Breed
Afghan Hound
AKC Grouping
Hound GroupTemperament
- independent
- sweet
- regal
Demeanor
aloof or waryChoosing the Best Dog Food for a Senior Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is a dog breed known for its style and grace. The breed is one of many designated sighthounds due to their proclivity for hunting primarily by sight, as opposed to smell like most breeds. The Afghan Hound, therefore, shares a number of physical characteristics with other sighthounds. It sports a slender and agile build, having unusually long legs and a long neck with a small head. It’s long legs lack the protection many other breeds have, so it’s all the more important to make calcium a cornerstone of the Afghan Hound’s diet, especially as it grows older, to strengthen its fragile bones. Its broad chest tapers to a very thin waist. The Afghan Hound is distinct in its appearance, however. It’s known for its long fur that grows thick, yet fine, and often straight, making it a prized show dog for its unique appearance. Afghan Hounds often, but not always, have a black mask on their face, which is framed a long, floppy ears coated in the same long fur that might give one the impression of a long hairstyle, a look that lends itself rather well to personification. The demeanor of the Afghan Hound could best be described as elegant, but it can also cut loose during play time. Despite its regal appearance and reserved behavior, one big hurdle to using the Afghan Hound as a show dog is the difficulty of training one. They are notoriously difficult to train, and it's been known to take upwards of 80 attempts to learn a new command, and it can be unresponsive with known commands, as well.
How Breed History Plays a Role in Senior Afghan Hound Health Issues
The Afghan Hound is a relatively healthy breed. While the leading cause for the breed is cancer at 31%, the average lifespan of the breed remains relatively high at about 12 years, which is average for a breed of that size. At 21%, old age is the second most common cause of death. The Afghan Hound is also highly at risk for chylothorax due to the shape of its chest. This disease is a leaking of chyle fluid into the chest cavity that can lead to lung-lobe torsion and the hardening of organs in response to the leaks, which may require emergency surgery.
Get Your Afghan Hound the Right Food
Energy
energetic
Grooming
daily brushing
Training
typically stubborn
Shedding
infrequentlyHelp Your Senior Afghan Hound Live a Full & Long Life
The Afghan Hound is also prone to allergies, as well as hip dysplasia, which can be harder on an older dog. Joint paints, such as those associated with arthritis, can be alleviated by adding vitamin C into your dog’s diet.
The Best Dog Food for a Senior Afghan Hound
Making sure that Afghan Hounds get the right amount of nutrition daily is very important for their active lifestyle to help keep them healthy and strong. Throughout the life of an Afghan Hound it is important to make sure they are getting the right amount of proper nutrients in order to stay healthy and to keep up with their active lifestyle. As a puppy the Afghan Hound may benefit from a good high quality dog food formulated for growth or all stages of life. As the Afghan Hound matures they need to eat a good high quality dog food that is formulated for large breeds. If they eat regular dog formula it could lead to weight gain. Afghan Hounds are known to be a healthy breed with no known health issues as they age. Since the Afghan Hound is known to be a healthier breed as they age continuing to feed them a healthy nutritious diet is always a great way to help keep them healthy. As the Afghan Hound becomes a senior dog making sure they eat a proper nutritious dog food formulated for their large breed can be beneficial to help keep them healthy and live a happy life.
Get Your Afghan Hound the Right FoodChoose Spot & Tango for Senior Afghan Hound Dog Food
Spot & Tango is on a mission to deliver the right dog food to every dog out there. That starts with a commitment to quality, so we use only whole, fresh, human grade ingredients like 100% real meat with no cheap fillers. That means we provide your dog with the high protein meals they crave without the complications of processed dog food, such as an abundance of sugar that can cause excess weight gain. We also use plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains to give your dog the vitamin C, fiber, and calcium they need, in addition to other essential vitamins and nutrients. Each dog’s dietary needs is different, however, so we need to pinpoint your dog’s need with our proprietary survey. We analyze a variety factors like size, breed, and age in order to personalize a meal plan for your canine companion. Our menu of delicious, nutritious meals and our patented questionnaire are backed by nutritional and medical experts to provide comprehensive nutrition to any and all dogs, and we’ll deliver it right to your door so your dog is always full and happy.