As cherished members of the family we all want our pets to live longer and stay as fit as possible. Here are some tips from veterinary surgeon, Pete Wedderburn and TrustedHousesitters for ensuring our cats and dogs spend their senior years in the best health possible, happy and content.
Adapt their diet as they age
As your pet ages, their digestive system changes, so it's vital to switch their diet to include food appropriate for their age. "Choose a good quality diet that has been designed for older pets, with high-quality ingredients and nutrients that have been adjusted to meet the different needs of an older animal," Pete says. "Also, make sure they have continual access to fresh water: change their drinking bowl every day so that the water is never fusty and stagnant".
Invest in key supplements
Supplements such as probiotics and prebiotic can help your pet’s gut health and immune system as they age. For dogs, prebiotic-rich foods, such as broccoli and sweet potato, may offer extra support to the vital organs and nervous system, so consider including these in their diet.
For cats, look for a gut-friendly and fibre-rich cat food. Cats require more specific pre and probiotics, so giving them human foods won’t be beneficial.
Keep mental stimulation and enrichment going
As pets get older, it’s important to keep their brains active with regular stimulation. Play time, walks with lots of sniffing and time to socialise are essential each day, even as they age. “Make sure that your pet has enough daily stimulation to keep their minds active”, Pete says. “As well as regular walks and play, give them regular attention during the day, and try offering food-releasing toys (such as Kongs) to give them something to do when you are not there beside them”.
Toys don't have to be expensive either. Here are some homemade cat toy ideas that will entertain for hours
Dental health is vital
Teeth are important. As well as helping your pet’s teeth to look good, maintaining your pet's teeth and gums will help prevent oral issues and pain in your pet, and even help to avoid organ damage from bacteria that can be carried into the bloodstream leading to additional health problems.
Good oral care is essential as cats and dogs enter their senior years and should be taken care of daily. As well as brushing their teeth, dental stick chews and some vegetables are good for freshening breath and fighting plaque.
Ensure you’re minimising stressors for your pets
As with mental health, older pets can be more affected by stress than their younger counterparts. Pete explains: “Try to understand what your pet likes and what upsets them. As a good example, if you go away on holiday, consider having them cared for by a petsitter in your own home, rather than subjecting them to the stress of boarding kennels or a cattery”.
If you’re going on holiday and you have a senior pet, opting for a pet sitter can be a great way of minimising stress and ensuring your pet is cared for on a one-to-one basis.
If you are moving house check out this moving with cats advice from Cats Protection to help keep your cats happy and safe when relocating to a new home.
More pet advice
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