Life with a senior pet can be challenging… especially if your pet has physical or mental health issues! Here are some ways you can make life better for your aging dog or cat.
- Stick to the routine. Animals like routine, and need it now more than ever. Make sure feeding times and play times are always the same every day. Breaking routine can make your pet feel anxious and insecure.
- Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s diet. It may be time to add disease-fighting antioxidants to your dog or cat’s dish.
- Check your pet’s blood pressure. Hypertension is a common problem in older pets, especially if they are overweight or have kidney problems. High blood pressure over a long period of time can damage blood vessels in the brain, leading to memory and behavior problems.
- Manage your pet’s arthritis. Your veterinarian may suggest pain medicine or changes to how your house is set up to make things easier (and less painful) for your pet.
- Make it easy for your pet to find an appropriate place to potty. Add more litter boxes to the house — make sure there is at least one upstairs and one downstairs. Switch the back steps for a ramp (or get a portable ramp) to help your dog go in and out of the house.
- Be patient with new medications. It may take a few months for your pet to adjust to a new therapy — don’t give up after just a few weeks. If you think a medication isn’t making a difference, talk to your veterinarian about alternatives.
- Help keep your pet’s brain sharp. Play and training can help slow the progress of cognitive dysfunction syndrome in dogs and cats — just like working puzzles, seeing friends, and being active can help slow the progress of senility in humans.