.Caring for older dogs Once your dog is old, it is time to take some precautions to keep your dog healthy, happy, and active. Have your veterinarian examine your pet (if needed) every year or more. As with humans, keep your dog's weight within the appropriate or optimal range. Overweight dogs suffer from many health problems, such as joint problems, arthritis, diabetes, and liver or kidney failure. Reduce the amount of rewards given to the pet. It's hard to resist their emotional visions, but please remember that it is always in their best interest. You don't want to kill pets in a nice way to yourself. Feed the pet once a day or feed a small amount of pets twice daily, but if the pet resides there, remove it. If you have children, explain to them why they shouldn't sneak food on the family's pets. As with dogs of any age, make sure you always have fresh and cool water. Some older dogs will have a hard time fetching water, so you can bring water or place a bo...