No matter how
frustrating and tiring it can be to chase around a new Shar Pei puppy, cherish
those moments and remember them fondly, as sadly they won’t last forever. There
will come a time in your Shar Pei’s life that his frolicking, hyper and energetic
ways will slow down, and they will become lazier, lose their appetite, and may
eventually wish to stop playing fetch and catch.
This is typically evident
around seven years of age, but each dog is different. Aging is a natural process
and it doesn’t mean that your dog is sick, it just means that you will need to
make some lifestyle changes to benefit your dog’s well being and pay closer attention
to his Shar Pei care.
Changes in Shar Pei Care with Aging
When a
dog begins to age, he or she will most likely take less of an interest in food.
This is because as they become less active, they need fewer calories, and hence
require less food. Watching your dog’s cues is a good idea since she can’t communicate
with you verbally. While her eating habits are undoubtedly going to change, you
need to keep a careful eye on her weight.
Make sure that she doesn’t become
too thin (some weight loss is expected), as she will need energy because it will
be harder for her to move around. Also check to make sure she doesn’t get too
heavy. Some dogs, while they cut down their food intake, cut down their exercise
so much that they still gain weight from the calorie expenditure being lower then
the calorie intake.
It is just as important to your dog’s health to be
watched for obesity as it is for malnutrition. As the dog ages, any excess weight
can be troublesome and cause problems with walking and mobility, and in some extreme
cases can tax the heart. Shar Pei care during aging should be similar to the past
several years, there are just a few other things that need to be watched.
Grumpiness
and Fear Setting In
It can be hard to keep up with Shar Pei care, especially
as your dog ages. His personality is likely to change considerably, and he may
be less tolerant of people and hands. Elderly dogs are known during this time
in their life to be grumpy, snippy, and intolerant of people touching them.
They
also become more easily frightened of things such as sudden movements and loud
noises. It is a reflex that they cannot control, and being mindful of that is
important with Shar Pei care. Keeping children away from the dog is not always
necessary, but more care should be taken if they are going to interact, as a dog
can turn at any moment with little or no warning.
Exercise and Nutrition
Shar
Pei care and proper exercise, diet and nutrition is absolutely critical, and up
to the owner’s responsibility. Keeping your dog mobile is important, even for
short periods of time. Letting a dog take over their activities when they are
feeling lazy can be detrimental to the next several years.
Like people,
laying in bed only makes you feel worse and your muscles ache. Keep your dog mobile
and active, but take it easy. Make sure your dog is getting the appropriate diet
and nutrition. Most importantly, enjoy your dog as he ages; he will be calmer
and probably more likely to want to cuddle if you use a calm, soft voice and gentle
stroking for petting.
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