Grooming Old Yorkies

The most important aspect of maintaining your old yorkies health and ensuring that he lives a long time is to offer him the proper nutrition, care, and exercise that benefit a dog of his stature and years.

As he ages, his body requires a different type of nutrition. His coat will need more careful maintenance and as aging slows down his energy level, you will need to encourage him to exercise, offering new activities that won’t stress his system.

You will also need to change both his and your lifestyle to accommodate his needs.

Grooming

Grooming is one of the many things you can attend to at home. As yorkies reach senior status, they require daily grooming. Many older dogs will become less than fragrant and, if they have long hair, detritus will cling to orifices, causing worse odor and possible infection.

Some yorkies may object to being groomed more often and may even cry out when you attend to things such as nail clipping or ear cleaning.

Regardless of your old yorkie’s reaction, you need to make sure he remains clean and in the peak of health. Do a daily check up while you groom him.

Not only will you be spending quality time with him, grooming will give your old yorkie a shiny, healthy coat, and if there is a problem, you may be able to discover it sooner.

Some dogs will need to be taken care of by a professional groomer. As the old yorkie ages, you may want to forego the fancy cuts and settle for something more simple.

A long-haired yorkie might benefit from having his fur reduced to one or two inches because it cuts down on detritus getting stuck in his fur and allows you to discover lumps easier. Many dogs actually feel better without all the tangles and weight of a long coat.

Dental Care

Part of the old yorkie’s grooming regimen should include cleaning his teeth. As dogs age, their teeth wear down and tend to collect tartar faster, causing gingivitis and other bacterial diseases that can cause organ dysfunction.

While daily cleaning would be ideal, at least try to attend to this twice per week. Scaling the teeth every so often will also be helpful in keeping down the tartar buildup.

Regular dental attention will mean your yorkie’s teeth will last longer, allowing him to chew better – which also means he’ll maintain a healthy appetite and overall good health.