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Thanks to modern veterinary care and
scientifically formulated dog food, it’s not
uncommon for many dogs to live 15 years or
more. A breeder, vet or pet shop manager can tell
you the typical lifespan of your breed. Generally,
smaller breeds live longer than larger breeds.
Regardless of the breed, with proper attention,
your dog’s senior years can be enjoyable for
both of you.
Dogs, cats and people age remarkably alike. We
all become less active, and lose muscle strength
and bone mass. Digestive processes slow down,
taste buds become less sensitive, skin can become
dry and flaky, feelings of stiffness may creep into
the joints and extra attention and loving care is
quite welcome. The time to think about all this is
when you get your dog, even if he is just a puppy.
To begin with, watch his weight. Excessive
weight puts undue stress on a dog’s heart,
skeleton, and other vital organs.
Your vet can advise you on your dog’s ideal
weight once he becomes an adult, or consult a
breed-specific book available at your pet store.
If you find that your dog exceeds his recommended
weight, substitute MAX Weight Control, Natural
Choice Lite, Natural Choice Large Breed Weight
Management or Ultra Weight Managment for a
portion of his daily diet to reduce calories. And
remember: No table scraps!
As your dog enters middle age — around 5 to 8,
depending on the breed (or mix of breeds) —
visit the vet at least yearly, more often if there’s
a history of medical problems. Continue playing
with your dog, but make the games less strenuous.
At this point in your dog’s life, adjust his diet
so it is 100% MAX Senior, Ultra Senior, or Natural
Choice Senior. Its formulation matches
the needs of an aging dog to perfection, maximizing
his overall health and well-being. If he ever has
trouble chewing, report this to the vet. The problem
may be an abscessed tooth or diseased gums.
Regardless of the cause, mix the food with a bit of
warm water to make soft, easy-to-chew mush.
With good medical attention, a sound diet, and
plenty of TLC, your dog can expect to join the
canine equivalent of the Century Club!
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