How To Ease The Life Of Your Elderly Pet

Pets fill our lives with joy and precious moments all their lives. Even when they get old, they provide us with unconditional love. However, as the years pass, they require more care and attention than before. Their bodies start to fail them and their energy levels go down. It is essential to make their lives easier at this stage and make sure our beloved pets are feeling comfortable and relaxed. If you have an elderly dog or cat, you should try to determine how best you can ease their lives and ensure they are healthy and happy.

How To Ease The Life Of Your Elderly Pet
[image: pexels by zen chung]

Pay the Vet Semi-Annual Visits

When your pet ages, it is crucial to visit the vet regularly to check on their well-being. Veterinarians advise pet owners to bring their senior pets to the vet every six months for regular check-ups. Illnesses caused by old age are subtle, and their symptoms can be easily missed by the untrained eye. Diagnosing these age-related illnesses early can save your pet from unnecessary pain and discomfort. The vet can also give you medications that improve the pet’s health in their last years.

Adjust Their Diet

Generally, pets need food to have the energy to play all day long, but that’s not the case with senior pets as they don’t need as much energy as before. Naturally, they start to eat less than usual. You shouldn’t be alarmed if your furry friend stopped eating everything they find because they don’t need the calories they used to, and they spend most of their time sleeping or relaxing. Giving the same amount of food to your aging pet may make them obese and worsen their health condition. Consult with a veterinarian to know if you need to add supplements to the pet’s diet.

Consider Euthanasia as a Last Resort

One of the toughest moments to experience in life is having to euthanize your loving companion. It breaks the heart to say goodbye to them while they still look at you with love. However, in some cases, euthanasia is better for them than living in constant pain for the rest of their lives. Consider euthanasia after exhausting all available options and once your vet has confirmed that there is no better alternative. Additionally, the procedure generally costs money, but there are organizations that offer to euthanize a dog for free for those who are unable to afford it. Before euthanasia, make sure to give your pet all the love and attention they need, which means cuddles, their favorite treats, taking care of their needs, and making them as comfortable as possible.

Make Adjustments Around Your Home

Elderly pets don’t have the energy or the drive to do simple things that they used to do before. Going up or down the stairs might start to be a challenge for them, the one leap onto the couch isn’t doable anymore, and they might urinate wherever as they may develop incontinence issues. You can add ramps or steps for your pet to easily go up and down a couch or the stairs. Pads and diapers will solve the problem of urinating that might arise. Add more carpets or rugs, so it will be easier for your furry friend to stand up without slipping on hardwood or tile floors. Take a look at their food and water setup and make it more accessible for them.

Upgrade Their Bed

Pets suffering from arthritis or other joint problems need comfort while they are sleeping. You can get your elderly pet an orthopedic or heated bed to ensure that they are having pain-free sleep, which can improve their overall health. Heated beds improve the pet’s mobility and quality of life, and reduce pain. Alternatively, you can add a heating pad to your pet’s bed to get similar results.

Keep Them Active Physically and Mentally

As pets get older, it becomes more important to make them exercise. Their muscle mass is responsible for their metabolism and if they don’t exercise, they'll lose it and their aging process will accelerate. Keep them active and make them go for walks and obstacle training to ensure that they remain fit and that they don’t age too rapidly. Encourage them to stay active using treats, and if you feel they are in pain, go to the vet for a checkup. Additionally, stimulate their minds by giving them puzzle toys with treats inside to work on their problem-solving skills.

[image: pexels by matthias zomer]

Caring for your elderly pet is essential to ensure that your companion will live the rest of their life comfortably and happily. Make sure to go to the vet more often to check your pet’s health and to follow the vet’s instructions. Our pets spend their lives giving us love and joy, and as such, the least we can do is make them feel at ease as they approach their last days.