Caring for Your Aging Dog

Book excerpt: Today, veterinarians know more about small-animal geriatrics than ever before--making it possible for dogs to live longer, better lives. But science and technology alone aren’t enough: we have to do our part, too. And this thorough guide to the older dog teaches us how. It introduces the basics of caring for a senior pet; examines issues of genetics, environment, and nutrition; presents a "prevention primer” for forestalling disease and old-age conditions; and explains how to recognize vital signs of change, from cloudy eyes to achy joints. Most important, it offers comforting advice on what to do when your beloved pet does get sick, and how to deal with both the financial and emotional costs. Throughout, dog owners tell their inspiring personal stories.