1.  Keep your dog trim
Keep your dog at a slim, trim body weight. Obesity dramatically contributes to ever so many age-related, debilitating issues such as arthritis (a huge problem for way too many dogs), diabetes and heart disease. Feed your dog as little as it takes to maintain an ideal body condition score. Remember, in general, older dogs require approximately 30 percent fewer calories to maintain a healthy body weight. If your dog is overweight, ask your veterinarian to help you devise a plan to tackle this problem.

2. Feed your dog a complete diet
Speaking of feeding your dog, be sure to choose diets that are:

• Nutritionally complete
• Of very high quality
• Appropriate for your dog’s stage of life

Once you have a senior citizen on your hands, a diet that is higher in fiber and less calorically dense is usually the best choice. Multiple small meals may be better suited to your dog than feeding a larger meal once daily.

3. Exercise with your dog
Get out there and exercise with your dog! Not only will exercise help burn calories, it will strengthen muscles, enhance circulation and improve your dog’s heart and brain function. The activity you choose should be appropriate for your dog’s level of strength and stamina. No weekend warriors allowed. Shorter, more frequent walks may be better than going for a five-mile run. Gradually build up the duration and exertion of your dog’s activity level.

4.  Keep your dog pain free
Speaking of exercise, be sure to take the steps necessary to allow your dog to be active. If arthritis pain is getting in the way, work with your veterinarian to find the right combination of remedies to allow your dog to be comfortable enough to exercise. There are a myriad of treatment modalities to choose from:

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Underwater treadmill therapy
• Supplements
• Anti-inflammatory medications

The list goes on and on. Inactivity promotes a downhill cascade of events that is just about guaranteed to negatively impact your dog’s longevity. Do what it takes to keep your favorite pooch from becoming a couch potato.

5. Consider the changes your dog is going through
As your aged dog experiences loss of hearing and/or vision, leash walks and closer supervision become a necessity. Prevent your canine senior citizen from encountering physical harm because of changes. Teaching hand signals at an early age will pay off as your dog begins to experience age-related hearing loss. Doublecheck the whereabouts of your older dog before pulling into, or backing out of your driveway. Older dogs are less agile. Add to this deeper sleep and diminished hearing or vision and, without extra caution, a driveway tragedy can happen. (Unfortunately, such tragic accidents occur all too often.) Whereas youngsters can recover from broken body parts lickety split, such is not the case for older dogs.

6.  Act fast when your dog seems sick
Act sooner rather than later when your dog isn’t feeling well. Compared to young and middle-aged dogs, seniors have less physical reserve and are more prone to becoming compromised following a spate of symptoms, including:

• Lethargy
• Not eating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Whereas a 24-hour “wait and watch” approach might be reasonable for the youngster with such symptoms, waiting this long with an older dog before contacting your veterinarian may have dire consequences.

7. Schedule more regular checkups with your veterinarian
Even if you think your dog is perfectly healthy. Once a year is ideal for young and middle aged dogs. Switch to twice yearly exams for seniors. A head to toe physical examination, discussing how your dog is faring, and blood and urine testing (particularly if your dog is elderly) will allow your veterinarian to detect abnormalities early, prevent minor issues from becoming major issues, and outline a preventive health care plan for your beloved best friend.

Pets may not always “get” the holidays, but we do know they are drawn to the delicious smells and tastes of a feast, even if it is a tofurkey. It’s for this reason, unfortunately, that emergency veterinarians find themselves with much more business over the holidays.

Holiday feasts are often marked by excess. People tend to eat until they are uncomfortable, and then, just maybe, have a bit more. Celebrations may also be accompanied by the distractions of guests, games, songs and preparations. Then there’s the dreaded clean-up. With so much going on, it’s important to be particularly cautious with your pets this time of year.

Common holiday food that could harm your dog
Because we want to share our holidays, and because it’s hard to resist those big eyes, we may carve off “just a bit” for the dog. Before you give in though, stop and think carefully.

Mostly, the food we eat, in small amounts, is not dangerous. Be aware, however, there are exceptions. The metabolism of dogs is considerably different from our own, and some pretty surprising things (frequently associated with holiday meals) can be toxic and even fatal:

• Chocolate-- The most famous of these dangers is chocolate, and for good reason. Chocolate can cause serious problems. Avoid this risk all together and never let your dog have any chocolate. Learn more about this danger here.
• Xylitol-- Holidays are a time for baking. Many are concerned about sugar in baked goods and some will use xylitol as a sugar substitute. Xylitol can cause severe drops in blood glucose levels for dogs, resulting in seizures, and in some cases, severe liver damage. Even a small exposure to xylitol can be deadly. Gum, mints and candy are likely sources, but xylitol can be found many places. Even just a few cookies or muffins have been known to cause toxicity and even death.
• Unbaked bread dough-- Bread dough that contains yeast can cause serious problems. The yeast may expand in your dog’s stomach, resulting in fermentation and leading to alcohol production.
• Alcohol-- Speaking of alcohol, be sure your dog does not have access to alcohol in any form but especially in sweet and attractive drinks. Alcohol can have many of the same acute results it does in people.
• Onions and other bulbs-- Onions and other bulbs including garlic, leeks and chives can be very toxic. The result can be signs from nausea to a severe form of anemia that, in extreme cases, can be fatal. These foods are toxic to dogs (and cats) weather they are cooked, raw or powdered. If they are part of your recipes, take precautions so that pets don’t eat the foods that include them.
• Raisins and grapes-- Raisins and grapes can also be toxic and cause severe vomiting that leads to kidney failure a day or so after ingestion.
• Garbage-- Do not consider your dog a garbage disposal. Their stomach and intestines are generally not accustomed to eating rich foods. Meat trimmings are often high in fat and can result in gastrointestinal problems as mild as “fullness” to vomiting and diarrhea and even to conditions as severe as pancreatitis.

Do not give your dog bones and turkey carcasses. Oh sure, they enjoy them, but broken and chipped teeth, bones lodged in their mouth and throat and impactions in the stomach and intestines can result in severe discomfort and sometimes a need for surgery. Those few moments of enjoyment can lead to serious problems later.
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Tips for your dog at the holidays:

• Enjoy the day with your pet, but remember that moderation and precautions are the key. Provided your dog has no health problems, like a history of pancreatic or liver/intestinal problems, a slice of turkey is perfectly fine. Fatty foods should be avoided
• Avoid foods that contain the products above
• If your dog is seen eating anything toxic or exhibits any unusual signs, call your veterinarian or the veterinary emergency clinic. As always, early intervention reduces the chances of serious problems
• Do not leave your dog unattended. He might well raid the dinner before you do
• The surest way to avoid holiday food issues is with a simple rule. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t let your dog eat it. That includes eating too much