Caring for an older dog or cat
Dogs and cats live longer than they used to, thanks to better food and better veterinary care, and many now spend a quarter of their lives or more as seniors. Most of what helps an older pet is small: more frequent checkups, a softer bed, a ramp, and a little more time. Here is when old age starts, what to watch for, and what to change at home.
When does a pet count as a senior?
- Cats are usually counted as seniors from about 10 or 11 years old.
- Dogs age at different speeds depending on size. Vets often treat a dog as senior in the last quarter of their expected lifespan: from about 6 or 7 for giant breeds, around 8 for large breeds such as labradors, and 10 or later for small breeds.
Checkups every six months
Many vets suggest a checkup every six months for older pets, often with blood and urine tests. Kidney disease, an overactive thyroid in cats, diabetes, arthritis and dental disease are all common in older pets, and all are easier to manage when caught early. A pet ages faster than we do, so six months is a long stretch of their life.
Changes to take to the vet
- Drinking and peeing more than usual. One of the most useful early signs. It can point to kidney disease, diabetes, or thyroid or hormone problems.
- Losing or gaining weight without a change in food.
- Stiffness. Slow to get up, reluctant on the stairs, lagging behind on walks. In cats, look for a cat who no longer jumps onto their favourite shelf, or who starts missing the litter box. Arthritis is common in older cats and often missed, because cats hide pain well.
- Bad breath, dropping food, or chewing on one side. Often the teeth.
- New lumps. Most are harmless, but have each one checked.
- Bumping into things, or not hearing you. Eyes and ears fade with age. A blue-grey haze in the eyes is often normal ageing, while a white, cloudy look can be a cataract.
- Confusion. Getting stuck in corners, staring at walls, pacing or calling out at night, or forgetting house training. Dogs and cats can develop a condition much like dementia, and a vet can help with it.
Small changes at home
- A thick, soft bed somewhere warm and out of drafts.
- Ramps or steps up to the sofa, the bed, or the car.
- Rugs or runners on smooth floors. Older dogs slip on wood and tiles, and a fall can knock their confidence.
- Everything on one level. Food, water and a bed on each floor they use, and for a cat, a litter box with a low side on each floor.
- A night light, and furniture kept where it is, for a pet whose eyesight is going.
- Help with grooming. Older cats groom less and can get matted. Brush gently, and keep claws trimmed: an older cat’s claws can grow long enough to curl into the paw pads.
Food and weight
Extra weight is hard on sore joints, so keeping an older pet trim is one of the kindest things you can do. Some older cats go the other way and lose weight, which is worth a check in itself. Ask your vet whether a senior food suits your pet, and try smaller, more frequent meals if appetite drops. Put out more than one water bowl, and for a cat, a water fountain can encourage drinking.
Exercise and play
Older pets still need to move, just in smaller doses. Two or three short walks a day suit most older dogs better than one long one. Let them sniff, since following a scent is good work for the brain and easy on the joints. Swimming suits many dogs with arthritis. For cats, a wand toy moved slowly along the floor keeps play gentle. Puzzle feeders give both something to think about.
Pain
Pets rarely cry out from long-term pain. Instead they pant at rest, get restless at night, lick one joint, snap when touched, hide, or groom less. If you see any of these, talk to your vet, who can prescribe pain relief made for dogs and cats. Never give a human painkiller: paracetamol can kill a cat, and ibuprofen harms both dogs and cats.
Good days and bad days
There may come a time when you have to think about your pet’s quality of life. Many vets use a simple checklist for it, covering pain, appetite, drinking, cleanliness, happiness, mobility, and whether there are more good days than bad. Some owners mark each day on a calendar as good or bad, which makes the pattern easier to see over a few weeks. Your vet can talk it through with you whenever you are ready.
Until then, an older pet is often a calmer, gentler one, and more attached to you and to their routine than ever. A few small changes help them enjoy those years in comfort.