Login

Forgot your password?
Font size: A- A+
Become a Member FREE

Join around 100,000 monthly visitors and 72,000 members: daily games, discussions, contribute articles, make new friendships, GrownUps-only offers & more...

Register Free Now!
Notices
Tell a Friend about GrownUps
WIN a Globus California Classics Tour for Two!
WIN a Globus California Classics Tour for Two!
This year you could be taking a $9400 trip for two to California
Soothe Worry & Tension
Soothe Worry & Tension
...while enhancing your libido (men and women)
Sports & Travel Survey
Sports & Travel Survey
Complete the survey and be in to win a $100 Westfield voucher
Let's Chat Over Lunch
Let's Chat Over Lunch
Have a Free Lunch with Metlifecare
Feel All-Bran New
Feel All-Bran New
New Ways to Get Fibre Into Your Day
Win a return journey across Cook Strait
Win a return journey across Cook Strait
See more of New Zealand with Bluebridge
See the Difference
See the Difference
Eyesight Advice from Visique Optometrists
2degrees Offer
2degrees Offer
Making the CDMA switchover easy
Optometry & Eyewear Survey
Optometry & Eyewear Survey
We'd like to find out a little more about your optometry & eyewear preferences
CDMA Phone Network close down 31 July
CDMA Phone Network close down 31 July
Move now & get $79 credit with every Prepaid mobile
Coast FM - Listen Live Now
Keep up to date with us
Keep up to date with us
Follow our updates, new comps and articles via Facebook and Twitter
List your Classified
List your Classified
House Sitters, Employment, For Sale, Property & Personals
Live Chat
Live Chat
With fellow GrownUps in our multi-room chat
Research surveys - Get Rewarded Now
Compare & Purchase Insurance products
Disclaimer: Grown Ups is not an Insurance Broker. We provide product information from recognised Insurance companies. We are not making recommendations and we accept no responsibility for decisions made as a result of using the information provided.'
R50 Sexual Health
R50 Sexual Health
Check out the new section available to everyone.
Recipes
Recipes
Find some delicious recipes by clicking here.
Guide to Retirement Living
Guide to Retirement Living
Get your own copy for free, here.
Columnists

Regular Columnists on GrownUps

David Hartnell's Hol... David Hartnell's Hollywood Gossip
PERSONALITY: Life & ... PERSONALITY: Life & laughter
PERSONALITY: Radio h... PERSONALITY: Radio host & writer
MONEY & SAVINGS: Oil... MONEY & SAVINGS: Oily Rag
Life & Living... Life & Living
Skin Health... Skin Health
50+ in the Media... 50+ in the Media
FOOD & COOKING... FOOD & COOKING
DIY: The Handyman... DIY: The Handyman
Grief & Loss Advice... Grief & Loss Advice
TRAVEL... TRAVEL
Life Coach... Life Coach
LIFE: Retirement & L... LIFE: Retirement & Life Change
Sexual Health... Sexual Health
Social Networking & ... Social Networking & All Things Teen
HEALTH: Commentary... HEALTH: Commentary
Natural Health... Natural Health
Family & Grandparent... Family & Grandparenting
Internet Safety... Internet Safety
Health & Alexander T... Health & Alexander Technique
GENERAL INTEREST... GENERAL INTEREST
HEALTH: Brain Buildi... HEALTH: Brain Building
LEGAL: Commentary... LEGAL: Commentary
LIFE & MARRIAGE... LIFE & MARRIAGE
Memory Health... Memory Health
PERSONALITY: We know... PERSONALITY: We know her so well...
RELATIONSHIPS: Exper... RELATIONSHIPS: Expert Advice
MY GENERATION: ... MY GENERATION:
PERSONALITY: Stories... PERSONALITY: Stories & funnies
LIFE: Agewell... LIFE: Agewell
PERSONALITY: The Ram... PERSONALITY: The Ramblin' Man

Vote in our Polls

Are you carpeting or re-carpeting a property in the next 6 months?

Home >> Living >> Pets >> Senior Pet Tips
Category sponsor

Senior Pet Tips

As our beloved companions get older they begin to slow down and many suffer from the same age-related wear and tear as we humans do. Arthritis, gastric upsets, diminished senses, sensitivity to extreme heat and cold are just a few. Below is a list of tips you can use to make your senior pet more comfortable, happy and healthy.

Feed the best diet 

Feeding your pet high quality food not only makes them feel better, but can reduce the chances of illness and disease in the future. Raw food, home-cooked meals or premium commercial food will go a long way in keeping your pet happy and healthy. And don't forget to add variety to your pets diet. By rotating what you feed you are insuring that your pet gets a more balanced array of vitamins and minerals. Not to mention, how would you like to eat the same thing day after day year after year. Be careful, however to introduce dietary changes gradually to avoid tummy upset and diarrhea. Begin by adding in 1/4 of the new food to what you currently feed for between 5 to 7 days. The second week feed 1/2 new food to 1/2 the current diet and so on until you have made a complete change. Once your pet gets used to more variety they will more easily tolerated dietary changes.

Consider adding supplements

Adding natural vitamins and supplements can also be of great benefit to our pets, especially seniors. My personal "Holy Trinity" is a good Mulit-Vitamin, EFA's (essential fatty acids) and a Plant Enzyme and Probiotic Supplement (such as Animal Essentials). A good multi-vitamin will ensure your pet receives adequate daily amounts of necessary vitamins and minerals. EFA's do more than keep skin and coat healthy. EFAs are the building blocks for prostaglandins, which work to regulate hormones, immune and nervous systems and cardiovascular function. People and pet's bodies cannot make them and so they need to be added to our diet. Enzymes and Probiotics help enhance your pet's health by promoting the proper balance of good intestinal flora and by supporting the digestive systems that aid in the assimilation and utilization of vitamins and nutrients. Enzymes combine with food and water to aid in the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Even if your dog or cat is not displaying signs of arthritis you can help prevent or slow the onset by starting them on a natural supplement designed to promote joint and cartilage health. Look for supplements that contain ingredients such as glucosamine, chrondroitin, MSM, vitamin C, white willow bark (not for cats), boswellin, yucca powder, manganese ascorbate, bromelain, selenium (especially in conjunction with vitamin E), vitamins C, A, and E. In addition, Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oils has shown promise in treating arthritis in animals and humans.

Buy an orthopedic pet bed

Beds made out of convoluted foam offer greater support for sore achy joints and muscles. Soft fluffy beds may look and feel appealing to us, but as anyone with back problems will tell you, a nice firm bed is much more comfortable. The same is true with our pets.

Raise your pet's food and water bowls

Raise your pet's food and water bowls to provide the height that your dog (or cat) needs for healthy eating and drinking. Raised feeders minimize neck strain and reduce air ingestion making them ideal for senior and large breed pets.

Be aware of diminishing sight and hearing

Don't drastically rearrange rooms and furniture as your pet has probably learned to navigate his/her environment quite well and sudden changes can lead to fear and confusion. When approaching your older pet make sure they can see or hear you coming. A pet with sight or hearing loss can become very startled by an unexpected touch. Clapping your hands or making some other loud noise can help alert pets of your approach. The vibrations created by walking heavy-footed also work well to alert pets that someone is coming.

Just like people, our pets become more sensitive to extreme heat and cold

Provide pets with a warm place to lie and sleep in the winter, away from drafty windows and doors. Consider buying a heated bed or insert to keep them cozy. In the summer, make sure outdoor areas have plenty of shade and cool fresh water available at all times. Indoors, make sure they have a cool spot away from direct sunlight.

Ramps and special harnesses can make life for seniors much easier and less painful

They can help them climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles, rise from lying down and provide extra support while standing or walking. Cats can greatly benefit from portable stairs that aid them up and down from the bed, couch or other favorite cuddle spot.

Don't forget about exercise

Your older pet still needs to get out there and be part of the world; drinking in the fresh air and soaking up some sunshine. It's just as important for them to keep moving as it is for us when we age. Be aware, however that you need to adjust the length and strenuousness of their exercise. Shorter distances and less challenging terrain may be needed. And, definitely be careful in any extreme weather, as older animals cannot tolerate extremes like when they were younger. Also, make sure you always have an ample supply of clean water for you and your pet.
 

Published 6th May 2010

print

Advertisement

Advertisement

Article Information
Average Rating: 0
Explore This Topic

This article is part of the Animals and Pets topic. Click here to read articles, join discussions and more on this topic. Below are the latest articles in this topic.

Discuss This

Click here to start a discussion on this or Click here to read other discussions.

Contribute

Click here to create an article on this topic, or view contributions made by your fellow GrownUps members
All contributions are entered into our regular prize draws!

Below are a selection of User Contributed Article related to Pets.

by andy45 13th May 2010 I'm not sure about the 'rotating diet' thing. I think that has proven to be a bit controversial. It really depends on how complete the nutrition is. We did some research and decided to feed our dog Pro Pac and nothing else. She is thriving, looking wonderful and happy. I think variety is more a human concept.....(!)
by useter 26th May 2010 What about a wee coat too for walks/outings. Mine looks very good in hers. She doesn't like being cold and doesn't like rain either, the coat she has also makes her look cuter.
by nz_natalie 3rd August 2010 One of the best things that I do for myself, and my canine friend is to give us some fish oil. Hemp seed oil is actually the best food, but pretty hard to find in NZ but in Canada you can buy it at your nearest supermarket. You need Omega 3,6,and 9. /Natalie
by Gigglebyte 18th October 2010 My cat is fourteen, time may come when she will be an 'old lady'. Have bookmarked these hints for then . She is already at the point when I have to make a few special concessions for her such as making sure that she is getting fish in her diet,especially the fish oil, as moving seems to be a little more awkward for her than it once was and places are much more tender. Also she gets a drop of olive oil in with her fish.That should aid elimination as well as helping to lubricate the joints.
by lets be friends 12th July 2011 My dog have very bad back now disc is giving him lots pain rear end not able to walk since friday been to vet stay with VGS hospital unitec, on meds and confine cage rest for all this month,his fee just high but at least he is not in great pain as long he not move to have opp is very expensive for me to give him anyone have pet who have gone through same as my old fella here
Log in to post comments

 

Join GrownUps Free
By becoming a GrownUps member and part of the Community, you gain access to:
  • Enter Competitions
  • Go into regular prize draws
  • Play daily games
  • Join Discussion Groups
  • Find like-minded individuals and create lasting friendships
  • Receive special GrownUps offers and
  • Add you own articles of interest, recipes, pictures for fellow members to read and view.
All for FREE! So why not join now?

Register Now