November is senior pet awareness month – when we celebrate our older dogs, cats and small furry friends! This blog will discuss the best way to care for your senior pets in their sunset years to ensure a comfortable and fulfilled retirement.
1 – Aiding in mobility
Osteoarthritis is very common in older pets. It makes movement more challenging and increases the risk of slips and falls.
If you suspect your older pet has osteoarthritis, the first recommendation is to have a veterinary appointment to discuss management in the form of dietary supplements, medication or physiotherapy. However, there are several ways to help your arthritic pet at home:
- Placing non-slip mats on non-carpeted areas are a good way to reduce slipping. Slipping is a common way that osteoarthritis can be exacerbated.
- Stairs can also become challenging for some pets and become a danger if they risk becoming unstable. In this case, it is recommended to use baby gates to block off staircases.
- Getting in and out of the car is another common problem faced by senior pet owners. Ramps or fold out steps can be purchased for easier access into the car for senior pets. This routine is best started while your pet still has easy movement. It is more successful to build positive association with the ramp if your pet is not already struggling with mobility. It is recommended to build confidence in this new routine using treats and toys before it is needed
2 – Help with hygiene
As they get older, pets are less able to wear down their claws. This is due to reduced walking, resulting in less natural wear on their claws compared to when they were more active.
Further to this, stiffness and arthritis mean it is more challenging for pets to groom themselves and keep clean. Regular brushing and bathing will help remove any dead hair and prevent matting.
If you are not confident clipping your pet’s claws, a nurse appointment can easily be made to do this for you. Claws and nails should just graze the floor when standing square. Much longer than this becomes a slip hazard and risks twisting of the nail or even growth around and into the paw pad.
3 – Mitigating sight and hearing loss
Deafness in particular is a common ailment in senior pets, which may be combined with partial or total vision loss, often due to cataracts.
One way to manage this is to combine verbal commands with a hand gesture. This means you can still communicate with your pet if there is hearing or vision loss. Dogs and cats have a great memory for their surroundings. Even with total blindness and/or deafness, they can still cope to a good level in their own home.
For this to work however it is important to establish consistency with the layout of the home, avoid moving furniture or important items like food and water bowls or their bed.
4 – Comfort
Due to a combination of increased time lying down and loss of muscle and fat, older pets are more at risk of pressure sores. These are sores that commonly form over bony joints such as the ankle and elbow joints from laying on hard surfaces. To prevent this, senior pets should be encouraged to rest in a thickly padded bed or preferably an orthopaedic bed.
5 – Weight management and maintenance of muscle mass
It’s important to remember as your dog ages they will have different calorie requirements and will not need the same amount of energy in their food. Switching to a senior pet food will help to keep your pet feeling satiated while still reducing their calorie intake.
It is very easy for older dogs to gain weight. This exacerbates old age changes and osteoarthritis. Senior pets will also often have a level of muscle loss. This is expected but interventions such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy can help to maintain important muscles that keep your pet mobile. If you would like a referral for physiotherapy or hydrotherapy, please speak to your vet.
6 – Enrichment
Many pets will often want to do less physical activity as they age. Food based enrichment activities will keep them busy and entertained without exacerbating symptoms of joint pain. The Kong toy is a great slow feeder that can be filled with your pet’s favourite food. It is both mentally stimulating and a comfortable activity for older pets.
Speak to a Vet About Your Senior Pet
Simple changes at home can help keep your pet comfortable and happy in their later years. If you would like to speak to a vet further about your senior pet’s needs, please book an appointment at Mount Vets on 01823662286.
