Senior pets hold a very special place in our hearts. If you’ve been caring for your pets for a while, adjusting your routine to fit their age shouldn’t be too stressful. However, whether you’ve had your senior pets for years or just adopted an older pet, the following tips will help you provide the happiness, love, and compassionate care they all deserve.
Learn About Common Senior Pet Problems and Prevention
If you have older dogs in your home, you should know that they can be affected by some very common senior dog health issues. Your older pets may experience decreased vision and hearing, and they will likely have less energy than before. But one of the most common ailments affecting senior dogs is arthritis and joint pain. Inflammation and discomfort associated with canine arthritis can make it difficult for your dogs to play and move around. While you cannot completely prevent these effects from impacting your pets’ quality of life, you can take some simple steps to make them less severe. Make sure your dogs get plenty of exercise and also make changes to their diet to keep them at a healthy weight as they age.
Find Gentle, Effective Ways to Relieve Pet Pain and Discomfort
Most pet owners turn to NSAIDs prescribed by their vet to ease arthritis pain in their pets, but these medications can have some pretty serious side effects and should be used with caution. A more mild method for treating arthritis in senior pets is to use CBD. While human tests have been limited, CBD oil has been tested on animals and shown to have a healing effect on joint pain and inflammation. It may also help with common skin issues and anxieties that arise in senior pets. Curious whether CBD could work for your senior pets? Read through this CBD guide to get an in-depth look at 10 of the top CBD oils you can buy for your pets. Also, be sure to check with your vet before beginning this or any other treatment for your senior animals.
Make Changes Around Your Home to Keep Your Pets Comfortable
You can also make some modifications at home to keep senior pets healthy and safe. If you notice your dogs are having more issues getting around, get some pet stairs to allow access to higher spaces (pet stairs can be purchased for under $20). You can find steps and ramps in all sizes, but having this option can be especially helpful if your pets are too large for you to comfortably pick up. Keep a set by your bed and near your car to make life easier for you and your senior pets. Another small step you can take to keep your senior animals happy is to install a doggy door. Older animals tend to need more bathroom breaks, so having more access to the outdoors can be a plus for your senior pets. As senior pets age, they become more prone to hair loss and accidents, so it may be helpful to call in a cleaning service on occasion. In Kalamazoo, maid services charge an average of $123 per cleaning.
Create Special Moments and Memories with Your Aging and Senior Pets
Loving senior pets means knowing your time together is limited. With this in mind, the most important thing you can do to provide more quality of life for your older pets is to spend more time with them. Figure out what your pets love to do and make more time to do those things together. You could even put together a senior pup bucket list, one that’s full of adventures you would like to take with your pets in the years to come. Let your senior dogs go for a swim in the lake or allow a few indulgent treats here and there. Look for top dog-friendly spots for your pets to sniff and explore. Above all, look for simple ways to show your dogs that you love them and cherish the moments they are by your side.
Senior dogs have been there to comfort us through the years, so it only makes sense to want to provide them with extra comforts during their golden years. You don’t have to make major changes to your care routine to do so, but you may need to make some minor adjustments to give your senior pets the love and attention they deserve.
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