A beautiful thing about dogs is that they live in the moment. An old dog does not think about what he used to do when he was a pup, how many times he fetched the ball or how high he used to jump. A dog entering into his senior years does not care about his graying hair or other signs of aging. A dog does not realize that he is getting old, but his owners do. You can make the senior years of an old dog easier with a few simple tips.
As your dog ages, increase the frequency of exercise but diminish the intensity of the exercise. Instead of the weekly trip to the park to chase balls till he's exhausted, take him for a daily long walk.
If you old dog is having problems physical activity, talk to your vet about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine and/or supplements that can reduce pain and improve mobility.
Re-think the bed your old dog sleeps in, it could be time for a change. A low, soft, heated dog bed would make your old dog grateful, especially in cold weather. It's a good time to think of dog clothes for warmth also. Senior dogs are a lot like senior people, they need a little help maintaining their body heat.
If you allow your dog on the couch or in your bed, an old dog may need a little help negotiating the height. A ramp or steps can help your old dog get up and down on places that used to be just a jump away when he was a puppy.
When a senior dog begins to slow down physically, it means his diet should slow down as well. An old dog does not need extra weight to carry around at this stage of his life.
He's been your loyal loving companion his whole, short life. Now that he's in his senior years, make life easier for the old dog.