Caring for a senior dog: What you need to know

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler
Cesar's Way

Senior dogs are often overlooked at rescues and shelters in favor of the next generation of bouncy, yappy puppies. But if you’re a pack leader to a pup in his golden years, you know that’s a shame, because older dogs still have a lot of love to give — and they can still have lots of personality and spunk even if they don’t have as much energy as they did in their younger years.

Senior dogs also typically require less exercise, suffer from fewer behavioral issues, and come to you already potty trained. For these reasons, they are a particularly good choice for those adopting their first dog.

But just because senior dogs are easier in many ways doesn’t mean that they don’t also have some special care requirements that younger dogs don’t. Here are a few senior dog care tips if you’re a first-timer at adopting or fostering one of these old-timers.

Rule out medical causes for behavioral problems
Senior dogs are less likely to suffer from many issues caused by pent-up energy since they have less to expend. But that doesn’t mean they never experience behavioral issues. The first place to start with a behavior issue, though, especially if it has a sudden onset, is at the vet. It may be an early sign of a medical issue, and catching it faster can make a big difference for your pup.

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/senior-dog/Caring-for-a-senior-dog-What-you-need-to-know#ixzz3QDykaxBZ