Old Dog, New Tricks: 7 Simple Ways to Care for an Aging Dog

Six years ago, my family adopted a dog, and learned that she had been abandoned by her elderly owner who had fed her all day long. At nearly 20 pounds, with dirty, long fur, she was a sight. We immediately realized that she had been abused as she was insanely afraid of everything and everyone; even scratching your hair would cause her to yell out in fear. Today, Hayley is a clean, slimmed down, and spoiled little girl. Lately however, she has been having issues with her legs and has a touch of arthritis. Our vet guesses she is anywhere from 9-11 years old, which puts her in the geriatric category. Along with a newly volatile stomach, she sleeps a lot, and is acquiring a bunch of moles and growths. Caring for an older dog is very different from raising a pup. From our experience, here are 7 tips to help you care for your older dog and help him be as comfortable as he possibly can be: - By Danielle Sullivan

MORE ON BABBLE
25 awkward family photos with pets
The 10 best big dog breeds for families
10 celebrity pups with the weirdest names... EVER