How to Care for a Senior Dog (and a Senior Cat)
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Quick answer: How to care for a senior dog starts with your veterinarian and small changes at home that make everyday life easier: runners or rugs on slippery floors, padded beds, ramps or steps, and food and water that are easy to reach. Keep up with gentle grooming and nail care, and keep your dog's daily routine the same where you can. A senior cat needs the same kind of thoughtful setup, including litter boxes that are easy to step into. And don't write off changes as "just old age." Tell your vet what you're seeing. Every pet ages differently, so you and your vet work out what helps your dog or cat.
"Caring for a senior dog is more challenging, but it's also super rewarding at the same time. They have different needs than they did when they were younger. For most people it takes a lot of patience, but my husband and I just love every second of it."
Christina, Zakity founder
Our dog Bailey just turned 17. My husband and I took him to the beach for his birthday. We walked along the beach, went for long walks with him in his buggy, and he met lots of new people and saw lots of birds. We had a great day.
Bailey isn't the first of my dogs to reach a big birthday. Gizmo, my Bichon Frise, lived to be 21, and most of my dogs have lived well past 15. I've just been really, really lucky with my pets. That doesn't mean we haven't had our share of health problems, because we have. But there are a lot of things we do that keep them young. Here's what we do for Bailey, along with what helps senior cats and how to work with your vet as your pet gets older.
I like to say that old age is not a disease. Veterinarians say it too. The 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats note that veterinary professionals are taught to recognize that "old age is not a disease," and the AVMA says, "It's important to remember that age is not a disease."
How to care for a senior dog: what helps day to day
Bailey needs more help now than he did when he was younger, especially with walking, and he sees the vet a little more often. But we've kept his routine the same, because he's become used to it and he doesn't like change. He still wakes up at pretty much the same time, and we still brush his teeth every day at the same time.
His walks look different now. When we go out for a walk, we use a hind-end assist harness to support him so he can walk longer. He doesn't need it at home. He still gets around the house and the backyard pretty well on his own. We also bring a buggy. We have a 2-year-old dog, Zakity, who needs long walks, and as a family we want to be able to walk together on our daily long walk. So Bailey walks as much as he can, and then he rides in the buggy for the rest of the walk. He loves it.
We don't like to leave him alone for long periods of time at all. He gets stressed when we aren't home, so we're very careful about that.
His meals have changed too. Because of a health issue, he's now on a prescription diet. We also feed him four smaller meals a day. He's always eaten at least three times a day, so going to four was no big deal for us. That's what works for Bailey. Ask your vet about meals for your own senior dog.
How to make my senior dog comfortable at home
The runners are a big deal in our house. My husband and I have runners everywhere, because we don't want Bailey walking on bare floors in the house. He slips on them. There's no bare floor in our house. They're washable, so if Bailey has an accident, we can just throw one in the washing machine and put another one down. If your senior dog starts having accidents, mention it to your vet.
The AAHA Senior Care Guidelines include this among their home tips for people caring for senior pets: "Cover slippery floors with secure rugs and mats for traction." They also suggest you "Provide good bedding that is adequately padded."
Bailey has several beds, so he chooses which one he wants. He can't do stairs himself at all anymore, so when he goes outside, we carry him up and down the steps to our deck. We also built a ramp for the time when he could still go up and down on his own. He's always been a super independent boy, and for a while he really didn't want help. It took a while for him to be happy getting help.
His water bowls are where they've always been, so he knows exactly where they are, but we raised them up because we don't want him tripping over a water bowl. And when it comes to his food, we actually hold the bowl for him.
Every dog is different, so ask your veterinarian which changes make sense for yours.
How to keep my senior dog happy and active
At 17, Bailey still loves his walks, his buggy, and car rides. He loves it when the family is home and all together with him. He still loves playing with his little brother, Zakity, and taking naps with him on the same bed. He loves to be snuggled and petted, and he loves his snacks.
One thing I have done with all of my dogs is make sure they stay extremely fit, with daily long walks, not just a few minutes of throwing a ball. I like to keep their hearts strong and their bodies strong with muscle. My thinking is that as they get older and lose muscle, they already had a lot to begin with, so it's not as noticeable. That's my approach with my own dogs. Ask your vet how much exercise is right for your dog.
I'm also huge on taking care of their teeth. I brush them every day and still get professional dental cleanings under anesthesia, because there's a lot that happens under the gum line that you can't see.
I try to keep their minds sharp with new activities and new experiences, and we go new places with them. On their walks, they don't just walk. They're playing, they're learning, they're seeing things. We do obedience, and we love doggy school.
I also try to prevent things from happening before they happen. As a vet tech, I saw many pets come in after being hit by cars. Accidents happen. So we make sure our gates are shut and our fences are strong and up. Our dogs are always on a leash. They are never running free. They never go outside at night by themselves, even though we have a fenced-in yard with lots of light, because you never know when a wild animal may have gotten in.
How to care for a senior cat
Cats are good at hiding when something is wrong. The 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines (the AAFP is now the Feline Veterinary Medical Association) put it this way: "The cat's innate ability to hide ailments makes regular physical examination that much more critical in the elderly cat." Your veterinarian can tell you how often your cat should be seen.
Cornell's Feline Health Center also cautions against chalking changes up to old age, saying such changes "can be signs of common diseases or dental problems that should be addressed by your veterinarian." If something about your older cat concerns you, call your vet.
Have a good relationship with your veterinarian, and write down the things you're concerned about so you can bring them up at the visit. You know your cat best.
How to make my senior cat comfortable
Small changes at home can make it easier for an older cat to reach the things they need. Cornell's Feline Health Center quotes Emily Levine, DVM: "Older cats should have easy access to food, water, and litter boxes, so if they choose not to climb stairs they don't have to." The AAHA Senior Care Guidelines mention "lower litter boxes for cats," and the AAFP guidelines encourage "ramps and steps for easier access to favorite spaces."
"For an aging cat, set up low-entry litter boxes, and put their food, water, and beds on the main floor so they don't have to go up the stairs for them. Add pet ramps or steps near their favorite spots, and make sure they have plenty of soft, cushiony beds."
Christina, Zakity founder
Ask your veterinarian which changes make sense for your cat.
Senior dog nail trimming (and nail care for older cats)
The AAHA home tips for senior pets include "Provide regular gentle grooming and nail care." I groom my dogs myself, and I have always done their nail trims myself. Bailey is 17, so we never want his nails to get even remotely long.
If I cut the quick on Bailey, he is very reactive to it, and we try to keep every ounce of stress out of his life. So I use the Zakity Dog Nail Clipper with Positionable 3x Magnifier on him so I can see the quick more clearly. A magnifier helps you see more clearly, but you can still cut the quick with any clipper, so take just a little at a time.
Not sure where your dog's nails stand? Here's how to tell if your dog's nails are too long. Older cats need nail care too, and here's how to trim your cat's nails at home. If trims are hard for your pet, or anything about their nails worries you, call your veterinarian.
Working with your vet when your pet gets older
When Bailey goes to the vet now, we bring his favorite bed. We put the bed right up on top of the exam table, and he lies down on it the whole time we're there. He has two of the same, so when we get home, that bed goes in the wash and he uses the clean one. If you'd like to try this, ask your vet if it's OK to bring a bed.
I have great relationships with my veterinarians, and also with the staff at the clinics and hospitals. I'm very choosy about the veterinarians I use, because I want the best for him, and I'm not afraid to call them if anything's off. Because I was a vet tech, I understand the stress everybody's under, so we have a mutual respect. I'm very lucky.
Sometimes people say their dog is just getting old and there's nothing to be done. But there are things that can be done that people just assume can't. If you have concerns about your pet, talk to your vet about it. Until something is diagnosed, you can't just say it's because of their age. There could be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed, and your dog could feel better with treatment. You can also make changes to their daily life that can help give them many happy years after they're "old."
The AAHA Senior Care Guidelines say the same thing from the veterinary side: veterinary teams should help owners "avoid dismissing certain age-related changes as merely 'old age.'"
It helps to have your questions written down before the visit. Here's what to bring to a vet appointment. If you'd like it on paper, the Vet Visit Checklist is a printable for dogs and cats with a page for notes during the appointment.
Questions to ask your vet about your senior dog or cat
"One question I'd want someone to ask their vet about their senior dog or cat is: what, if any, blood work can be done to check on how my pet is doing? Sometimes there's an issue going on and you don't know it."
Christina, Zakity founder
That happened with Bailey. An issue crept up on us, and we didn't know it. Blood work found it, and with my vet's help, he feels much better. He was just at the beach having a great time for his birthday.
I'd also want people to ask their vet what, if anything, can help if their dog or cat is limping or seems sore. As they get older, they get sore, they get a little rickety. Your vet can tell you what options there are to help your pet be more comfortable as they age.
Adopting a senior dog or cat
If you're thinking about adopting a senior dog or cat, I would say 100% do it. Don't hesitate. I usually take the older ones that would have a harder chance getting adopted. Zakity was only 8 weeks old when we adopted him from a shelter, and he's the youngest puppy we've ever adopted. I did adopt a 6-month-old once too, a long time ago: he was a stray who came into the hospital where I worked with a broken leg.
Shelters and rescues have senior dogs and cats waiting for homes. My company, Zakity, is named after our little dog, and it gives back too: when you shop with Zakity, 3% of the purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) supports shelter and rescue pets.
My dog is getting old and it makes me sad
I completely understand this, 100%. But we also have to look at the other side. Working at the vet hospital, I saw young pets who didn't get the chance to grow older. My husband and I don't take anything for granted with Bailey, and we enjoy every second of every day with him.
So don't spend all your time being sad, because you still have them right now. Hug them and kiss them and enjoy them. Have fun with them. Go places with them. Do things with them. Just because they're old doesn't mean they have to hang around the house. Mine don't.
The bond so many of us have with our pets is so hard to explain. You're attached to someone who has never said a word to you, and your life is just so much more fulfilled because they are in it.
Frequently asked questions
How to care for a senior dog at home?
Work with your veterinarian and make small changes at home that make everyday life easier: runners or rugs on slippery floors, a well-padded bed, ramps or steps, and food and water that are easy to reach. Keep up with gentle grooming and nail care too. The 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats suggest you "Cover slippery floors with secure rugs and mats for traction." Ask your vet what fits your dog.
How to care for a senior cat?
Keep food, water, beds, and litter boxes easy to reach, with low-entry litter boxes and ramps or steps near favorite spots, and see your veterinarian regularly. The 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines note that "The cat's innate ability to hide ailments makes regular physical examination that much more critical in the elderly cat." Your vet can tell you how often your cat should be seen.
What age is a senior dog?
Ask your veterinarian, because it depends on your dog. The 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats say, "Because of the variability in aging based on species and breed, there is no specific age for senior status."
What age is a senior cat?
Ask your veterinarian, because it depends on your cat. The 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats say there is no specific age for senior status, and that "the criteria for senior age status differ for dogs and cats."
How often should senior dogs go to the vet?
Ask your veterinarian, because it depends on your dog. The AVMA notes that senior pets need "more frequent visits to the veterinarian" than younger pets, and your vet can tell you what's right for your dog.
How often should senior cats go to the vet?
Ask your veterinarian, because it depends on your cat. The 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines point out that cats can hide ailments, which makes regular exams more important for older cats.
What questions should I ask my vet about my senior dog?
Ask what, if any, blood work can check how your dog is doing, and whether anything can help your dog feel more comfortable as they age. Write your questions down before the visit, and mention any changes you've noticed at home.
How do you trim a senior dog's nails?
Gently, and just a little at a time. The 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats list "Provide regular gentle grooming and nail care" among their home tips for senior pets. A clipper with a magnifier, like the Zakity Dog Nail Clipper, can help you see the nail more clearly, but you can still cut the quick with any clipper. If trims are hard for your dog, or anything worries you, ask your veterinarian for help.
Can I bring my dog's bed to the vet?
Ask your veterinary clinic first. Zakity founder Christina brings her senior dog Bailey's favorite bed to his vet visits, and he lies on it on the exam table. When they get home, that bed goes in the wash.
Keep reading:
- What to bring to a vet appointment (and questions to ask)
- How to get my dog's vaccine records (and your cat's too)
- How to tell if your dog's nails are too long
Bailey's 17th birthday: We spent it at the beach. You can watch Bailey's 17th birthday at the beach on our YouTube channel.
About the Founder: Christina is the founder of Zakity and has upwards of 40 years of hands-on animal care experience. Her work includes serving as a veterinary technician at a large veterinary referral hospital, working in animal shelters and rescue, conducting animal cruelty investigations for a nonprofit animal welfare organization, and educating pet owners on proper animal care, including as an adjunct professor. Christina founded Zakity to give pet owners better tools for caring for their animals confidently at home, and to give back to the shelters and rescues she is deeply passionate about supporting. 3% of the purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) supports shelter and rescue pets. Learn more at www.zakity.com.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian regarding specific health concerns or conditions affecting your pet.