One element will be that dogs will not be as fast as they were in their youth. Your dog may show a bit of difficulty when rising from a down position. He or she may walk slower up a staircase.
A
quality canine mattress
is recommended for any age, however during the senior years an orthopedic canine bed is more important than ever. Expect an older Pug dog to take more naps and retreat more often due to a lower tolerance for noise levels.
When your dog reaches the age of 8 or 9, it will be time to give a bit more attention to certain
grooming techniques. Skin looses its elasticity and cleaning wrinkles will be more important than ever. An older Pug will be more susceptible to infections. Take extra time to clean the folds and keep them dry.
Your Pug's veterinarian should be performing more thorough tests, especially for sugar levels. Eye exams are very important, as well.
Just as with humans, an older Pug may be more susceptible to developing diabetes,
arthritis, have problems with joints and their bones may be more brittle. The pounds that they have been carrying around and the body structure that they have (short legs especially) have been taking its toll. At this age, excess
weight be a problem.
It is recommended to make a gradual change in the diet, to ensure that meals have a higher count of nutrients specifically for aging pets. If you previously gave no-so-healthy snacks, make an effort to change over to a solid, healthy meal and snack plan. It will be time to make a change in regard to a vitamin and mineral supplement, switching to a senior formula.