Nothing retains its youth forever. That includes all dog breeds. Once your American Cocker Spaniel dogstarts to age, they require extra care. The senior years of your pet can be difficult if it develops cancer, arthritis, vision loss, hearing loss, respiratory problems, or another problem. As the pet owner and caregiver, you should strive to keep the animal happy and comfortable. This includes when your cocker spaniel has a disease that is hard to treat. As an older dog requires special care, you should prepare yourself well. You might have to spend more money and time on the pet; and that is okay because that’s your best friend. Luckily, there are many ways to enhance your dog’s quality of life. Here are six of the best ways to achieve this goal.

1. Supplement its diet

It is always mandatory to ensure a balanced diet for your Cocker Spaniel. However, a senior dog needs more than just good food. In addition to a balanced diet, ensure that you address nutritional deficiencies with supplements. These will boost the dog’s brain as well as joints and overall health. Some of the best supplements to purchase for your dog include EPA and DHA (omega 3 fatty acids). These will build its immune system, reduce joint pain because of arthritis, and enhance cognition. So, give your older Cocker Spaniel fish as it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Additionally, buy it some glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics. The latter are ideal for building healthy gut bacteria to ensure easier digestion of food. Some experts recommend giving an old dog a beta-glucan supplement in the form of mushrooms. This is if it has tumors that you want to shrink.

2. Don’t let the senior pet get fat

Even if it is necessary to feed your American Cocker Spaniel healthy food, it should eat just enough calories. Extra calories can cause the dog to fatten up more than necessary. More weight can be a problem if the dog has joint pain due to arthritis. To maintain healthy weight, an older Cocker Spaniel should eat ten to twenty percent less calories than during its youth. This is because they tire quickly during exercise, and also have slower metabolisms. Reducing your American Cocker Spaniel’s food is important to avoid obesity. Nevertheless, reduce its portions slowly to ensure it does not feel so hungry between meal times.

Also, weigh your pet often to estimate how much less food it requires. On the same point, make sure your senior dog exercises often. This will not only help it lose weight but also make it leaner and more muscular. This does not mean that you should make it run or play often. It might have aching joints, and too much strain can worsen the pain. Besides, some oldCocker Spaniels have slower metabolisms and less energy to play or work out for too long. If he drools excessively, or pants continually, stop the exercise.

3. Improve the dog’s sleep

If your senior pet has a long-term disease to cope up with, you should ensure it naps well. You can choose a dog bed that suits dogs with joint pains. Stiff joints can indicate poor sleep due to pain and discomfort around the hip joint or shoulder joint. So, get a new bed that can help you address the problem. To be precise, select a thick memory foam bed for the pet as it will mold to its physique and sooth sore joints around hips or shoulders. Shredded foam does not always offer adequate support during sleep. So you should buy a thick memory foam cushion instead.

4. Choose a quality portable ramp

It does not mean that you will travel less with your American Cocker Spaniel dog when it starts to age. For this reason, buy the dog a ramp to ensure it gets inside or outside the vehicle easily. If the dog has painful joints, it might show reluctance to jump. However, because a Cocker Spaniel is a faithful servant and friend, it will jump if you need it to do so. Then it will deal with painful joints afterward.

As the jumping action can trigger damage to the cartilage, it is better to avoid it. A ramp is a better solution because the pet will walk into the auto without hurting its joints. There are different types of ramps, so you should get one that fits your car. It should not be too vertical either. Lastly, allow the pet to practice using the ramp before he can use it often.

5. Try alternative therapy

How have you been addressing your Cocker Spaniel’s health problems? Although following your Veterinarian’s instructions is vital, seek option B. For instance, you can try acupuncture for joint pain relief. Although this alternative treatment may not solve all your dog’s issues, it can boost the release of certain hormones. As well, it can cause the dog’s muscles to relax and block pain signals. This is correct when a Cocker Spaniel has arthritis, anxiety, or intervertebral disc disease.

6. Build a better dog house and find other ways to provide warmth

The older we get the more warmth our bodies call for. It is the same thing with senior American Cocker Spaniels. They tend to feel colder than younger dogs do, and can have a hard time sleeping when exposed to cold weather. In addition to buying a thick memory form bed, choose a warm sweater for your pet. Also, you may replace its house if it is in a bad shape or repair it to ensure the animal feels warmer and more comfortable.

Conclusion

Old American Cocker Spaniel dogs have tougher lives than their younger friends. As they age, they may become sick with arthritis, or another degenerative disease. A dog with aching joints or failing internal organs needs more motivation to live on. You can help to keep it comfortable in various ways. The tips we have provided can guide you and help you do the right things for your aging American Cocker Spaniel dog.

Furthermore, you can use your creativity and observations to determine what can be best for yourCocker Spaniel. It has unique needs, depending upon its current health. Whether your senior dog is sick or healthy, you should improve its diet, sleep, and general welfare by following the advice we have shared in this article. Above all, always be observant to notice when your pet needs immediate assistance from its veterinarian.