{"id":1147847,"date":"2025-02-19T05:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T13:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/?post_type=living&p=1147847"},"modified":"2025-03-04T05:20:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T13:20:45","slug":"caring-for-a-senior-animal","status":"publish","type":"living","link":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/animal-companions\/caring-for-a-senior-animal\/","title":{"rendered":"Grow Old With Me: How to Give Your Senior Animal the Best of Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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No one likes to see white fur covering more and more of their beloved dog\u2019s face or notice that their favorite feline isn\u2019t moving as quickly as she used to. Acknowledging that our animals are getting older can be distressing and bring up uncertainties about whether we\u2019re keeping them as healthy and comfortable as possible. Animals only need to be around six or seven years old to reach \u201csenior\u201d status, and knowing what to look for and how to respond can help us provide them with excellent care from midlife through their final years. Here are the tips that veterinarians and animal-aging experts want every guardian to have when caring for a senior animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Old Age Ain\u2019t No Place for Sissies\u2019 \u2013Bette Davis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Picture this: You\u2019ve decided to retire in an exotic foreign country even though you don\u2019t speak the language. A friendly native there helps you, but the language barrier makes communication difficult. Over the years, you start to get some aches and pains, and eventually, everything hurts. You have a hard time getting comfortable. You can\u2019t visit a doctor because you can\u2019t drive, and your caregiver doesn\u2019t notice that you need medical attention. But your joints ache so much that it can be hard to stand up and walk. Sometimes you trip and fall, which makes everything hurt more. You used to love to be outdoors or to go for a run, but now, that\u2019s impossible. You can hardly keep your balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Your vision and hearing are also getting worse, and the world is becoming a place of blurry images and odd, muted sounds. Lying around and sleeping all the time is boring, and the throbbing pain in your joints keeps you from sleeping properly anyhow. Your liver function is declining, and you often feel queasy but can\u2019t tell anyone. It\u2019s tough to \u201chold it\u201d long enough to get your achy, stiff body to the bathroom. You have frequent accidents and feel embarrassed and guilty because your caregiver will have to clean it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You wish you could tell him all the things that are bothering you. Besides the joint pain, poor eyesight and hearing, and digestive problems, you also have an infected tooth that hurts, an itchy rash on your leg, an ingrown toenail, and a strange heavy feeling in your chest. Sometimes you can\u2019t catch your breath and struggle to fill your lungs. No one notices how much your health has deteriorated and how poor your quality of life has become. Every morning, you wake up and have to face the relentless pain again…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That scenario describes the daily reality for chained dogs and other older animals with inattentive owners. Without the benefit of verbal communication, guardians must become increasingly vigilant in monitoring animal family members for anything unusual that could signal a deeper issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respect Your Elders (and Snuggle With Them, Too)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As animals begin to age, somewhere between years six and nine depending on their size, their bodies undergo many changes that can sneak up on guardians if they aren\u2019t paying close attention. One of the easiest ways to keep tabs on your best friend\u2019s health is also one of the most enjoyable: Touch and pet them every day. Not only to show them affection and reassure them that you care, but also to check them over thoroughly. Peek into their mouths and ears, check under their tails, part their fur, examine their feet (including pads and nails), and run your hands over their entire body. Don\u2019t assume that a strange new behavior or symptom is \u201cjust old age\u201d\u2014it could be indicative of something that\u2019s making your animal pal uncomfortable or may be life-threatening. If something is amiss, every second counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Just for Golden-Agers: Symptoms That Always Need Immediate Attention<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any of these warning signs of underlying health problems, take your companion to the veterinarian as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n