Long-term care
Caring for a Senior Pet
Ageing is not a disease, but it changes what good care looks like. Practical adjustments for older dogs, cats and small animals.
When is a pet 'senior'?
Broadly, cats from around eleven years, small dogs from ten, large dogs from seven and giant breeds from five. Rabbits and guinea pigs are considered senior at around five and four years respectively.
These are planning milestones, not diagnoses. They mark the point at which twice-yearly health checks and baseline blood and urine testing become genuinely useful.
Signs owners often mistake for 'just old age'
Most of these are treatable conditions rather than inevitable decline.
- Slowing down, stiffness or reluctance to jump — usually osteoarthritis, which responds well to treatment
- Increased thirst — investigate kidney disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism
- Night-time vocalising or confusion — may be cognitive dysfunction, pain or high blood pressure
- Weight loss despite a good appetite — a classic sign of feline hyperthyroidism
- Bad breath — dental disease is painful and very common
Adapt the environment
Ramps to sofas and cars, non-slip runners on hard floors, litter trays with a low entry side, raised bowls where a stiff neck makes floor level hard, and softer orthopaedic bedding all extend comfortable independence.
Keep the mind working
Shorter, more frequent walks; scent games instead of chase games; food puzzles adapted for slower eaters. Cognitive stimulation appears to slow cognitive decline in dogs, as it does in people.
References
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines — World Small Animal Veterinary Association
- AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats — American Animal Hospital Association