Senior Grooming Strategies: Helping Older Dogs and Cats Stay Comfortable and Clean
A senior pet who suddenly looks a little unkempt can seem like a simple grooming problem.
A senior pet who suddenly looks a little unkempt can seem like a simple grooming problem.
Hydration can become one of the quiet daily challenges of caring for a cat with chronic kidney disease, or for a cat whose veterinarian has identified kidney-related concerns.
A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease can make a pet owner feel as if a pile of unfamiliar numbers has suddenly taken over the conversation.
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.
Bringing home an older rescue dog can be surprisingly quiet. Instead of exploring the house, carrying toys around, or following everyone from room to room, a timid senior may find the safest corner available and simply watch.
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.
There is a certain kind of quiet that settles over a home when a senior pet is resting nearby. Maybe your old dog is stretched out beside the couch after a slow walk, or your cat is curled into that one blanket they have claimed as their personal kingdom.
A senior dog or cat who suddenly begins leaving food behind can turn an ordinary feeding routine into a daily puzzle.
Bad breath in an older dog or cat is easy to dismiss as part of aging.