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Helping Your Aging Poodle Stay Comfortable
from: The Complete DogAs your Poodle gets older, you're probably going to do some research into how to best care for your aging pet. "Give your Poodle whatever she wants to keep happy," suggests one owner of an aging Poodle. "She deserves it for being such a loyal and loving companion."
Start by giving your Poodle a softer place where she can rest her aching bones and joints. When she was young, she may have been content napping on a hard floor, but in old age, a comfy bed is best. Stiffness from osteoarthritis is made worse by sleeping on cold, damp ground or hard surfaces. Buy a soft bed at a pet-supply store or online or make one yourself with thick foam rubber (easily found at thrift stores) covered with a machine-washable, snug blanket.
Place the bed in a dry, draft-free area of the house. Older dogs are sensitive to extremes in heat and cold. You can also help to reduce stiffness by drying off your Poodle if she gets wet. Dry her thoroughly after bathing or an outing in wet weather and make sure she doesn't get wet and stay damp.
An arthritic Poodle may have a difficult time bending down to eat and drink from bowls on the floor. Consider buying an eating table (a neck-level table with special cutouts for food and water bowls) for her. This will be more comfortable for your senior Poodle who many be hesitant to bend her neck due to the stiffness of arthritis.
While an arthritic Poodle may tend to avoid activity because it's painful, there's nothing more beneficial to an older dog than a regular exercise program. Exercise improves muscle tone and strength, keeps joints moving, and keeps weight on target. Your vet can prescribe medication that will help to reduce arthritic pain and make exercise possible.
Activity is essential, but you'll also need to protect your arthritic Poodle from injury by modifying exercise and not allowing her to overdo it. Avoid jumping and other activities that wear down the joints more. Lift your olden poodle in and out of the car. Avoid stairs and rough play. Let her choose the pace she wants.
An aging Poodle needs more rest than she did in her younger years. If she's exercising on a regular basis and wants to nap more, that's okay. Just make sure you have a comfy bed handy.
An older Poodle is a creature of habit. She won't likely appreciate a sudden change in routine, bed placement, food dishes and activity. Keep changes to a minimum, only doing so when you absolutely must.
If you're planning a vacation, consider hiring a pet sitter to care for your Poodle at home rather than taking her to a boarding kennel. Older dogs don't tolerate drastic changes in their routine such as being away from home in a boarding kennel no matter how nice it is. Keeping your old dog at home while you're away in the care of a trusted pet sitter is often your best option.
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