Senior Pets

It is an unfortunate fact of life that dogs and cats will age faster than we do. Generally, large dog breeds will have shorter lifespans than smaller dogs.

Usually, pets are considered seniors when they are seven years and older – but this is breed and size dependent.

Your Dog’s Age in Human Years

This is an approximate guide.

Your Cat’s Age in Human Years

This is an approximate guide.

Signs your Dog may be experiencing the symptoms of arthritis:

Dogs are very good at hiding pain. It is a matter of survival, as in the wild, a weak or sick animal is easy prey. Add to this your dog’s desire to please you all the time and it is not uncommon for pain to go unnoticed.

Your dog may be trying to tell you he/she has arthritic pain and you need learn to look out for some of the warning signs:

Difficulty jumping into the car, up on the furniture or climbing stairs
Will be stiff and sore – especially in the morning or after lying down
Difficulty getting up or lying down; you may notice your dog slowly lower him/herself down
Reluctance to walk, play or chase the ball
Sleeping or resting more
Lethargy
Less excitement when greeting you
Muscle loss over spine, hind legs and shoulders
May show behaviour changes such as being grumpy when touched on the back

Signs your Dog may be experiencing the symptoms of arthritis:

Your dog may be trying to tell you he/she has arthritic pain and you need learn to look out for some of the warning signs:

Difficulty jumping into the car, up on the furniture or climbing stairs
Will be stiff and sore – especially in the morning or after lying down
Difficulty getting up or lying down; you may notice your dog slowly lower him/herself down
Reluctance to walk, play or chase the ball
Sleeping or resting more
Lethargy
Less excitement when greeting you
Muscle loss over spine, hind legs and shoulders
May show behaviour changes such as being grumpy when touched on the back

Signs your Cat may be experiencing the symptoms of arthritis:

Because cats are relatively small and very agile they are even better than dogs at hiding or covering up mobility difficulties caused by arthritis. We generally don’t take cats for a walk around the block so it is hard to see a limp or change in gait. Pain commonly goes unnoticed in our feline friends so watch out for these subtle signs:

Mobility

Your cat may hesitate when jumping up or down from your lap or from the furniture
He/she may not land very gracefully when jumping down
Will be reluctant to climb the fence or climb trees
Will be unwilling to move freely in and out of the cat flap
She may no longer use the litter box, especially if it has high sides

Temperament

She may be less tolerant around people and be reluctant to be picked up or moved
Hissing, scratching or even biting when touched
More withdrawn and less likely to interact with you or other pets she usually tolerates

Appearance

Matted or scruffy coat; she may be too sore to turn around and groom him/ herself comfortably
Your cat’s nails may not wear down as quickly as they once did simply because he/she is less active

Signs your Cat may be experiencing the symptoms of arthritis:

Mobility

Your cat may hesitate when jumping up or down from your lap or from the furniture
He/she may not land very gracefully when jumping down
Will be reluctant to climb the fence or climb trees
Will be unwilling to move freely in and out of the cat flap
She may no longer use the litter box, especially if it has high sides

Temperament

She may be less tolerant around people and be reluctant to be picked up or moved
Hissing, scratching or even biting when touched
More withdrawn and less likely to interact with you or other pets she usually tolerates

Appearance

Matted or scruffy coat; she may be too sore to turn around and groom him/ herself comfortably
Your cat’s nails may not wear down as quickly as they once did simply because he/she is less active

Some of the treatments might include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Help to reduce pain and inflammation quickly. Can be given short term but may be needed for the rest of your pet’s life.

Note: It is critically important that you do not give human arthritis medications to your dog or cat.

Pentosan

Given as a regular injection, these help to relieve pain and help to preserve joint cartilage.

Supplements

Supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin and omega oils may be helpful in improving your pet’s joint function and may help slow down the progression of arthritis.

Diet

A diet specifically designed for senior pets may help reduce inflammation and improve your pet’s mobility. Ask us about the specific prescription diets we have available.

To help your senior pet live a comfortable life we recommend a balanced and multi-targeted approach. This can help reduce the need for large amounts of medication and lessen the potential side effects of any one treatment.

Simple ways to help ease the discomfort of an arthritic pet

Keep your pet at a healthy weight with a balanced diet. Extra weight puts more load on the joints and can make the problem worse.
Provide a dry, comfortable bed with plenty of padding, ideally raised off the floor and away from draughts. Heated beds are a good idea for winter.
Use a ramp to help your pet get in and out of the car, up and down stairs, or on and off beds and couches.
Help cats reach their favourite spots by adding an extra piece of furniture, so they don’t have to jump as high to get to that sunny windowsill.
Keep exercising your pet in moderation. Gentle daily walks for dogs help keep the joints moving and the muscles toned.
Ask your vet about joint supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin, which can help with joint disease and mobility. Your vet can recommend the best products for your pet.

Schedule regular check-ups with your vet every six months so they can monitor your pet for changes and address any problems early. This helps catch issues before they become unnecessarily painful and more expensive to treat. If your pet is due for a senior’s check-up, please contact our team to book an appointment.