Guide to Caring for Senior Pets

What to Expect When your Pet is Getting Older

Aging pets make wonderful and loving companions, but like people, pets need special considerations as they age. By understanding the normal aging process, you will be better able to provide the environment your older pet needs to age with grace.

Pet Life Expectancy

How old is an old pet? This is a common question, and the best way to answer it is to consider life expectancy. Pet life expectancy depends on species, breed, genetics, weight, overall health, size and other factors.

Average Cat Life Expectancy

For domestic cats, the variable that seems to have the most influence on life expectancy is where the cat is kept. A study from Purdue University found that indoor cats tend to live about two and a half times as long as outdoor cats. Because the average life expectancy of an indoor cat is about 15 years, indoor cats are considered seniors when they are approximately 8 years old.

Photo credit to Shelleyelizabeth Average Dog Life Expectancy under CC2.0

Size seems to be the most important factor when it comes to calculating average dog life expectancy. As a general rule, smaller dogs live longer than larger ones. The average 50-pound dog is expected to live for 10 to 12 years. A dog under 20 pounds might be expected to live longer than 12 years, and a dog over 100 pounds is only expected to live for six to eight years. This means that a mastiff is considered old at five or six years of age, but a miniature poodle is not considered a senior until it is closer to 8 years of age.

Life Expectancy and Breed

Because many purebred dogs and cats have a higher risk for certain genetic diseases, most veterinarians believe that mixed breeds have longer average life expectancies. For example, certain dog breeds, such as the boxer and golden retriever, have high cancer rates. These high cancer rates decrease average life expectancies for members of the affected breeds.

Normal Aging Changes

Pets tend to slow down as they age. They are not as spry as they once were, and they are more sensitive to temperature. They can also seem to have more trouble remembering things or learning new tasks and be more anxious and less tolerant of change. Photo credit to emdot under CC2.0

www.martindaleanimalclinic.com 1-877-635-8704 Signs of Potential Health Problems

If changes happen gradually, they may be part of normal aging, but any sudden change or extreme alteration in behavior or physical status should be referred to a veterinarian. Some signs that the changes you are seeing might be due to a health problem rather than normal aging include the following:

• Weight loss • Not eating • Difficulty breathing • Limping or difficulty walking • A lump or other growth • Diarrhea or constipation • Extreme thirst • Increased frequency of urination • Coughing • Rapid breathing • Collapse • Increased vocalization • Abrupt behavior changes

Veterinary Care for Senior Pets

Because aging pets are at increased risk of developing certain health problems, including arthritis, dental disease, certain cancers, thyroid problems, liver and kidney disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases, they need more frequent veterinary care than younger pets. Most veterinarians recommend that senior pets receive wellness checks every six months.

Dog photo 2 credit to Henriette88 under CC2.0

www.martindaleanimalclinic.com 1-877-635-8704 Recommended Lifestyle Changes for Senior Cats and Dogs

As they age, pets have trouble seeing, hearing and moving as well as they once did, but they still have a lot of love to give. They just require a little extra care than younger cats and dogs. By making the small changes described below, you can help your pet age in comfort and good health.

A Stable Routine

Older pets are less tolerant of change than younger animals, and they tend to become anxious more easily. To help keep your older pet happy, maintain a regular routine for meals, walks and other daily activities. If you must make a change, do it slowly to avoid causing your pet unnecessary stress.

Photo credit to Bill Harrison Regular Preventative Care under cc2.0

Because older pets are more likely to develop health problems than younger animals, regular veterinary care is important. Most veterinarians recommend that senior pets have wellness visits twice per year and blood work at least once per year. These visits allow veterinarians to detect and treat developing health problems in their early stages.

Household Changes

As your pet ages, consider making some of the following adjustments to your home to make your pet more comfortable:

• Putting your pet’s bed, food and litter box on a single floor to minimize or eliminate the need for the animal to climb stairs. • Adding nightlights around the house if your pet begins to have problems seeing in low light. • Adding ramps or stairs where needed to allow your pet to reach favorite perches. • Removing obstacles and clutter from floors to help your pet navigate the house.

Temperature Control

A senior pet may have trouble regulating its body temperature. This means that older dogs and cats are more sensitive to heat, humidity and cold than younger animals. To keep your older dog or cat comfortable and safe, keep the animal inside with the heat or air conditioner running as needed. Also, be sure to provide a warm bed or blanket in an accessible area of your home.

Photo credit to Shoichi Masuhara www.martindaleanimalclinic.com under cc2.0 1-877-635-8704 Feeding Changes

SENIOR DIETS

As animals age, their metabolisms slow, and their digestive systems become less efficient at absorbing nutrients. To ensure that your pet receives adequate nutrition, consider switching the animal to a specially formulated senior diet. You should also ask your veterinarian whether or not your pet needs dietary supplements to remain in good health.

Most veterinarians recommend switching cats, small dogs and medium dogs to senior diets when they are seven years old or older. Large dogs should start eating senior diets when they are five or six years old.

FEEDING FREQUENCY

Older pets often have trouble digesting large meals. Consider feeding your pet three or more small meals per day instead of feeding the animal one or two large meals.

FOOD TYPE

Older animals are more prone to dehydration than younger animals, so paying attention to hydration is important as your pet ages. We recommend that you continue to feed your pet predominantly dry food to help with tartar build up and other dental issues that can become more prevalent with senior animals, but substituting some wet food occasionally can help ensure your pet is hydrated.

Ensure you always have water with you on any outings your pet takes with you, and continuously refresh their bowl at home.

Photo credit to Ewen Roberts under cc2.0

CAREFUL HANDLING

Older pets are more fragile than younger animals. Their hearing and eyesight are often diminished, and they are slower to heal from injuries than younger pets. To avoid accidentally injuring your older dog or cat, consider the following suggestions:

• Avoid rough play. • Carefully monitor interactions between children or younger animals and senior pets. • Avoid sudden movements around senior animals. • Use care when lifting or carrying senior pets. • Never touch an older dog or cat until you are sure the animal has seen or heard your approach. • Use head collars or harnesses instead of neck collars when walking older dogs. • Use care when combing and brushing older pets.

www.martindaleanimalclinic.com 1-877-635-8704 Adopting an Older Pet

Potential owners often overlook older pets in favor of puppies and kittens. While immature animals are cute and full of energy, they are also a lot of work. Senior pets are just as loving as younger animals, and they usually require less intense training and supervision. For a potential pet owner who is looking for a calm, affectionate cat or dog, an older animal is often the perfect choice.

Benefits of Adopting an Older Pet

Senior pets make excellent companions for a number of reasons including the following:

• They usually need much less training than younger pets, but they can be trained if needed. • They tend to be much calmer than younger animals. • They are usually housebroken or litter trained. • They are more likely to be content sitting on your lap Photo credit to or by your side than younger pets. Rikki’s Refuge under cc2.0 • They are already fully grown. • Their personalities are fully developed, so you know what you are getting before you adopt.

Things to Consider When Adopting an Older Pet

Making the Right Match

With older pets, personality matching is critical. Because senior pets have fully developed personalities, you need to discuss your living situation and expectations with rescue workers or shelter personnel before you make an adoption decision.

Health

While you should take any new pet to see a veterinarian, doing so is especially critical for a senior dog or cat with an incomplete medical history. In addition to a physical examination, you should have basic blood work done to ensure your new pet is healthy.

Trust

Some senior pets have been abused or abandoned by previous owners, so they may be slower to trust new people than puppies or kittens. This means you need to be patient with your new dog or cat. Once you win the trust of your pet, however, you will have an extremely devoted companion.

Photo credit to Mariposa Veterinary… under cc2.0 www.martindaleanimalclinic.com 1-877-635-8704 Bringing Your Senior Pet Home

When bringing an older dog or cat into your household, you need to take everything slowly, minimize stress and establish a routine. Older pets often need a bit more time to acclimate to a new situation than younger animals.

A Stress-Free Environment

Have the pet’s dishes, bed and litter set up before you bring the animal home. A consistent environment is comforting to animals. Also, be sure to put your new pet’s bed in a safe place, but do not cut the animal off from the family. Your new dog or cat will want to observe you and learn your routine.

Photo credit to The Right Food A.Daveyunder cc2.0

All animals have trouble with sudden changes in diet, but such changes are often harder on older animals. If possible, provide your pet with the same food it was eating in the shelter or in its previous home. This will help prevent digestive upset. If you wish, you can gradually transition to a new food over time by mixing the old food with the new.

A Word About Visitors

While it can be tempting to invite all of your friends over to meet your new pet, this is not a good idea. Older dogs and cats are often more set in their ways than younger animals, so your new pet will need a few weeks to get used to you and your family. After your dog or cat has settled into your home, you can gradually introduce it to new people.

If you have any questions about caring for a senior pet or introducing a senior pet into your home, Contact us today