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Our family recently, and rather suddenly, expanded by four feet. The kids had been begging for a new pet since we lost our last cat 2 years ago. (Okay so the 8 year old has done most of the begging while encouraging his sister to join in.) Not ready for the responsibility again, Trent and I held off. Little did we know that that would leave an opening for a new family member later.
Last month, we became dog owners for the first time in our lives. To say this is a little adjustment is an understatement. Dogs require different care and attention than cats. We’re learning.
Lady is also learning and adjusting with us.
She belonged to my in-laws and lost them as suddenly as we did. She changed homes twice in that time. She’s been around the grandkids on occasion, but never lived in a home with children. She has a new yard, a new schedule, etc.
It’s a lot of change for a dog – especially a senior dog. One of our goals when taking her in was helping to provide her with the best possible life for the years she has left. So we’re all learning together to help make that possible and PetSmart is a big part of that. With helpful, friendly staff available to answer our questions as well as everything we need (leash, bed, food, toys, crate, etc) to adapt to being first time dog owners.
Checkup
We found a vet in our area to give Lady a full check-up and updated shots during her first week with us. She now has a set schedule to maintain these for the future. Plus, Trent requested a “spa” treatment for her. The staff gave her a bath, trimmed her nails, etc. Little things, but care she needed.
Diet
As we did with our cats, we’re trying to provide Lady with the best food possible. We want to be sure her diet meets her needs at this stage in her life. Since Purina® is a brand we know and trust, we visited the myPLAN website to help us select the right food for Lady.
It recommended Purina® Pro Plan® Bright Mind dry food to help promote mental sharpness, maintain her joints, and encourage digestive health. With formulas for different breed sizes and high-quality protein as the main ingredient, it is something we feel good about feeding her.
And, because we enjoy “spoiling” her with a little extra something a few times a week, we also selected a few cans of Pro Plan® SAVOR® wet food plus a bag of tasty Purina® treats from our local PetSmart.
Save on select sizes of both Pro Plan dog and cat food with sales in store at PetSmart now through 12/3/17. Plus, earn extra kicks on Shopkick (ends 11/30/17).
Toys
While she may be older, she still needs entertainment. We’ve been trying a variety of toys to see which she prefers. We learned during our first few days that playing fetch is not her thing. She’ll happily watch the kids chase after a ball and return it though!
Thankfully PetSmart has plenty of toys to choose from so we have lots of options. My kids are having nearly as much fun here selecting new ones for Lady to try as they are searching for toys for themselves.
Warm, Dry Place to Sleep
Lady has always been an outside dog and that hasn’t changed since joining our family. We already had a fenced in backyard to provide a secure place for her to roam and play. Trent brought a dog house from his parents’ house, then purchased a new soft bed to give Lady a safe place to retreat to.
On colder nights we set up a large crate in the garage with her bed inside. She wasn’t so sure about this the first time we tried it, but quickly realized how warm and cozy it was – we began to struggle getting her out in the morning!
Attention
One of the best things we can do for Lady is give her plenty of attention. She’s been through a lot just as we have. Taking the time to show her we care goes a long way. We spend time playing with her in the backyard, petting her, and taking her for walks.
Hopefully with proper care and love, we’ll have many happy days ahead with her. Have any senior dog care tips for us?
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