How to Take Care of Your Senior Dog

At some point, most dog owners question what life will be like for their dogs when they move past their puppy years and become elderly. 

Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to take care of elderly dogs. Below, you will find the answers to some common questions about caring for senior pets. 

What Is Considered Old Age for a Dog?

Determining old age for a dog is not always a clear answer. A dog becomes a senior based on several factors, including size. For instance, a large dog like a Great Dane or Saint Bernard is considered a senior at a younger age than a smaller breed, such as terriers. 

Generally, dogs become seniors between ages seven and nine. However, smaller breeds might not reach that milestone until they are 11 or 12. 

Are Senior Dogs Hard to Take Care Of?

A senior dog will likely continue to be playful and enjoy the same activities as they did in their younger years. Your pet reaching an older age doesn’t mean it will struggle with eating or won’t run around. However, they may have a little less energy and mild arthritis. 

When a senior dog reaches its geriatric years, it is more likely to experience health issues and a decline in energy or cognitive function. Caring for a senior dog is often easier than caring for a geriatric pet. Your older dog would need some lifestyle adjustments, but it’s not overly challenging to maintain a good quality of life for it. 

What to Expect with an Aging Dog

Though senior dogs are easier to care for than geriatric dogs, it’s crucial to understand that your aging pet will likely experience problems they didn’t have as a puppy or younger adult. 

Obesity

Older dogs tend to be less active, so they won’t burn as many calories as they would as a puppy. By retaining calories, dogs can become overweight. Even an active aging dog with an age-related metabolic slowdown can become obese without a proper senior dog diet and exercise. 

Hearing and Vision Loss

Hearing and vision loss are common issues with senior dogs. The problems are usually gradual, so it’s not always immediately recognizable to dog owners. 

If your pet has vision loss, they may struggle to make eye contact with you or have difficulty finding their toys and food or water bowls. Hearing difficulties usually result in a dog sleeping more soundly than usual, not looking at you when you call for it and ignoring exciting sounds like a squeaky toy. 

Arthritis

When observing your dog, you might see them limping or moving stiffly. If your dog is in its senior years, the problem is likely arthritis, a common condition that causes pain and inflammation due to the breakdown of cartilage between joint bones. The discomfort may cause your pet to move slowly and feel disinterested in climbing stairs, playing, or jumping. 

Cognitive Decline

Like elderly adults who experience a change in their cognitive function, dogs can also have mental shifts due to their age. Signs of cognitive decline include forgetfulness and anxiety. If your pet develops cognitive dysfunction syndrome, the canine version of Alzheimer’s disease, it might have learning issues, increased anxiety, confusion, house soiling, and disturbed sleep. 

How Do You Prolong a Senior Dog’s Life?

Taking good care of your aging pet’s needs and monitoring its health is the best way to ensure they live a long, happy life as your companion. 

Nutritious Diet

Though you could feed your aging dog food created for senior canines, you can continue with regular adult foods. However, you must be more vigilant about obesity and appetite loss signs. 

Excess weight for a dog can lead to severe health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. You can keep your pet healthy by maintaining a feeding schedule consisting of nutritious food. 

Sometimes pets develop decreased appetites due to age-related illnesses like organ failure or cancer. Your veterinarian may recommend appetite-increasing medication or a prescription diet. You could also try introducing extra tasty and nutritious food to your pet to entice it to eat. 

Pain Management

You can drastically improve your pet’s comfort by managing their age-related arthritis pain. It can be difficult to notice signs of chronic pain in your pet, so watch for subtle behavioral changes like appetite changes or isolation. If your dog has arthritis or another chronic issue, your vet could provide pain management tips or medication. 

Physical Fitness and Mental Stimulation

Physical and mental stimulation for senior dogs is essential for their health and happiness. When your pet can no longer move or play as quickly or efficiently as it once could, its confidence could dwindle. Engage your pet daily with strengthening exercises, scent games, snuffle mats, and puzzle feeders.  

Comfortable Bedding

When your pet isn’t playing, it needs a place to rest comfortably. A plush doggie bed is a great way for your pet to unwind, relax, and sleep. It also keeps them off cold, hard surfaces like hardwood or tile flooring, which could be uncomfortable. 

Consider increasing the number of padded bedding in your home for your dog. For instance, you could keep one in your bedroom and living room so your dog always has a place to rest. 

Increased Veterinary Care

It would be best to have more veterinary visits with your aging dog’s physical and cognitive changes. The vet can address age-related problems in their earliest stages and help plan for your dog’s care for its later years. 

Allow Penny Paws to Help Care for Your Aging Dog

Now that you know how to look after senior dogs, Penny Paws is here to ensure that your beloved pet receives age-appropriate veterinary care. Our Texas animal clinics have skilled and compassionate veterinarians who provide vaccinations, pet dentistry, routine exams, and emergency care. Call your local Penny Paws location and give your senior dog the quality care it needs.

At some point, most dog owners question what life will be like for their dogs when they move past their puppy years and become elderly. 

Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to take care of elderly dogs. Below, you will find the answers to some common questions about caring for senior pets. 

What Is Considered Old Age for a Dog?

Determining old age for a dog is not always a clear answer. A dog becomes a senior based on several factors, including size. For instance, a large dog like a Great Dane or Saint Bernard is considered a senior at a younger age than a smaller breed, such as terriers. 

Generally, dogs become seniors between ages seven and nine. However, smaller breeds might not reach that milestone until they are 11 or 12. 

Are Senior Dogs Hard to Take Care Of?

A senior dog will likely continue to be playful and enjoy the same activities as they did in their younger years. Your pet reaching an older age doesn’t mean it will struggle with eating or won’t run around. However, they may have a little less energy and mild arthritis. 

When a senior dog reaches its geriatric years, it is more likely to experience health issues and a decline in energy or cognitive function. Caring for a senior dog is often easier than caring for a geriatric pet. Your older dog would need some lifestyle adjustments, but it’s not overly challenging to maintain a good quality of life for it. 

What to Expect with an Aging Dog

Though senior dogs are easier to care for than geriatric dogs, it’s crucial to understand that your aging pet will likely experience problems they didn’t have as a puppy or younger adult. 

Obesity

Older dogs tend to be less active, so they won’t burn as many calories as they would as a puppy. By retaining calories, dogs can become overweight. Even an active aging dog with an age-related metabolic slowdown can become obese without a proper senior dog diet and exercise. 

Hearing and Vision Loss

Hearing and vision loss are common issues with senior dogs. The problems are usually gradual, so it’s not always immediately recognizable to dog owners. 

If your pet has vision loss, they may struggle to make eye contact with you or have difficulty finding their toys and food or water bowls. Hearing difficulties usually result in a dog sleeping more soundly than usual, not looking at you when you call for it and ignoring exciting sounds like a squeaky toy. 

Arthritis

When observing your dog, you might see them limping or moving stiffly. If your dog is in its senior years, the problem is likely arthritis, a common condition that causes pain and inflammation due to the breakdown of cartilage between joint bones. The discomfort may cause your pet to move slowly and feel disinterested in climbing stairs, playing, or jumping. 

Cognitive Decline

Like elderly adults who experience a change in their cognitive function, dogs can also have mental shifts due to their age. Signs of cognitive decline include forgetfulness and anxiety. If your pet develops cognitive dysfunction syndrome, the canine version of Alzheimer’s disease, it might have learning issues, increased anxiety, confusion, house soiling, and disturbed sleep. 

How Do You Prolong a Senior Dog’s Life?

Taking good care of your aging pet’s needs and monitoring its health is the best way to ensure they live a long, happy life as your companion. 

Nutritious Diet

Though you could feed your aging dog food created for senior canines, you can continue with regular adult foods. However, you must be more vigilant about obesity and appetite loss signs. 

Excess weight for a dog can lead to severe health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. You can keep your pet healthy by maintaining a feeding schedule consisting of nutritious food. 

Sometimes pets develop decreased appetites due to age-related illnesses like organ failure or cancer. Your veterinarian may recommend appetite-increasing medication or a prescription diet. You could also try introducing extra tasty and nutritious food to your pet to entice it to eat. 

Pain Management

You can drastically improve your pet’s comfort by managing their age-related arthritis pain. It can be difficult to notice signs of chronic pain in your pet, so watch for subtle behavioral changes like appetite changes or isolation. If your dog has arthritis or another chronic issue, your vet could provide pain management tips or medication. 

Physical Fitness and Mental Stimulation

Physical and mental stimulation for senior dogs is essential for their health and happiness. When your pet can no longer move or play as quickly or efficiently as it once could, its confidence could dwindle. Engage your pet daily with strengthening exercises, scent games, snuffle mats, and puzzle feeders.  

Comfortable Bedding

When your pet isn’t playing, it needs a place to rest comfortably. A plush doggie bed is a great way for your pet to unwind, relax, and sleep. It also keeps them off cold, hard surfaces like hardwood or tile flooring, which could be uncomfortable. 

Consider increasing the number of padded bedding in your home for your dog. For instance, you could keep one in your bedroom and living room so your dog always has a place to rest. 

Increased Veterinary Care

It would be best to have more veterinary visits with your aging dog’s physical and cognitive changes. The vet can address age-related problems in their earliest stages and help plan for your dog’s care for its later years. 

Allow Penny Paws to Help Care for Your Aging Dog

Now that you know how to look after senior dogs, Penny Paws is here to ensure that your beloved pet receives age-appropriate veterinary care. Our Texas animal clinics have skilled and compassionate veterinarians who provide vaccinations, pet dentistry, routine exams, and emergency care. Call your local Penny Paws location and give your senior dog the quality care it needs.