"He just ain't what he used to be." We've all said or heard that one before. Spotting signs of aging can be a little more than common sense. Because our pets can't verbally tell us what's going on, we have to know how to spot the signs and symptoms of aging.
First, be familiar with your animal's body and routine. Check for lumps and skin discolorations. Talk to your vet about any abnormalities that change or get larger. Some animals' activity level decreases gradually, while others seems to happen overnight. Older pets can gain weight as their activity level decreases.
Make sure that you decrease the amount of food they receive. Consider a "senior" formula. Some signs of aging can be misinterpreted as misbehaving. If your formerly obedient dog no longer comes when called, he could be losing his hearing. That's why teaching hand signals at an early age is important.
Finally, don't forget commitment and patience. It's the least we can give an animal who's given us years of companionship and unconditional love.
You might see Scott and his companion, Cooper, around town. In addition to working for and representing PHS/SPCA, they also volunteer at the Magnolia Center in Burlingame.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.