Aging With Grace: How to Support Your Senior Pet
As pets grow older, their needs change—and so should their care. Senior pets require modifications to their home life and veterinary care to ensure they age gracefully, healthily, and with the most comfort. As a devoted pet owner, you’ll need to adjust your pet’s care routine—and potentially your lifestyle—to accommodate their evolving needs. We outline changes that will help maintain your pet’s quality of life throughout their later years.
Semi-annual veterinary visits
Although yearly veterinary visits may have been sufficient when your pet was younger, senior pets should see their veterinarian twice a year, because their health can change rapidly and more frequent exams are essential. As the focus of your pet’s care shifts from disease prevention to early detection, semi-annual visits allow emerging health issues to be caught before they become serious. Additional testing, such as blood work and urinalysis, is also recommended to monitor your senior pet’s health.
Dental care
With age comes an increased need for professional dental care. Untreated dental disease can cause severe and chronic pain from broken or damaged teeth and negatively impact your pet’s quality of life. In addition, harmful bacteria from excessive plaque can enter your pet’s bloodstream and damage their kidneys, liver, and heart. Work with your AAHA-accredited veterinarian to develop a dental care plan for your senior pet that includes professional dental cleanings, exams, and X-rays under anesthesia, as well as comprehensive at-home care.
Increased monitoring
Aging in pets can lead to sensory decline, including hearing and vision loss, as well as cognitive dysfunction or dementia. These changes may not be immediately obvious, so watch for subtle signs, such as your pet bumping into furniture, not coming when called, or appearing disoriented. Similarly, many health problems can cause behavior or personality changes, such as increased fear, sudden aggression, or irritability.
If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Also, keep your pet safe by adjusting their environment, such as installing gates, pet ramps, or steps, and placing nonslip rugs over slick surfaces to prevent falls.
Low impact exercise
Your senior pet may not have the same energy or athleticism as when they were younger, but physical activity is still crucial to their health and well-being. Adjust their exercise to accommodate their physical condition, mobility, and health. Low-impact exercises, such as gentle walks or light swimming, are ideal. Keep sessions short but consistent to support healthy muscle mass, prevent obesity, provide mental stimulation, and promote healthy rest. Age-appropriate activities that don’t overexert your senior pet will keep them physically and mentally fit.
Dietary adjustments
Your pet’s energy needs change with age, and weight management becomes a priority. A veterinarian-approved complete and balanced diet, served in appropriate portions, will support your senior pet’s changing caloric needs while also preventing obesity. Consult your AAHA-accredited veterinarian about your pet’s specific nutritional requirements and whether they will benefit from supplements or specialized diets.
Regular grooming and hygiene
Maintaining your senior pet’s grooming supports their coat and skin health and increases the pet-owner bond It also allows you to check for physical changes, such as lumps, bumps, or discomfort. Sudden changes in your senior pet’s self-grooming routine, including over- or under-grooming, can signal unmanaged pain. Consult your AAHA-accredited veterinarian if your pet’s grooming habits have changed.
Consistent social interactions
Senior pets may seem low maintenance, but they still need positive social interactions with their human families to feel safe and loved. Ensure your senior pet enjoys quality time with loved ones, whether that means sitting quietly with them or playing their favorite game. While you may have once enjoyed long hikes or wrestling matches, your senior pet may now enjoy simply spending time with you. Adjust your routine to ensure they receive the affection and attention that they need to feel secure and loved, and that also nurtures your special bond.
Watching your pet age can be difficult, but recognizing and honoring their unique challenges and changes during their senior life stage can ease the transition for you both and help your beloved pet enjoy their golden years with grace, comfort, and happiness.