To senior pets, age is probably just a number but although they may still act and play like their three or four year old selves, there are a couple of ways we can help them just be re-arranging or adding some things to your home to help them feel more comfortable.

Extra Bedding

When pets are younger they can lounge about almost anywhere and their joints don’t bother them too much in terms of where they rest. When our pets age, it is easy to help them through this time just by adding some extra padding to their original bedding or considering getting them a slightly cushier bed in general. Even a bed made of ‘egg-crate foam’ can help with their achy limbs, and just make sure that their nails are trimmed regularly so they don’t make holes and get stuck in their bedding!

De-cluttering your Floors

As our pets age, their eyesight becomes more diminished and can be prone to blindness, so making sure our floors are clear of any obstacles will help them to maneuver better around in their surroundings. Before, they were able to adapt to the obstacles and step around them but since their brains also tend to work at a delayed rate, they may instead end up stepping on things and hurting themselves. Storing their toys in a spot that they are used to is a good idea too, so it will be easier for them to find them. Ensuring that they have a clear pathway to their food and water dishes will also make lives as seniors easier to adjust to as well!

Adding some Non-Slip Mats and Rugs to your Home

Pets at a younger age have a better grip on hardwood floors, but pets with older joints and stiffer limbs find it difficult as they can slip and slide on floors without any kind of traction. You don’t need to carpet your entire floor but having a few rugs on the places your pet spends the most amount of time will make it easier for them to move about.

Keeping their Minds Active

Just because your pet is older, doesn’t mean that their brain functions that much different – why not give them the brain activity they require to help them stay young in spirit? Take some time out of your schedule to throw around a catnip toy or play with your cat using a feather toy to bat around with. Even taking your dog for a daily walk will help keep them on their toes – what better way to stay active and move those joints around then a nice jaunt in the neighbourhood? Why not also make feeding time fun and interesting by using a food puzzle to feed them? It helps to slow down their eating habits and makes them use their brain while doing something that contains the best incentive – food!

Using a Ramp/Stairs to Help Pets to Higher Levels

Is getting to your bed at night becoming troublesome for your senior pets? Why not set up a small step stool or ramp to the bed to make it easier for your pet to get up there? Also, when they get used to such a tool, it may make it more convenient to bring your older dog for car trips and even to the vet or even to the groomer.

 

 

Using a Ramp/Stairs to Help Pets to Higher Levels

Is getting to your bed at night becoming troublesome for your senior pets? Why not set up a small step stool or ramp to the bed to make it easier for your pet to get up there? Also, when they get used to such a tool, it may make it more convenient to bring your older dog for car trips and even to the vet or even to the groomer.

These are just a few ideas on how to make seniorhood just as exciting and fun as puppy/kittenhood and adulthood for our pets. Let’s make these golden years exactly as they should be, seeing how easy it is to make everyday tasks just a little bit more comfortable for our aging four-legged companions.