November is Senior Pet Safety Month, a time dedicated to celebrating our sweet older pets. Whether a senior dog has just entered your life or you’ve raised them since they were a puppy, this age brings some unique differences and challenges that are important to keep in mind when maintaining their health, safety, and longevity.
We’ve put together some tips to keep your senior pup feeling their best.
MAKE WALKS PART OF THEIR ROUTINE
Staying active is crucial for dogs of all ages, particularly for older pups who may be more susceptible to developing sore joints. Taking short but frequent walks, for example, can help your furry friend strengthen their muscles, improve their mobility, maintain a healthy weight, keep their ligaments healthy, and help ward off conditions like arthritis. And remember, it’s best to go at your pup’s pace to help prevent overexertion.
While on walks, aim for surfaces that are comfortable on your dog’s joints, such as grass, and avoid unmaintained gravel or cement walkways (especially in the warmer months, when they can heat up). Doing so results in an enjoyable low impact walk that can help maintain health and mobility.
At Dogtopia, our indoor playrooms use special flooring made from compressed rubber rather than cement to ensure the hours of fun playtime are comfortable for dogs of all ages. We recognize the importance of maintaining healthy hips, joints, and paw pads at any age.
CREATE A MENTALLY STIMULATING & ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT
Creating an enriching indoor playtime environment is a great way to keep dogs mentally sharp. You can start by focusing on their senses, providing a variety of textures and sounds in their environment to keep them stimulated. See below for a few helpful examples.
Senior dogs can experience cognitive decline as part of aging, while boredom can play a significant role in depression and anxiety. By keeping dogs’ brains active through enriching activities, you can help combat these unwanted feelings and emotions.
Try out different activities to see what your furry family member likes, such as:
- Puzzle toys and snuffle mats: These can help keep them alert and focused. Plus, there are a variety of versions you can get that will keep the activity novel. That way, they won’t eventually remember the pattern and become bored.
- New tricks: Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks! In fact, with their older age, it can be a critical time to maintain the tricks they learn to keep their mind sharp. As they learn, their confidence can skyrocket. Also, teaching your dog tricks can be a time to bond with them, which is important in maintaining their wellbeing. Remember, the tricks you implement should align with their mobility capacity, as it’s important not to cause strain.
- Obstacle courses: If you’re looking to target their physical and mental health while maintaining their paw-eye coordination, an indoor/outdoor obstacle course designed just for them can help keep them active and engaged. Start easy and then continue to level-up their abilities.
ADD LOW-IMPACT EXERCISES INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE
For an exercise to be considered “low impact,” it should avoid unnecessary stress on joints and muscles. Senior dogs may not have the stamina or muscle capacity they once had, so adjusting their physical exercise with this in mind is key.
Swimming, for example, is considered low impact because it keeps muscles engaged and puts less pressure on the joints. This is especially great for dogs with arthritis or other joint conditions. It is also a helpful exercise to boost their cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, around 10% of dogs (almost eight million) in the US have heart disease, while up to 75% of senior dogs will have some form of a heart condition. Heart-healthy, low-impact exercises are an excellent way to target their overall wellbeing.
Just how much exercise your senior dog needs and the types of exercises you try out should be cleared by your veterinarian, as current health and lifestyles can factor into what they can do. However, if given the green light, daily low-impact exercise with rest in between can be a great addition to your dog’s routine.
MAINTAIN HYDRATION
Senior pups are more prone to dehydration. There can be several reasons why this is the case, but it is common for this doggy age group to forget to drink water throughout the day. It is important to look out for signs of dehydration, such as lethargy, loss of skin elasticity, dry gums, loss of appetite, panting, dry nose, etc.
A way to maintain their hydration is to replenish their water bowl throughout the day (at least a couple of times) so they always have fresh water. It’s also important to clean their bowl daily, as bacteria can build up from their saliva, which could deter them from drinking. Bringing water on the go, such as on walks, can also help increase their water intake and replace what they lose when panting/drooling. Dogtopia’s water and treat travel bottle is great for on-the-go with your pup!
How much water should your dog drink? Typically, at least one ounce of water for every pound they weigh. Monitor how much they drink and discuss their drinking habits with your veterinarian to rule out any health conditions causing your dog to drink more or less.
CREATE A COMFORTABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT
Mobility is a common struggle for senior dogs. If you’ve noticed this in your pup, try:
- Ramps on your staircase, near your furniture and bed, or for your car to offer a safe way for your pup to get up and down.
- Non-slip rugs in your tub during bathtime and on slippery areas, which help make getting around your home easier, especially if you have hardwood floors.
- An orthopedic dog bed, which can offer the right amount of cushioning and body molding they need to rest comfortably.
It’s important to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, as senior dogs are more sensitive to extreme temperatures. Their sore joints could become more noticeable when it’s too cold, and when it’s too hot, they could overheat. Finding the right temperature is key to keeping them comfortable.
If your senior dog has vision concerns, be sure there’s adequate lighting around your home, especially near your stairs, so they feel safe and comfortable moving around.
KEEP UP THEIR HYGIENE ROUTINE
Older dogs can be more sensitive to skin irritation and dryness, so maintaining a clean coat can help remove debris and help them feel their best; using soothing shampoos and conditioners for their skin type can also help. If you find it difficult to bathe your aging pup, especially if they are fearful or have mobility constraints, you can incorporate cleansing wipes into their hygiene routine to help keep them feeling fresh. Adding trips to the doggie spa at Dogtopia can allow our expert team to handle their ongoing grooming needs.
Preventing infections is important for all dogs, but especially for ageing pups with a weakened immune system. Clean ears, trimmed nails and proper dental hygiene can help prevent serious conditions from developing.
BRING YOUR SENIOR DOG TO DOGTOPIA
We absolutely love all the senior dogs in our Dogtopia family! Not only is daycare a great way to incorporate physical activity and mental stimulation into their lifestyle, but it also helps reassure pet parents that their furry family members receive the quality care they need throughout the day. Plus, it’s a chance for pups to socialize with other like-minded dogs. Bonding with fellow senior dogs can allow them to tap into their natural pack instinct while boosting their confidence.
Find a Dogtopia near you to get your dog’s journey started with us!
This blog was reviewed/edited by Dogtopia’s Director of Health & Safety Lorraine Rhoads, an experienced animal biologist and environmental scientist.
