Caring for seniors transcends humans; it also means caring for our furry elders too. If you have dogs throughout your lifespan, you will end up caring for a senior canine time and time again. While it is certainly not easy, it is a precious and wonderful gift to give to your furry friend, allowing them to age in comfort and with grace, right by your side.
Having lost our 15-year-old dog Raven just a few months ago, and our 15-year-old dog Kymani the year prior, I am recently well-versed in senior dog care. When you consider that mixed breed dogs are often seniors at age seven – and Kymani and Raven were both mixed breed rescues – I had been caring for a senior dog for eight years, times two. Over the years and with the help from our friends at Paws N’ Claws and our wonderful veterinarians at Pet Kare Clinic, I learned a lot about how to properly care for our furry babies turned elders.
Once your pup is considered a senior, twice annual checkups with your veterinarian are essential as their health status can change rapidly. Small breed dogs are considered seniors around age 11, large and mixed breeds around age seven and the largest of breeds like Great Danes around age five. Regular bloodwork is a good indicator of potential health issues, along with physical examinations and overall behavior and demeanor. Diagnostic testing also becomes more prevalent in the senior dog years and will be recommended by your veterinarian should concerns arise.
Dr. Karen Nann at Pet Kare Clinic says, “wellness examinations are a vital part of maintaining your senior dog’s health. The wellness examination encompasses everything from head to toe. This exam looks at ears, teeth, musculature, possible painful areas on a pet, lumps, bumps and any other issues your pet may be having. Our pets are amazing at hiding issues, and the senior wellness examination can help us address these changes prior to them becoming a debilitating problem. In addition to a physical examination, bloodwork and screening ultrasounds enable us to assess internal organ health as well. These tests can be done on the same day, are not invasive and enable us to ensure your senior is healthy!”
Along with more frequent and regular vet care, assessing your senior pet’s nutrition is vitally important. While young pups tend to eat kibble – often too fast and anytime it is offered – senior dogs have quite a few more variables to consider when it comes to nutrition. Dental problems, health issues, height of food bowl, digestive concerns, caloric intake and supplemental needs should all be considered when the time comes to switch your pup from adult to senior food. Often, health issues are a top consideration when it comes to diet, and many senior dog foods contain ingredients to help reduce inflammation, maintain weight and boost immune systems. Some even have more specific ingredients to help with canine cognition, digestive health, joint health, mobility and maintaining a heathy skin and coat.
During Kymani’s super golden years, she enjoyed a low-fat diet due to a chronic health issue, and both of our senior pups enjoyed a mix of canned food with kibble for many of their senior dog years. Often, we added warm water to their kibble to soften it, which also helps with daily water intake as they tend to get up less and less. Over the years, Kymani had many teeth extracted – perhaps around eight – and from a dental perspective, the softer food was essential for her. Raven had chronic ear infections, and through talking to our vet and Dave at Paws N’ Claws, we found that a fish protein diet helped her to have both healthier ears and less itchy skin. We also utilized raised dog bowls as their mobility decreased significantly with age, allowing them to enjoy their senior meals in comfort.
Along with kibble and canned food, supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acids are good to mix in to help combat osteoarthritis and cognitive loss. Dave says, “if you start supplemental care at middle age, it should allow for greater longevity and movement in their senior years, but you need to start at an earlier age to let it set in.” While our senior pups were Dasuquin and omega-3 fatty acid regulars, they also maintained a pain control regimen prescribed by our vet as they aged with arthritis to keep them comfortable. Dave also suggests CBD to help with inflammation and cognitive function, which is available in various forms likes treats, chews and oils. Along with supplemental care and extremely helpful to both our pups in their senior years were acupuncture and cold laser therapy treatments, provided by our wonderful vet, Dr. Karen at Pet Kare Clinic.
“Dogs are amazing athletes,” says Dr. Karen. “As dogs age, orthopedic issues can arise. These issues include everything from chronic sore muscles to arthritis to nerve issues. There are many modalities to help with pain and discomfort, but laser and acupuncture are modalities that have huge benefits with little to no side effects. Cold laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment for dogs that uses light to help with pain, inflammation and healing. Some of the benefits that cold laser therapy can offer include increasing circulation, allowing relaxation of muscles, decreasing nerve pain, increasing blood flow which in turn increases oxygenation to wounds or painful areas to speed up healing, releasing of endorphins and increasing mitochondria (the energy engine of cells). Acupuncture is a treatment in which needles are placed along meridians that correlate with the nervous system lines. Acupuncture causes a localized inflammation around the needles which increases blood flow to the areas of placement to enable pain relief. It releases natural chemicals, such as endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and neurotransmitters, chemicals that control nerve impulses. Acupuncture also can aid to resolve chronic internal medicine issues such as renal diseases, gastrointestinal motility disorders and liver dysfunction. These modalities are great especially if your dog is unable to tolerate oral medications to provide support and pain relief to our senior pets.”
In addition to veterinary care and treatments, nutrition, supplements and medication, having the right senior dog gear is key to keeping them comfortable. Orthopedic beds for senior dogs are probably the most important as that is where they will tend to spend most of their days. We kept multiple orthopedic beds throughout the house and would often take them onto the deck to allow our senior girls to enjoy lounging in the fresh air. When asked if orthopedic beds are worth it, Dave says, “orthopedic beds are totally worth it. Just like you and I, maximizing our comfort during rest time improves function and flexibility, and helps them recover.”
As mobility decreased significantly with our dogs, a harness became necessary to help them get up and move about. Ramps to help your senior dog into and out of cars can also be quite helpful, along with elevated food bowls, which Dave explains allow for better posture, and in turn promotes healthy digestion. To keep them entertained, dog toys, puzzles, games and soft chews are something to consider for your furry elder should they show interest, along with regular outings they can expect and look forward to.
While most of us tend to believe that dogs’ lives are simply too short – I know I certainly do – there is something special about getting to be their human or family for the entirety of their life (or whenever you started your life together if they were a rescue). The pain you feel losing a senior pet is second-to-none, but it is comforting to know that you were there for them until the very end. Doing everything you can to make their senior dog years comfortable and special will allow you to carry their pawprints with gratitude on your heart forever.
Written by Erin Campbell