How to care for older pets

Seniors need a little extra care
If your older pet is still chasing balls and enjoying life, there is no reason to change her habits. But if she's stiff first thing in the morning or hesitates before walking down stairs, the following tips may help her be more comfortable around the house.

Dogs
• Create thick, warm bedding because this will minimize the pain from arthritis and alleviate bedsores, which is the thickening of elbows and heels.

• Put up baby gates to keep an unstable dog off staircases.

• Improve lighting to help a dog who is struggling with poor eyesight navigate through darker areas of the house.

• Put nonslip rugs down where there are hard floors if the dog is showing any signs of arthritis, such as wobbly legs or stiff movements.

• Raise food bowls off the floor so older dogs don't have to test their balance by bending forward.

• Start using gestures or whistles if your dog isn't responding as quickly as he used to when you call him.

• Explain to children that an older dog needs quiet time. "Some dogs can become more aggressive with age if they are in pain," says Dr. Janique Arseneau.

Cats
• Switch an older cat to a high-grade wet food to help increase her moisture intake, but check with your vet first.

• Groom your cat once a week, or more often for long-haired cats, as self-grooming becomes difficult for them in old age.

• If your cat has problems jumping, lower her bed or build a ramp up to it, but remember that a cat tends to find the best bedding on her own. "Even if you buy a nice bed, she may choose your pillow," says Arseneau.

• If your cat is unstable, restrict her to a secure area since it is hard to cat-proof a house and she may hurt herself by jumping off furniture or trying to leap over a barrier.

• Explain to children that they need to respect an older cat's space. If a cat is stressed from being chased or crowded, she may scratch or even bite in defence.

Read more:
• Slideshow: Canada's cutest pets
• Quiz: What kind of pet owner are you?
• How to add a second pet to the family

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