keep down your pet’s weight and impact its overall health. Excess weight puts excess stress on the joints. Sometimes, simply losing weight helps relieve joint pain.

Your dog may not be very enthusiastic about taking walks as it was before, but it still needs the exercise. You can ask your vet how much exercise your pet needs and start slowly. Remember, older pets are more sensitive to temperature. They may need a covering when walking outdoors.

It’s good to be patient and gradually build up the pace. If your dog can run a bit, make sure it doesn’t overdo it. You may remember the time your dog could outrun you, but these days are gone. Especially with an older dog, it will be up to you to keep your dog a bit active as it may prefer to eat and sleep.

Keep the Teeth Clean

Just like humans, dog’s and cat’s teeth decay and fall out. This makes eating difficult when they get older, and if they have a toothache, they may simply stop eating.

Dental care is important from a young age to help prevent problems in old age. You can brush your dog’s teeth every day or give it treats that clean the teeth. Vets recommend a professional tooth cleaning one a year for dogs. Any tooth decay or other problems can be found at that time. If your pet loses teeth for whatever reason, you may need to look for a soft diet if your pet can no longer chew hard food.

Not all pets are considered old at the same age. You can ask your vet what to expect for your breed because it is important to notice the first signs of aging to keep your pet healthy in its senior years. Above all, show your aging pet as much attention as you can. This will help reduce any anxiety it feels because of the symptoms of old age.