What are Dangers to Your Older Dogs?
by EzThaibiz
As you could imagine according to our humans, older dogs, like elderly
people, while a dog ages, his eyesight fails along with his mind and
energy. Things that were easy for him to navigate when they were young,
such as the edge of a hill or a walk through the woods are now extremely
difficult for them.
He can’t always see the edge of a pool or cliff, his joints won’t allow
him to recover from a misstep as easily as when he was a young pup.
Here are a few reminders of what are dangers to your older pet and some
ideas on how to keep them safe.
Daily walk safety with a quality retractable leash
Retractable leashes are great to let your dog run a bit without getting
away from you. Many older dogs get a little "puppy" in them
and they will take-off running only to get into trouble because they
can no longer see you very well or hear your commands. Some older dogs
also develop dementia and cannot sense danger. They need to be kept
from wandering too far. A retractable leash will keep you in control
but allow your dog the ability to roam.
Flashing safety leashes or bright safety ID tags are also a great way
to keep your dog visible to you and others. The tags can be seen up
to one mile away and the flashing tape of retractable leashes are reflective.
If your dog does wander off during his nighttime business, your dog
will be less likely to be hit by a car and he will be easier for you
to locate.
Drowning or cataract at water side safety
Accidental drowning is a major problem for older dogs. Many older
dogs develop cataracts because they are no longer able to determine
the edge of the pool. Once in the pool, they often do not have the energy
to swim long enough to be noticed, nor the strength and agility to jump
out. There are several options to keep your dog safe. There are pool
alarms designed to float on the water and react to motion in the water.
Another alarm attaches to your dogs collar and sounds if they fall in
to the water. There are also life vests for dogs which are great for
boating or when your dog is around a lake or river.
Keep off extreme temperatures
No dog is comfortable in extremely hot or cold weather but again,
just as elderly adults are more vulnerable to the excessive temperatures,
it can also be deadly for your dog. Keep them in air conditioning as
much as possible on extremely warm days. Make certain that they have
access to plenty of water. Avoid taking your dog in the car with you
if you cannot bring him inside at your destination. If your dog is long-haired
or tends to be easily overheated, consider a cooling bed or collar.
In the extreme cold, make the outdoor visits as brief as possible.
Remember, dogs can get frostbite on their paws and noses. Outdoor dogs
need to be brought in from the cold when the temperatures are significantly
below zero.
Car rides with a seat belt harness
Your dog might still love to ride with you in the car but now his
safety is more important than ever. Getting your beloved pooch into
the car can be a challenge. Arthritis can mean his jumping-in-to-the-backseat
days are over! Ramps are available to help your dog into his co-pilot
chair. There is also a lifting aid that will wrap comfortably around
his middle to give you a way to assist him into the car. Remember, his
balance is not as good as when he was younger so consider a seat belt
harness to keep him from falling off the seat.
Household accidental poison or treatment dangers
It is as important as ever to keep your dog away from any plants,
foods, or poisons that are toxic to canines. As dogs age, their systems
won’t be able to tolerate the damage from the poison or the treatment.
ASPCA is warning dog owners the newly discovered danger posed by is
grapes and raisins. These fruits have been used as a training treat
for dogs, but have been recently found to cause renal failure if eaten
in large doses. If your older pet was trained using grapes and raisins
or you have used these fruits as treats for your dog, he may have developed
a taste for them. You will need to store grapes and raisins where your
dog cannot get into them. Of the 10 dogs that were reported poisoned
by overeating grapes/raisins, only 5 survived. And that was with early,
aggressive treatment. An older dog would not have much of a chance of
survival from an accidental poisoning. Please visit the ASCPA Animal
Poison Control Center Website, www.napcc.aspca.org for addition information.
http://pets-2004.blogspot.com/2008/11/keeping-your-older-dog-safe.html
Back to retractable dog leashes homepage
