Older pets often experience age-related issues and need additional care and attention to remain healthy and comfortable. Our All Breed Pet Care team knows you want your senior pet to live their best life, so we offer tips to help your four-legged friend enjoy their golden years.

#1: Increase your senior pet’s veterinary visits

All pets should visit their veterinarian for wellness care at least annually, but since senior pets are at increased risk for age-related conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cognitive dysfunction, and thyroid problems, they should receive a veterinary evaluation at least every six months. These visits are crucial for detecting conditions in the early stages when they are easier to manage, which provides your four-legged friend with a better prognosis and quality of life. While you may think your pet will let you know if they are sick or in pain, pets often hide vulnerabilities and don’t exhibit disease signs until their condition is advanced and treatment is difficult.

#2: Watch your senior pet’s waistline

Senior pets tend to be less active than their younger selves, and their metabolism may slow down, leading to unwanted weight gain. Excess weight is hard on their joints and increases their risk for health conditions such as cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes. Tips to keep your senior pet at a healthy weight include:

  • Feeding the right food — Many senior pets benefit from a diet specifically formulated for their life stage. Ask our All Breed Pet Care team if you should switch your four-legged friend to a senior pet food diet.
  • Calculating needed calories — Pets aren’t good at regulating what they eat, and leaving their food bowl full is a recipe for weight gain. An online pet calorie calculator, which considers your pet’s weight, body condition score, age, activity level, and spay or neuter status, can accurately determine how many calories your pet needs per day.
  • Measuring portion sizes — Once you know your pet’s daily calorie requirements, read their food label to determine the equal amount of food, and carefully measure the meal portion sizes with a measuring cup or kitchen scale to prevent over or under feeding. One small kibble piece can represent a lot of calories for a cat or small dog.

#3: Recognize your pet’s arthritis signs

Many senior pets have arthritis, but the condition often goes undiagnosed and untreated, because owners dismiss signs as normal age-related changes. When recognized and treated appropriately, an arthritic pet’s quality of life can be greatly improved. Signs you may notice include:

  • Lagging behind on walks
  • Sleeping or resting more often
  • Stiffness after resting
  • Decreased social interaction
  • Hesitating when jumping on or off elevated surfaces
  • Difficulty navigating stairs
  • Resting in more easily accessible areas
  • Urinating outside the litter box
  • Resting in awkward positions
  • Uncharacteristic irritability toward people or other pets

#4: Ensure your senior pet exercises daily

While your senior pet may no longer keep up with you on your five mile run, they still need daily physical exercise to stay fit and healthy. A brisk walk around your neighborhood two or three times a day may meet your small dog’s physical activity needs, while larger, more active dogs may benefit from longer walks and gentle games of fetch. Senior cats also need exercise, and often you can entice them to move by teasing them with a laser pointer or wand-style toy.

If you have questions about the best exercises for your senior pet, ask our All Breed Pet Care team.

#5: Provide mental stimulation for your senior pet

Adequate mental stimulation helps prevent boredom and may also prevent or slow cognitive dysfunction’s onset. This condition, similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, causes signs including disorientation, inappropriate elimination, sleep cycle disturbances, forgetting known commands, inability to recognize family members, getting lost in familiar places, and increased anxiety. Tips to provide mental stimulation for your senior pet include:

  • Using a food puzzle toy — Use a puzzle toy and make your pet exercise their brain to access treats or their meal.
  • Teaching a new trick — Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? Teach your pet a fun new trick and practice daily.
  • Playing nose work games — Let your pet exercise their sniffer by playing fun nose work games, such as “Which Hand Holds the Treat?” and “Find the Baited Box.”
  • Creating an obstacle course — Use household items, such as chairs, couch cushions, and broomsticks, to create an obstacle course in your home. Lead your pet through the course and then let them navigate on their own for a well-earned treat.

#6: Attend to your senior pet’s dental care

Periodontal disease can cause significant problems for senior pets, including heart, kidney, and liver damage. Follow these tips to ensure your senior pet receives appropriate dental care:

  • Scheduling regular veterinary dental cleanings — Veterinary dental cleanings are the only way to thoroughly clean your pet’s teeth and remove bacteria from below the gumline. Our team will perform these procedures under anesthesia so they can fully evaluate your pet’s mouth and prevent your pet’s stress and anxiety.
  • Brushing your pet’s teeth — Daily toothbrushing is the best way to promote your pet’s oral health between veterinary dental cleanings. Use pet-specific toothpaste, because human dental products are often toxic to pets. 
  • Offering dental chews — Chewing Veterinary Oral Health Council-approved products can also help remove plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth.

Contact our All Breed Pet Care team to schedule your senior pet’s bi-annual wellness visit or veterinary dental cleaning, so we can help ensure they enjoy their golden years.