As our pets get older they often need some extra TLC and some help to continue to be able to do the things they enjoy and have good Quality of Life. There are a lot of little things we can do that can really help our older pets.
However, age isn’t a disease and many things we associate with “just getting old” like slowing down, difficulty jumping up, and hind end weakness are due to underlying disease which can often be very effectively managed with appropriate veterinary care in addition to using these kinds of products.
Here are some of my favorite products to help senior pets enjoy their golden years!
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Mobility Products
It’s very common for older animals to have more difficulty moving. This is often due to arthritis and issues with nerve function but regardless of the underlying cause there are lots of easy things you can do at home to help your pet.
Steps, stairs, and ramps
These can make such a huge difference in Quality of Life for aging pets! Being able to continue to get in the car or on the bed or up to the window is really important for Quality of Life for many pets. There are many commercially available options like the ones below but you can also get creative and DIY too. It may take a little patience and persistence to convince them to actually use them but once they get the hang of it life will be better for everyone.
There are lots of great products specifically for helping your pet in and out of the car too from folding ramps and portable stairs to trailer hitch attachments.
Even if they absolutely won’t use stairs or a ramp (be persistent though, they’ll often come around to it if you just keep encouraging them with positive reinforcement!) you can still put down some extra padding like bed, foam pad, or even a memory foam carpet where they land so it’s not so hard on their joints, neck, and back.
Runners and rugs
Carpet may have downsides but when it comes to older pets it’s definitely better for traction and stability. Adding runners or throw rugs in areas your pet uses a lot and especially where they eat and around their bed(s) will really improve their comfort and confidence. If carpets just won’t work you can try yoga mats or other rubber type surfaces which help with traction.
Booties, grips, etc
There are many types of pet booties available. Some are just designed to prevent injury when pet’s are dragging their feet and some are designed for traction. If we’re looking for traction brands like Ruffwear are good. It’s important to take any booties off regularly so moisture and bacteria doesn’t build up and cause any issues. Other products like Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips help with traction and stability by basically helping the nails work better at their job. There are lots of products that are designed to go on the paw pads too like Paw Friction or even just using chalk which can help too.
Harnesses, braces, wagons, and carts
Some people might say that using these kinds of assistance makes pets lazy. Not true at all! These can be great tools to help pets continue to be engaged in normal activities and have good Quality of Life.
A good harness should be adjustable so it will fit your pet snugly but not too tight. Your vet can help you make sure the harness is fit correctly. My favorite brand is Help ‘Em Up. They’re expensive but they’re the best and are designed to be safe and comfortable even if worn 24/7 and are very ergonomic for us too. For some older pets braces or joint pads like those from Hero, OrthoPets or DoggLeggs can be beneficial, however if not fitted properly and used correctly they can actually make things worse so always work with your vet when looking at braces and pads.
Wagons, strollers, and slings are a great way for older pets to continue to be able to enjoy activities like longer walks and hikes even if their body isn’t quite up for the full distance anymore. Remember to get them used to new and different things like these by just putting them in and giving treats at first so they know it’s a safe and fun place to be.
Carts and wheelchairs can be excellent options to allow pets to keep doing things they enjoy. Good brands include Walkin’ Wheels, Eddie’s Wheels, and K9 Carts. They can be used to improve mobility even if pets aren’t fully paralyzed. Carts and wheelchairs do need to be fitted and adjusted to each pet but your vet can help you with that.
Other Helpful Things
Elevated food and water dishes
Another thing that can make older pets more comfortable is just raising their food and water dishes so they’re at a comfortable height where they don’t have to really bend way down to reach them. That’s more comfortable and more stable which helps older pets with joint and weakness issues.
Grooming
If your pet’s nails are too long (you shouldn’t hear them clicking on the floor) that does change the angle of the foot and makes it harder for them to get good traction. The nails are really the biggest contributor to normal grip of the feet. Really long fur in between the toes can be slippery too. In older cats their claws can get really long and actually grow into their pads so it’s important to be checking their claws and keeping them trimmed. Grooming can help but just getting their nails trimmed back to a normal length isn’t going to “fix” underlying problems; it’s just one part of the puzzle for helping older pets.
Baby gates and play pens
Sometimes older pets just aren’t able to safely navigate things like stairs when you’re not around to help them or they may be losing their vision or having trouble remembering where things are in the house so they’re just safer and more comfortable if they can’t access some areas of the house.
Incontinence & ”Accidents”
This is common in older pets and there may be medical causes which can be treated so always check with your vet if your pet is having issues with incontinence or accidents. For some older pets they just need to go out more often so setting some alarms on your phone to take them out more often can help reduce accidents.
Puppy pads, grass patches
These are great options for when they just can’t quite make it all the way outside. You can also use puppy pads in areas where they sleep if they’re sometimes leaking a little.
Diapers and bed pads
There are several styles of doggie diapers and they do come in different sizes so you may need to try a couple to see what works for your dog. For male dogs with just pee leaking issues sometimes the “belly band” style works better for them but both male and female dogs can use the style that looks similar to human diapers. Pets may feel like they can’t move with the diapers on at first so start by just putting them on for a short time and giving them some treats, playing with a toy, etc so they realize it’s not a big deal. Washable bed pads are great for pets who are leaking a little in their sleep or when they’re laying down. Use them anywhere they sleep (dog bed, couch, your bed, etc).
Litter boxes
Many older cats have arthritis which makes it hard for them to get into high sided litter boxes and can make it uncomfortable for them to posture normally. This can result in accidents outside the box. Using a litter box with a lower entry makes it easier or creating a step/ramp up to a higher box will help. Open top boxes are often easier for senior cats to navigate too. Sometimes just adding puppy pads just outside the litter box is a simple solution for cats who just aren’t able to keep everything in the box. Adding extra litter boxes so your cat doesn’t have to go as far and especially doesn’t have to go up and down stairs makes it easier and more comfortable for older cats.
Toys and treats
Older pets can still play! Staying mentally engaged is important for their Quality of Life as well as helping to slow any “doggie dementia” or “kitty dementia”. Things like puzzle feeders, treat balls, lick mats, and snuffle mats are all great options for both cats and dogs.
For more high intensity toys like the ball or frisbee for dogs or chasing feather/string toys for cats you may be able to modify your play so your pet can still enjoy these activities even if they can’t physically do all the crazy moves they used to. Try throwing the ball or frisbee just a short distance to them rather than away from them. Or roll the ball instead of throwing so it’s a slower pace. You can still play tug of war but just let them tug against you. Move the feather/string toys more slowly and keep them near the ground so your cat can still hunt and catch them without having to leap or run. Lasers aren’t great toys for cats (senior or otherwise) since they can never actually “catch” the laser so it’s frustrating for them, but there’s lots of other good toys for senior cats.
Here are some of my favorite high value, low calorie treats to use in these types of toys and feeders like freeze dried treats (you can cut them into really small pieces too!) and bonito flakes. For the lick mats and chew toys like Kongs meat flavored baby foods can work well, some pets like apple sauce or yogurt and of course peanut butter is always popular but always double check the ingredients since some contain xylitol which is toxic for dogs.
Sometimes you have to have a “cheat day” so there are some slightly less healthy (but really delicious according to most pets!) options like Squeeze Cheese, Kong paste and Churu paste.
More
There are lots of other things that can help older pets too like supplements, herbal medications, pharmaceutical medications, massage, rehabilitation, acupuncture, laser therapy and chiropractic treatment. Each senior pet is unique so you should work with your vet to find the best treatments for your individual pet. However most (if not all!) older cats and dogs do have some amount of arthritis which can benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. Check out other blog posts on my favorite glucosamine and chondroitin products as well as some easy rehabilitation exercises you can do for your pet. For more information on dementia in pets see my educational handout.
Our older pets have some special needs but there are lots of little things we can do to help them continue to be able to enjoy life!