As your beloved furry friend ages, they require special attention and care to ensure their golden years are comfortable, fulfilling, and full of happiness. Senior pets often experience changes in mobility, nutritional needs, and overall health that necessitate lifestyle adjustments. To help you support your aging pet, our team at The Old 41 Animal Hospital explores various aspects of caring for senior pets.

Mobility support for senior pets

Aging often changes a pet’s mobility, resulting in a decreased ability to conduct normal activities. You may notice that your senior pet can no longer run, jump, and play the way they once could, and instead, they lounge around more, struggle to get onto furniture, avoid climbing the cat tower or the stairs, or stop climbing in and out of the litter box.

To support your senior pet’s mobility and improve access to their resources, you should make a few adjustments, such as providing a firm orthopedic bed that will alleviate stress on their stiff joints,= and placing a self-warming pad on top that will further soothe away aches and pains. Ensure that your pet’s favorite spots, including their food and water, and resting areas, are easily accessible, and consider ramps or pet steps to help them reach elevated surfaces. Improve traction by laying down carpet runners or yoga mats on slick floors to prevent slipping. Regular, gentle exercise, such as short walks or mild play, can also help maintain their mobility by keeping muscles and joints strong.

Nutritional support for senior pets

Senior pets have different nutritional requirements than their younger counterparts, and you should opt for a high-quality, senior-specific pet food that addresses their changing needs. Look for formulas that include high levels of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and joint-supporting ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin. 

If your senior pet has a chronic medical condition, such as kidney or liver disease, discuss specialized prescription diets with our veterinarian. These formulas are designed to support declining organ function, promote weight loss, and boost joint health, or a combination of these and other functions. Nutritional therapy is an excellent way to help manage your pet’s condition.

Cognitive support for senior pets

Mental stimulation is as crucial as physical activity for senior pets. Engage them with interactive toys, puzzles, and regular training sessions to keep their minds active and alert. This not only contributes to their mental wellbeing but also helps prevent cognitive decline.

Ideas for mentally stimulating activities for senior pets include:

  • Hide-and-seek — Take a handful of strong-smelling treats, hide them around your home, and then encourage your pet to sniff them out. Or, you hide with a handful of treats, calling your pet’s name to help them pinpoint your location, and rewarding them with the treats when they find you.
  • The cup game — Hide a treat or small toy under one of three cups. Move the cups around to mix up the one covering the reward, and then let your pet paw or nose at a cup to indicate the one they want. If they guess correctly, offer them a reward.
  • Pet pilates — Gentle exercises that run through your pet’s normal range of motions keep your furry pal strong and flexible, so ask them to sit, lie down, stand, and spin in a circle.
  • Sniffari — Sniffing is not only a relaxing activity for dogs but is also incredibly rewarding and mentally stimulating. Slow, gentle walks that give your canine companion plenty of time to sniff each individual scent exercises their mind and body.
  • Hunt-and-stalk — Despite growing older, your cat still has a fierce predator inside their mind. Entice them into stalking, pouncing on, and “killing” their prey by mimicking the movements of their favorite prey species with a toy. Toss silk fabric in the air for your cat to nab, or drag a knotted string across the floor for them to pounce on.

Health care support for senior pets

Although age is not a disease, many health conditions are more common in senior pets. From arthritis to dental disease, obesity to kidney dysfunction, your senior pet is at an increased risk for a multitude of medical problems that can worsen rapidly. Therefore, more frequent wellness care visits are essential, so we can detect potential problems in their earliest stages when we can provide timely intervention and better management.

With a few easy-to-implement changes at home, you can greatly boost your senior pet’s quality of life. Also, you can improve your aging pet’s health and happiness by scheduling more frequent preventive care appointments. Give our team at The Old 41 Animal Hospital a call to set up your aging pet’s next visit.