For every pet owner there comes a time when they realize their pet is no longer the young pup it once was. For our now 14-year-old dog, that moment came about four years ago, shortly after we’d adopted a one-year-old dog. The dogs were running around the yard, when the older dog started limping. He recovered in a few minutes but we realized that he now needed to be cautious. He couldn’t run like a puppy any more.
Larger breed dogs typically age faster than smaller dogs, but in general, pets are considered geriatric at seven years, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Older pets require special care. When you become a guardian of a pet, you care for them forever – including when they get older. Here are tips to help make life easier for your older pet.
Don’t skip the vet visits
Veterinary visits become even more important when your pet is older. A checkup is recommended twice a year for senior pets. Additionally, the AVMA and others believe that vaccination needs change as a pet gets older, so you may want to discuss vaccinations with your veterinarian.
Moderate exercise is essential
Unless your pet’s vet recommends against it, exercise will help your pet stay mobile. Take dogs for walks, and encourage cats to play. Let the pet set the pace, but be prepared to slow them down and/or take shorter walks if needed.
Check their food
Note if your pet is having trouble eating. Take them to the vet to have their teeth checked if they have problems. You also may need to switch to canned food if they’re having trouble eating dry food.
Watch their weight
Ensure your pets maintains a healthy weight. This will help with their mobility, plus it helps reduce their chances of getting certain diseases.
Help with traction control
Older pets may have trouble gaining traction and keeping their balance on uncarpeted surfaces. If at all possible, put down non-slip rugs in places where they frequently walk. My 14-year-old dog was diagnosed with hip dysplasia four years ago (shortly after the earlier-mentioned limping incident). Since then, I’ve put rugs for him in various places, to help keep him from slipping. It’s helpful for other older pets as well.
Gate off treacherous areas
If your pet is in danger of falling down steps, do them (and yourself) a favor and gate the stairs off. Older dogs may overestimate what they’re capable of doing. Currently our older pup still insists on running up and down a set of six stairs himself. I did put a rug at the bottom of a set of stairs so he doesn’t wipe out when he lands after running down the stairs. That has kept him from hurting himself so far. But I have a baby gate on standby for the day when I need to gate the top of the steps and carry him up and down them.
Monitor their behavior
Watch closely for behavior changes. There are many warning signs for diseases that older pets can develop. Follow your gut and take them to the vet if you feel it’s needed.
Can you hear me now?
Older pets often develop hearing loss. You may notice that they don’t come when called, or that they look at you quizzically when you say something. If your vet says it can’t be improved, you’ll likely need to adjust how you communicate with the pet. Hand signals may come in handy. Dogs are extremely adept at reading body language. Whether you realize it or not, your dog has been studying how you move since the day you first met. But now, make hand signals more purposeful. Perhaps point toward the door every time you take the dog outside. There are hand signals for all of the “common” commands (here’s more info about hand signals and how to teach them), but you can make up your own too. Also, be careful not to “sneak” up on them, so you don’t startle them.
Let there be light
As a dog ages, it often gets cataracts or a cloudiness on its eyes, reducing its vision. This is particularly difficult for them at night. Putting nightlights in places where they might walk at night can help them. I have nightlights in each of the bathrooms, and in the kitchen to help my old dog navigate if he gets up in the night.
Provide a boost
If you allow your dogs onto furniture, your older pet may need help jumping onto the furniture. You can use steps or a ramp specifically designed for this, or sometimes even a little step stool will provide the needed boost.
Keep the joint supplements handy
As pets (okay, all of us) get older, the joints may need some help. Supplements that help the joints can help pets keep their mobility. After our older dog was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, his vet recommended giving him a supplement called Steadfast Canine. (We buy it directly from the vet. I’ve not found it available elsewhere). It helped him for a couple of years. When he began to slow down again a couple of years ago, I researched and found a hemp supplement that’s for joint health, Wonderpet hemp chews (and no, they’re not sponsoring this, these have just really really helped our dog). I’ll likely start giving them to our younger dog when she gets a bit older.
The most important tip of all is to enjoy this time with them. When a pet is older, it has usually figured out how to live with you. There’s so much trust and loyalty built up. You know them, and they know you. Sure, older pets may require more time, and more care, but the love they’ve given throughout their lifetime is worth it.
Gina Parsons - Writer 