Caring for Your Senior Dog: How to Keep Your Dog Healthy in Their Golden Years

In light of Senior Dog Week, we’re focusing on all things senior dog related! While things don’t have to change completely with a senior dog, sometimes we need to adapt to make sure our senior friends are included every step of the way, even if they walk at a little bit of a slower pace now. Keep reading for some of the ways that we’ve found to adapt our routines with our older fur friends to suit their needs as they age.

Adapt your senior dogs exercise routine

Senior dogs need to play, too!

However, they may play in different ways than they used to. While they might run a bit slower or maybe they’re not able to chase the ball as far as they used to, it’s still important for senior dogs to have a physical outlet. Try incorporating low-impact exercises into their routine, like slow walks, swimming, or shorter play sessions. Instead of one long walk, try breaking it into multiple smaller ones throughout the day to avoid fatigue. To help protect their joints, try incorporating a joint supplement into your pet’s diet. We love Jump for JOYnts by Adored Beast because it supports healthy joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. It can also help ease symptoms from issues like ACL injuries, arthritis, and bone and muscle injuries.

Adjust playtime to include mental exercise

As your pet ages, the way that they play will likely change, so it’s important to provide a variety of comfortable play options for them. You might find that the types of toys your senior dog likes to play with have changed; for example, maybe they don’t chew up their plush toys anymore and instead play gently with them! They also might prefer solitary toys instead of interactive ones as they enjoy some personal space.

Make sure you also provide your senior pup with some mental enrichment as well. Toys that provide mental stimulation help with dogs’ cognitive function and can help keep their brains young! Our favourite enrichment toys for senior dogs are:

Paws N Dogz Snuffle Mat

Coming in a variety of levels, the Paws N Dogz Snuffle Mat allows your pup to use their scavenging instincts to find food and treats hidden within the folds of the mat. Sniffing engages various parts of your dog’s brain that supports cognitive function and healthy brain activity for senior dogs. Plus, using this mat to feed your dog also helps to slow down their eating, which means a healthier digestive system.

KONG Classic

A classic for dogs of all life stages, the KONG Classic is made from natural rubber that can be stuffed with your pup’s favourite treats or food or used solo. Stuff your KONG to create a puzzle toy for your pet that will keep them entertained for hours. Freeze it to extend playtime!

Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel
Who doesn’t look a game of hide and seek? Outward Hound’s Hide-A-Squirrel puzzle toy allows your dog the opportunity to use their brainpower to figure out how to get one of the multiple squirrels hidden inside the tree out. You’ll have almost as much fun as them just watching them play! You can sprinkle treats inside the tree trunk to make playtime even more exciting!

Nina Ottosson Puzzles
Nina Ottosson’s puzzles are fabulous because they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels, so they’re perfect for dogs of any age, size, or ability. All puzzles have a variety of compartments with different types of coverings that your dog has to figure out how to open to get their reward. The Smart Orange is an easier option for senior dogs who might not be as skilled with problem-solving or who are just beginning. The Brick Puzzle and Challenge Sliders are good options for easy/medium puzzle solvers. And the Multipuzzle is a perfect match for those expert puzzle-solver pups!

Make travel comfortable for your senior dog

Just because your pup is getting a little older doesn’t mean they can’t still travel with you! If you’re planning on taking your dog on a road trip, make sure they’re set up safely and comfortably in the back of the car, with proper safety restraints and a comfortable spot to lay during the journey. As they get older, some dogs can get more anxious during travel. You can bring a blanket or item that smells like home to soothe them or try giving them a stuffed KONG in the car to keep them preoccupied. We love Open Farm’s calming supplement, complete with Valerian Root, l-theanine, and l-tryptophan to keep pups feeling settled on their journey. Make sure to also stop regularly for potty breaks and to allow them to stretch their legs.

Think About Changes In Feeding

Just like humans, as our dogs begin to age, they typically also slow down a bit. A more sedentary change in pace may mean that you might have to make some adjustments to the amount of food you’re feeding your senior pup to adjust appropriately. If you notice your pup getting a little heavier, you may want to cut down on the amount of food they’re receiving daily (make sure to consult your vet first). You can also add dog-safe fruits and veggies to help them feel full if you do reduce their amount of food. Try feeding out of a slow feeder bowl to help prevent them from scarfing their food too quickly (plus, you’re providing extra enrichment to help them exercise some brain power!). We love this Outward Hound and Soda Pup’s slow feeder bowl options because they come in a variety of patterns and puzzle options so you can mix it up for your pup. The KONG Wobbler is another great option for kibble eaters as it provides physical activity as well as mental stimulation. The KONG Classic is another great physical and mental enrichment slow feeder (and yes, you can use the KONG as a slow feeder!). Freeze meals in a KONG to make mealtime last even longer.

Schedule regular vet visits for your senior dog

It’s a good idea to stay on top of your pet’s vet visit schedule, especially as they get older. Typically, senior pets will require some additional yearly bloodwork and exams to make sure they’re staying healthy and to catch any disease or illness before they happen. Your vet can also recommend any supplements or medications if your pup is experiencing any age-related discomfort like achy joints, stiffness, or incontinence. Routine vet visits are an important aspect of keeping any pet happy and healthy, but it’s especially important with our older friends who can be more susceptible to illness and injury.

We hope these tips provide you with some insight into how to best care for your senior pup. A little extra planning and TLC can go a long way for our aging friends. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us - we’re here to help!

Until next time,