6 Tips for Caring for your Senior Pet
A senior pet has years of experience in the fine art of friendship.
Loving and caring for a senior pet can be a beautiful thing! After years of time together, you and your pet know each other through and though, and your pet’s energy level has likely transitioned to a comfortable pace. Your pet may have some health issues by this time, or your pet may be seemingly healthy and happy. Pets age much quicker than people and each day with a senior pet is a gift. It is rewarding for you and your pet to make those last years the best they can be.
Senior pets require some special attention to help keep them happy and healthy. We have complied a senior checklist of helpful tips and recommendations
Have your pet examined by a senior care veterinarian often
Most people are accustomed to taking their pet to the vet annually, however the chances of cancer, arthritis, and other health issues increase as pets age. Furthermore, pets are often subtle about changes in their health, signs of pain are often missed, and they age quicker than us. Twice yearly exams are best for senior pets so that they are examined more frequently by trained veterinarians.
Senior pets have special needs, that are different from younger pets. Our elderly relatives don’t see the same doctor as they did when they were younger… and neither should pets. Hospice and palliative care veterinarians are specially trained to help with comfort care, senior pet care concerns, help discern & treat pain, and educate family’s on how to best care of their pet’s specific needs.
2. Stimulate your Senior Pet’s Mind
Stimulating your pet’s mind and senses through enjoyable activities is a important way to keep your pet’s mind challenged and sharp, slow down mental decline, keep them engaged with family and their environment and overall improve well-being. Conversely, disinterested pets may develop unwanted and potentially destructive behaviors, such as anxiety, excessive licking/ grooming, destroying items, etc.
Always begin with an easy game that ensures quick success & reward for your pet. Mix up the daily routine and get creative with engaging your senior pet’s mind. Below is a list of suggestions of how to exercise your pet’s mind.
Teach your old dog a new trick! Your pet is never too old to learn. Reward your pet and be patient.
Food puzzles, encourage your pet to sniff for their treat or meal. There are several options online for dogs and cats, its best to begin with a beginner dog puzzle or beginner cat puzzle. Pro tip: If the food puzzle has slots where your pet has to find the slot with food, it is best to put food in all the slots so your pet can easily find the food and not become frustrated. You can also make your own food puzzle, such as filing a cookie sheet or muffin tin with treats or food. Hide a few pieces of kibble or a treat in a cardboard box or empty paper towel roll. Or hide a treat or kibble under a blankie, around a corner, etc and watch your pet sniff to find it
Get your pet new toys and rotate toys. Just like us, pets can get bored with the same toys. By incorporating new toys and rotating toys after a few days, it keeps them new and exciting for our pets.
Introduce your pet to new places. Whether your pet enjoys car rides or would rather go for a walk, take your pet to new places, it will stimulate their senses and mind just as it does ours. If you pet isn’t able to walk well, a dog wagon for or cat stroller can be wonderful ways to enjoy new places with your pet.
If your pet used to do agility, set up an easy obstacle course that they can enjoy, this will be mentally rewarding
Give your pet something new to sniff: Simply putting out grocery bags after a shopping trip can be exciting for a pet
Calming music can stimulate your pets hearing and help calm anxiety. The vibrations may be helpful even if your pet is deaf!
Tactile stimulation and changes can exercise your pet’s brain and balance, such as walking over novel surfaces like bubble wrap, foam cushions, sand, mulch or smooth pebbles
Bird feeders by windows ~Pets can watch and hear their songs
Add window ledges for cats so they can view the outside
3. Exercise your Senior Pet
Exercise is important at every and any age. Although your senior pet may not have the energy that they used to, and your pet’s mobility may be declining, exercise is still a very beneficial activity. Physical activity helps keep joints and muscles limber and strong, mentally engages your pet , helps maintain healthy weight, and increases overall well-being.
When exercising a senior pet with mobility limitations, adapt activities to what is safe and enjoyable for your pet. Make sure the pace of exercise is gentle and watch how your pet behaves during and after the exercise. Increase the frequency of walks and play, especially if the duration is shortened. Senior pets tend to be more sensitive to fluctuations in heat, cold, and humidity and in general outdoor activity should be avoided with any extreme weather. Other considerations are are the type of footing during physical activies as these may impact your pet’s ability to safely navigate and move: Grass and sand are easiest, but asphalt, gravel or rocky surfaces should be avoided.
There are many types of good activities for senior pets. Walks are a wonderful activity you can enjoy with your pet. Swimming or wading are excellent full body activities that are gentle on joints and can increase range of motion. Easy obstacle courses can be rewarding and challenge physically and mentally and utilize more muscle groups. If your pet have very limited mobility and walking is difficult, simply rolling a ball to you pet can be very fun and engaging for them or hiding a toy or snack in a food puzzle.
If during your walks or physical activity you notice that your pet is panting heavily, slowing down, limping or completely stopping, slow down and rest, you don’t want to overexert your pet physically as this may do more harm your pet. Take Note of Behavioral Changes
4. Make Note of Any Behavioral Changes
Any time your notice a change in your pet’s behavior, write it down on a calendar or notebook. This serves as an effective daily record so that trends can be seen, which may indicate areas that your pet needs help. Pets can be subtle in how they show that something is wrong. Signs of pain, illness, or distress are often missed, misinterpreted and disregarded as insignificant or normal aging, until the issue is progressed. Often, our pet’s love and joy for being with us and their instinctual nature to conceal illness, pain and disease often makes them masters at hiding signs of pain. Watching for changes in behavior and learning signs of pain, distress and fear are very helpful in caring for your senior pet.
5. Utilize Supportive Supplements
Supplements can add nutrients a pet’s diet and used to support the structure and function of various parts of the body.
There are some supplements that may be helpful in slowing down cognitive decline, by reducing oxidative damage, clearing free radicals and overall supporting brain health. Many of these supportive supplements are high in antioxidants.
Omega 3 fatty acids: Used to protect brain cells against the damaging effects of aging. There are formulations for cats and dogs, in liquid or capsules. Fish oils also are helpful with a variety of other conditions that may affect your pet. They may also help coat quality and joint stiffness.
Joint supplements with glucosamine, chondroitin, and other joint protectants: Used to help maintain healthy cartilage and connective tissue as well helping to relieve occasional joint stiffness and discomfort from daily activity.
Probiotics formulated for Pets: Live, good, friendly bacteria that promote balance in the intestines. Helps maintain the balance of gut bacteria in the digestive system, promoting good digestion, and a strong immune system. Cat formulations and dog formulations.
Denamarin: Supports the liver in dogs and cats, and support cognitve function in dogs. Tablets or chewables.
6. Familiarize yourself with Signs of Pain, Anxiety and Distress in Your Pet
Signs of pain, anxiety, and distress can easily be overlooked until the issue is advanced. Furthermore, our pet’s love for being with us and their instinctual nature can make them masters at disguising signs of pain. Watching for changes in behavior and learning signs of pain, distress and fear are helpful in best caring for your senior pet.
Become pain “Aware”, an acronym used to help identify pain:
A: Any behavior change or daily pattern. Changes in appetite, anxiety, aggression, sleeping patterns, responses to other pets/ people, are all things to take notice of and not ignore.
W: Weight shifting, Signs of limping or lameness. These are all signs of pain, even though you may not hear wincing or yelping- if your pet were not in pain, they would not be limping.
A: Activity level changes, including reluctance to move, or sleeping more (especially seen in cats).
R: Restlessness. Difficulty sleeping, difficulty getting in a comfortable position.
E: Expression & Appearance. Watch for signs like panting, trembling, shaking, facial expressions (dilated or constricted pupils), excessive licking, and vocalization.
Aging and change is a normal part of life, that pets and people all experience. Growing old is a blessing. Be in contact with your veterinarian about anything concerning. Hospice and palliative care veterinarians are caring, compassionate and will help you and your pet make the most of each day.
Always remember to love and cherish the pet in front of you. Don’t focus on what they can no longer do. Rather, focus on what they can do and what they enjoy. Life is better lived with a loved pet!