10 Tips to Help your Senior Dog
Aging Gracefully
We all hope to be able to watch our dogs age gracefully, and live their best life, for as long as possible. It isn’t easy to watch our “forever puppy” start to pant a little harder after a walk, struggle to climb into bed, or grow wisps of gray hair over their muzzles. By about year 5 or 6 your dog is considered a senior, depending on their breed. Loving an aging pet is more about adjusting your expectations for your dog, and making the accommodations they need.
Below are some tips to help you make the changes that will help your senior dog age more easily and gracefully.
Make your Home Pet-Friendly
As your dog gets older, it may be harder for them to move around as easy as they used to. Consider padded steps, ramps, orthopedic beds, and non-skid rugs. These adjustments can help your dog get to their favorite perches, move around on slick flooring, and relax in a comfortable area.
Regular Check Ups
Find a veterinarian that specializes in senior care. Your pet should have a regular check up at least once a year, but bi-annually will provide them with more general health focus. Your vet will be able to evaluate their overall body condition, as well as assess for early symptoms of common diseases in old dogs such as kidney disease, heart complications, cancers, diabetes, or loss of hearing and/or eyesight.
Change their Diet
An overweight dog will have more complications as they age. On the contrary, your older dog might be losing weight. As your dog ages, they don’t process proteins as easily. If you change their diet to a Senior focused kibble, they will be able maintain their weight and muscles. Sometimes your dog may have a lack of appetite, which could be due to a loss of smell or taste. Try mixing in some yummy treats in their food to spice things up and keep them interested in it.
Keep them Moving
Staying active is imperative to pet health, including your older dog. They may not be able to go for all day hike adventures like they could in their younger years, but they will always enjoy a daily stroll. To make it easier on joints, try taking them to a grassy area or a beach - the softer the surface, the better.
Social Visits
Keeping your dog social will help increase their overall quality of life. They may not be ultra playful, but they will still enjoy play dates with other dogs. Some aging pups do not enjoy the high energy of puppies, but others may enjoy the high tempo excitement puppies bring. Keep an eye on their body language, and manage their interactions until you feel comfortable with their play buddies.
Another way to keep them social is to bring them on outings with you. If you have to make any family or friend visits, bring your dog with you - they will love the extra attention that comes along with car rides, and new places!
Look for Signs of Arthritis
Your senior dog’s joints have experienced wear and tear, which often leads to discomfort. Keep an eye out for limping, difficulty getting up, or bunny hops up and down the stairs. Did you know that a quarter of all dogs will develop osteoarthritis? Yikes. You may notice stiffness, swelling, or pain caused by inflammation. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but your vet can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Be Aware of Cognitive Dysfunction
Keeping your dog’s brain active will help keep their brain stay healthy. Old dogs can learn new tricks! Play games like “Find It” where you hide treats or toys for your pup to search and find. They love using their nose to search for the yummy treats or fun toys.
Your dog will also enjoy applesauce or peanut butter filled food toys, or even snuffle mats. You could try some brain enrichment activities, such as letting them dig in a sand box, or romping around a kiddie pool designated just for them. Anything that lets your dog be a dog, like hunting, foraging, or tearing apart something fun keeps their doggy instincts sharp.
Help your Pet Stay Clean
As your dog ages, they will be less capable of grooming themselves. Keeping their hair short on their hind quarters will help with clean up when they are struggling with incontinence. Daily brushing will help keep their coat oils spread throughout their coats. Plus, they will really enjoy the extra attention and care - talk about pampering!
Keep their Teeth Clean
By incorporating daily brushing into your dog’s routine, you can help to keep your dog healthy longer. Periodontal disease can cause heart problems and kidney failure. Also by keeping up with your pet’s teeth you will be more aware of loose or missing teeth that may need attending to by your vet.
For more information on how to keep your dog’s teeth clean check out our blog HERE.
Focus on Quality of Life
Focus on giving your dog plenty of quality time. They may still love to play a good game of fetch. Try switching the ball for their favorite plush toy, and instead of running on hard surfaces, keep them in a carpeted area. It’s the small details that matter, but it will ensure their happiness. Let them snuggle with you on your couch, or on the bed. It may break the “no furniture” rule, but your time with them is limited, and the extra snuggles is really what your pet cherishes the most.
Savor the Moment
Your dog may be aging, and may need a bit more “paw-holding” than when they were a cute little ball of fluff. But they have been there for you every time you needed it, and now you get to be there for them. The aging process is part of the beauty of having your dog. I’ll leave with this beautiful quote that seems to encompass the joy of owning our dogs:
"There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals. It is a cycle unlike any other. To those who have never lived through its turnings and walked its rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with full knowledge that they will be broken seems incomprehensible. Only we know how small a price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given." -Suzanne Clothier
Sources
For more reading on how to care for your dog, check out these sources.
https://topdogfoundation.org/senior-dogs-caring-for-them-in-their-golden-years/
https://elderlypet.org/caring-for-elderly-pets/
https://www.npr.org/2010/11/23/131516152/helping-your-good-old-dog-navigate-aging
https://thebark.com/content/six-tips-caring-older-dogs
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/caring-for-older-dog/
Written By: Gabby St.Martin
Gabby is a dog walker and writer for Dog Tired Adventures. She loves being active, the great outdoors, and loving on her Doberman.