Tips for Giving Your Older Pet the Best Life
With love and proper care, dogs and cats can live well into their teens; a few even make it into their twenties. Like many humans, however, old age brings new care needs and challenges. This often involves administering medications (which the animal will often resist), modifying the pet’s environment, and of course, more frequent and expensive vet bills. Courtesy of Humane Decisions, here are a few tips to help make your dog or cat’s golden years as healthy and happy as possible.
First Things First
Before selecting a veterinarian and purchasing medicines or other products for the senior pet, check out online reviews from other pet owners as well as veterinarians themselves. You want to be sure you are offering your aging animal companion the best care possible, and curated reviews are an excellent way to be sure you are doing just that.
Caring for the Caregiver
It has been said before, but it bears repeating: if you aren’t in a good place emotionally and psychologically, you won’t be good for anyone else. Animals pick up on human stress, and this can affect them in negative ways. Nor can they be left alone for long periods. Be sure to monitor your pet for changes in behavior that may indicate an increase in anxiety. Anything you can do to relieve the stress in your own life – including telecommuting or even hiring a pet sitter – will benefit your feline or canine companion.
Paying For it All
Geriatric pet care can be expensive. Too often, older pets are subject to “economic euthanasia.” One way to ease these costs is pet insurance. You will want to do your due diligence when finding pet insurance; consider what exactly the plan covers, monthly rates and deductibles, and the maximum age. Also, check out what other pet owners have to say.
Geriatric Conditions in Animals
Cats and dogs age differently than humans; for instance, a cat may remain frisky and active past the age of 14, and then relatively suddenly, will exhibit all the signs of old age. Nonetheless, as mammals, they face the same problems as aging humans, including:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Kidney and liver disease
- Hyper- or Hypo-thyroid disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Decreased muscle mass – or muscle wasting
- Dementia
While pets are living longer all the time (the oldest dog on record lived to be 31 according to NPR), veterinarians generally say that senior care for dogs and cats should start around age 7.
What You Can Do
There are several actions you can take to make sure your pet’s later years are as healthy and pain-free as possible. These include:
- Building steps or ramps
- Making sure your pet gets sufficient exercise
- Feeding a special diet with appropriate supplements / feeding quality/premium food
- Adding pre- and probiotics to wet food, everyday
- Adding Omega-3 supplements to canned food, and B-12 (injections, only if needed)
- Increase the number of water bowls around your home, keep them refreshed often
- Administration of prescribed medication
- CBD for pets, if needed for pain
Committing to regular walks that are easy for your pet are essential. As such, it’s best to stick to walkable areas that provide plenty of room for you and your pet. If your neighborhood isn’t ideal, seek out pedestrian-friendly areas and parks that get high scores for safety and that will accommodate your pup.
When to Start
Your pet will let you know when they’re starting to feel their age. Signs to look for:
- Increased sensitivity to sounds
- Withdrawal / hiding
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Moodiness
- Unresponsiveness
- Poor grooming
- Frequent “accidents”
- Increased thirst (kidney disease)
- Increased vocalization
- Coughing, wheezing
- Diarrhea / constipation
- Dilated pupils
- Confusion
When your cat or dog starts displaying these behaviors, it’s time to consult with your veterinarian. Make sure you find a vet who provides compassionate and high-quality care for your pet.
When to Say Goodbye
As with human patients, the MSD Manual points out that veterinarians use a “Quality of Life” rubric known as the HHHHHMM Score. As long as this score is 35 or more, your pet will continue to enjoy an acceptable quality of life that’s free of excessive stress. If it drops lower, it may be time to consider releasing your companion.
Caring for an older pet is a deeply rewarding experience that requires compassion, understanding, and a little extra attention to their changing needs. Remember to maintain regular veterinary check-ups, adapt their environment to suit their age-related physical limitations, provide a balanced diet tailored to their health requirements, and engage in gentle exercise to keep them active. Most importantly, continue to give them the love and attention they have always enjoyed. As they move into their golden years, our senior pets offer us a chance to repay the years of joy and companionship they have provided.
Humane Decisions is working to put an end to the exploitation of animals. Let us know if you’d like to help!
Guest Post by Lacie Martin, [email protected]
