Caring for an Older Pet in Australia

When should your consider your pet as a senior?

Guidelines for considering a pet as geriatric/senior:Cats (all breeds):

• Cats (all breeds): 10-13 years
  

• Small Dogs (<10Kg): 10-12 years
  

• Medium Dogs (10-25Kg): 8-10 years
  

• Large Dogs (25-40Kg): 5-8 years
  

• Giant Dogs (>40Kg): 4-7 years
  

As a geriatric pet owner, it's important to be aware of areas that can affect your pet's quality of life. Report any physical or behavioral changes, no matter how minor, to your vet.

Your senior pet's diet

As pets age, their nutritional requirements change. Providing a well-balanced diet and adjusting energy intake can help maintain a healthy weight. Senior diets typically have fewer calories, more fiber, less fat, lower protein, and salt levels. Specific health issues may require a specialized diet like Hills Science Diet or Royal Canin. We offer senior diets from Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Advance foods, and can help you choose the best one for your pet.

Senior pet's arthritis

Arthritis can affect cats and dogs as they age.

• Slow rising, especially after long periods of rest
  

• Reluctance to go up and down stairs
  

• Reluctance to jump onto the couch, bed or into the car
  

• Reduced appetite
  

• Favouring one limb or limping
  

• Decreased muscle mass over the affected area
  

Nutritional supplements and medication can improve your pet's quality of life.

Your senior pet's dental health

Regardless of age, it's important for pets to have good dental health. However, tooth and gum disease become more common as pets age. Our facilities offer dental cleaning and polishing services, just like a human dentist. We can also suggest products to help maintain your pet's dental hygiene at home.

Senior pet's brain aging

Some signs of your pet's brain aging

• Disorientation – getting stuck behind furniture, exhibiting slower responses to sights and sounds
  

• Activity changes – sleeping more and becoming more restless at night
  

• Changes in social interaction – your pet may not greet you at the door, or be less interested in playing with you
  

• Anxiety – fear of sounds, people or environments, desire to be with someone all the time or an increase in irritability
  

• Depression – disinterest in food, toys, other pets, people and grooming
  

• Changes in learning and memory – a reduced ability to adapt to new environments and learn new tasks
  

A physical and neurological exam and diagnostic tests can determine a treatment protocol. Medication and specialized diets may help physical signs of brain aging.

Your senior pet's exercise

Exercise is crucial for maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and stamina in both pets and humans. Older pets still need regular exercise and walks, which can also serve as quality time with you. If your pet struggles with walks, consider adjusting the pace or distance. If your pet is showing signs of slowing down, it's important to get them checked for arthritis. Swimming is also a low-impact exercise that can benefit pets with arthritis.

Lumps & bumps on your senior pet

As pets age, they're more prone to developing masses, which may be benign or malignant. It's recommended to have any lumps or bumps checked by a vet. A sample of the cells may be taken for examination, or a biopsy may be needed. At home, it's important to monitor any changes in the lump's size, shape, or consistency, and inform the vet of these details for a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis.