Special Care Tips for Senior-Pet Owners

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| Print | By Jo Singer | September 16, 2009 2:27 PM

With all the innovative advances in veterinary care today, happily our pets' life expectancy has significantly increased by several years. This said, we need to understand the needs of our senior pets so we can continue to provide the optimum care to greatly enhance their health and happiness.

Spanky, Age 20
16-Spanky 082002.jpg Older pets tend to need more sleep, so often nap more frequently. Their appetites may change as well, and they may consume less food. Senior pets may react negatively to a lot of commotion and loud noises in the home and since their sense of hearing may diminish, they may not respond to our voice as readily as they did when they were younger. You may notice cloudy eyes, and less acute vision, and their coats may become more rough and dull.

Of course all of these changes should be carefully monitored by regular veterinary care. Oral care is very important as our pets age as part of senior wellness exams. Your veterinarian is your senior pet's best friend, as well as a source of information and support to you.

Accidents can happen. Older cats and dogs may occasionally soil floors and carpets if their nature calls are urgent and they cannot get outside or reach a litter box in time. Be patient with your seniors, and do not admonish them. Cats may become arthritic so providing them lower sided litter boxes, or a step that reaches a high sided box is very helpful for them. Since urinary tract infections and kidney problems can also cause accidents, it is essential to talk to your vet about litter box changes. Wee Wee pads for dogs are very helpful and can help prevent house soiling.

Chandar Age 19
16-Chandar 09262002.jpg It goes without saying that an appropriate diet for elder pets is one of the cornerstones to more robust health. Talk to your vet about lower calorie pet foods, since senior pets are generally not as active as they were in the past. It is crucial to prevent obesity, which can lead to many serious medical conditions, such as Diabetes, heart and kidney disease. While prescription diets can be very helpful, some senior pet owners are finding that nutritious raw diets can help to provide a well balanced and calorie conscious feeding program.

Since vision and hearing acuity diminishes, pet-proofing the home becomes very important in keeping senior pets safe. Obstacles in the home can become difficult for pets to negotiate, and climbing stairs may become difficult as well. There are pet-sized stairs that are available on the market which can ease these problems and make life a lot easier for seniors. There are also orthopedic beds which may be purchased to give older dogs the support in which to doze more comfortably. Do make sure that any soft items are thoroughly washable in case accidents occur.

The most important thing is to continue lavishing an abundance of love on your aging pets. They thrive wonderfully, knowing that you are there for them, giving them a sense of security, especially when they may feel anxious about their bodily changes. It is indeed a gift to be able to share many wonderful years with your once young and vibrant pet who has reached their golden years.

This bond is very special and one, in my opinion, is a great honor.
Have you cared for a senior pet? Please share any further suggestions for their care by leaving a comment.

Photo Credits: DBDustBuny

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jmuhj September 16, 2009 4:21 PM

A dear friend (cat) just celebrated his 23rd birthday. He was adopted by a dear friend (human) from a sanctuary where he was nursed back to health after being rescued from deplorable conditions and weighing only a fraction of what he should. He is now very healthy, happy, loved, and pampered, as he should be.

Our furmily includes several senior cats, who are much loved. My family and I have always adopted for life, and we love our older cats more every day. A lifetime of love is cherished in each case. My latest adoptions have been an adult female from a local shelter, and most recently, the 14-year-young beloved of a friend of a friend who is elderly and infirm and could no longer give him the level of care he needs. He fits in beautifully with our large feline family!

Vicki September 16, 2009 4:30 PM

Whenever I have accquired a pet, it is for life. Since I have had multiple dogs, I have cared for several aged ones. As they age, I talk to my vet who advises me on what foods they should have, and their needs. My English Bulldog lived for thirteen years, my Great Pyrenees for eleven. My veet has told me on many occasions that they far outlived the life expectancy for their breed. I will continue to care for the dogs I have and adjust lifestyles as it is needed.

Zach Atteberry September 16, 2009 4:34 PM

Very nice and well written article, was very useful to my knowledge as well.

I do love senior cats and my best friend has a 18 year old cat that i pet all the time before school, they really do need alot more care and love as they get older and slow down.

Pam September 16, 2009 6:16 PM

Great article. With a 12YO, 14YO and 19.5YO cat, I'm aware of the body changes that take place. My very elderly cat has severe arthritis, is super skinny (5-lb, 6 oz), only part of one kidney is working, and has frequent urinary tract infections but her quality of life is still good. She sleeps most of the time but still comes up for rubs and hugs, and loves finding a sunny spot to lay out in. When it's cool at night, I have a warming bed for her to stretch out in, which eases her discomfort. I take her regularly to the vet for tests to make sure there aren't any surprises. She's not in pain and is still very much alive so her quality of life is still pretty good. I guess that's all we can ask for when they're this elderly.

annie September 25, 2009 3:10 AM

great article!

my oldest pet is not one of my cats -- the oldest three just turned 7 either late august or this month -- but my almost 30 year old conure. she is still feisty for her age. when she wants to be covered up because it's HER bedtime, i think everyone in our mobil park knows :::::smile:::::