I hope everyone has a great day with your dog. Remember to keep all of that candy away from your 4 legged friend!
Care For Older Dogs
As your dog gets older, you will witness noticeable differences in him or her physically. Their teeth will begin to wear down and will change color. Their eyes may begin to change color as well and start to appear gray or blue. The tone of their muscle will decrease and they won't be able to get around as fast or as easily as they once could. As your dog ages, they also will begin to experience various illnesses and chronic health problems.
Because dogs are often like part of the family, you will want to be able to care for them as best as you can and in a manner that the dog is still experiencing a good quality of life. You want to make sure that you are very vigilant and that you watch them closely. Study them and see if they begin to act differently, or if they seem to be in pain. It will be more important than ever to get checkup visits on a regular basis so that your vet can pinpoint any serious problems. You may want to do this as often as two times every year. These exams should include a blood workup.
If you are not sure of what warning signs to look for as your dog gets older, consider the following list.
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Dog Eye Care
When your dog’s eyes are healthy, they should be bright and clear. They should not be swollen, inflamed or have any type of discharge. Any eye problems in your dog can be very painful and irritating for them and so it is important to make sure that they receive proper care if they begin having problems.
Some things to look for when you suspect your dog is having problems with their eyes, is a change in coloration. There eyes may turn red and they may swell. They also may have discharge or matter that's either right on the eye or around it. If the eyes have a dull appearance or they begin tearing a lot, these are all signs that something is wrong. These are all signs that you will need to take your dog to the veterinarian.
There are various types of tests that your vet can perform on your dog when they believe that there is a problem. A couple of these tests include the Schirmer tear test which measures the amount of your dog’s tear production. The vet can also test to see if your dog has glaucoma by checking their ocular pressure. Corneal ulcers can be discovered with a fluorescein stain.
Common eye problems in dogs include cataracts, epiphora or glaucoma. Cataract problems in dogs is similar to what human beings experience. Their eyes will become cloudy and it can lead to blindness. For some breeds, this is a common occurrence. However, your vet will need to determine if this is what it is. Epiphora is when your dog has an excessive amount of tearing. This could be due to some type of blockage.
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