Senior pet care and aging gracefully
A washable pet diaper can look like a simple sewing project until you try to make one that actually stays on, absorbs what it needs to absorb, does not rub the skin, and still lets a dog or cat move normally. The difference between a useful diaper and one that …
Adopting a senior dog or cat can be one of the most rewarding choices a person makes, but it should be made with open eyes.
A food or water bowl on the floor seems like one of the simplest parts of pet care, but the height of that bowl can matter more as a dog or cat gets older.
One of the quieter changes that comes with an aging dog or cat is that the body may slow down before curiosity disappears.
Urination is one of those everyday details that can become surprisingly informative once a pet develops a health problem.
A senior pet who suddenly looks a little unkempt can seem like a simple grooming problem.
A senior blood panel can look surprisingly intimidating when it lands on a veterinary bill.
Pain in pets is not always loud. A dog with significant joint discomfort may still wag at the door, and a cat with a painful problem may simply spend more time under the bed, stop jumping to a favorite perch, or hold the eyes partly closed.
An older dog walks toward the wrong side of the door and waits to be let outside. A senior cat begins wandering the hallway at two in the morning, calling loudly even though nothing obvious has changed.
A senior dog that once slept peacefully through the night may begin getting up at 2 a.m., wandering down the hallway, standing in a corner, or pacing from room to room.
A senior dog or cat can look different from the animal we remember from five or ten years ago. The face may be grayer, the pace may be slower, and the body may become a little less rounded.
A senior dog or cat who suddenly begins leaving food behind can turn an ordinary feeding routine into a daily puzzle.
