When it comes to joints, rest equals rust, and move it or lose it.
As your dog slows down, they may not be able to walk or run as far as before: break up their daily exercise into 2 or 3 shorter walks rather than one long one. Swimming is ideal if you can find a place where they don’t have to scramble over a lot of rocks to get there.
For cats, encouraging them to exercise can be a bit more difficult. If they still like to play, that is great. If they are past that, take them out into the garden with you when you go to hang out the washing or pull weeds. Even if they wander straight back inside, it’s more exercise than they would have gotten before!
If you notice your pet limping, this is a good sign that they may be in pain. It’s a good idea to have this seen by a vet.
Keep a close eye on their weight: being overweight affects joint health, immunity and endocrine (hormonal) function. Ongoing weight loss can indicate an underlying disease.
Book a vet check if you notice your older pet losing weight.
Keep an eye on their water consumption. If you notice they are visiting the water bowl more frequently or for longer, try to measure how much water they consume in a day.
If your pet is drinking more than 100ml of water per kg of bodyweight, this should be looked into with a vet check and potentially some diagnostic tests.
Look after their coats. Using a soft-bristle brush or grooming mitt improves coat health and is a gentle massage to the skin and muscles underneath.
It’s also a good opportunity to check their skin for any new lumps or changes to pre-existing ones. It’s a good idea to measure lumps so we can tell if they are growing over time. You can do this at home or ask us to record it at their annual check-ups.
An older cat that is struggling with grooming may be having joint or mobility issues. This is worth discussing with your vet.
Consider changing to an age-appropriate diet. Most senior diets contain easily digestible proteins, reduced calories for the less active retiree, and supplements such as omega-3 and green-lipped mussel for joint health.
Come into the clinic if you want to look at senior diets – we’re happy to recommend options.
Older animals have an increased incidence of dental disease. Dental disease should be detected and managed as early as possible, as it can lead to more serious problems over time.
As in humans, prevention is key! If your pet has bad breath, this is a sign you should book in for a dental check.
