Jake is a 9-year-old German shepherd and the longest staying member of the RSPCA’S Southridge Animal Centre. He arrived at the centre in November 2020 when his previous owner couldn’t take care of him as per his needs. It has been more than 500 days now that this senior dog has been looking for a forever home.
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Come and go!
During his time in the RSPCA, Jake has seen many of his friends come and go which makes him a little heartbroken to be left aside like that. He is hopeful that one day someone will look past his age and take him home. Jake has had a couple of applications since he arrived at the centre but none of them has actually worked out for him. As such, he is just desperate now to get out of the kennel and find a forever home.
The staff at RSPCA believes that the struggle in his adoption is due to his old age and with every passing day, his luck runs out a little more. People worry about how long he will be able to stay with them, considering he is already a senior dog. Despite that, Jake is adorable as he loves to cuddle and always listens to you. He may be a bit nervous around other dogs so an ideal home would be with an experienced owner who has no pets. Further, he would also benefit from a few training classes as he loves being around people but gets a little wary of strangers at first.
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Senior dog care
Irrespective of what your dog’s age is, they are bound to get old at some point in life. Ageing is a natural process! As such, it is vital to know and understand that a senior dog requires extra care as compared to a younger one. Here are a few tips that can help you take care of an older dog:
- Diet: Ensure to provide your senior dogs age-appropriate diet. Just like humans, their bodies also reject certain items as they grow old making it hard for them to digest. Older dogs are also more prone to obesity due to a lack of physical activity.
- Vaccination: Regardless of their age, it is essential to make sure they get proper vaccination since fighting a disease becomes a bigger challenge in old age.
- Keep them active: Regular exercise will help your dog to maintain ideal weight and have a beneficial impact on their overall health.
- Visit the vet: As a dog grows older, its immune system weakens. So, ensure regular vet check-ups to examine early signs of any ailment that lies ahead in the future.