Adopting or own a senior dog? Here's how to help them live a long life
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Giving senior dogs the proper care and love could lengthen the pup's life with its forever family.
Shelters and animal welfare organizations have long encouraged inexperienced dog owners to adopt an elder canine because they are easier to manage and older animals often get overlooked by families. But for the pets to thrive, veterinarians urge pet owners to stay on top of the animal's health to ensure problems get addressed as soon as possible.
"As they move through different life stages, be attentive to your dog's behavior," said Dr. Kurt Venator, a veterinarian with pet food manufacturer Purina. "No one knows more about your dog than you do, and you can often pick up on subtle things."
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Beyond having carpeted homes, stairs or ramps to help the dog move on and off furniture and regular exercise, Venator said nutrition is optimal for every senior dog.
Regular veterinarian visits a must
Changes in a dog's behavior don't have to be big to warrant a visit to the vet, Venator said. If people notice their dog isn't running around as often, avoiding its food, limping or anything else, he said to take out a smartphone and film it happening.
"If you're seeing something, take a video, because that really allows us to capture it," he said. "Because some of these things are intermittent."
Julie Castle, chief executive officer of national animal sanctuary Best Friends Animal Society, added that regular vet visits with bloodwork and nose-to-tail exams can help owners and doctors peek into a dog's body chemistry for early intervention.
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Some of the ailments that plague senior dogs are obesity, osteoarthritis, dental diseases, cognitive decline, kidney disease and cancers. The American Veterinary Medical Association added that it's normal for older pets to lose their sight and hearing - just as people do.
"Pets with poor eyesight or even blindness can still get around well as long as they are familiar with their surroundings," the association said. "If your pet's eyesight is failing, avoid rearranging or adding furniture or other items that could become obstacles."
Proper nutrition helps senior dogs live happy lives
A healthy diet can help a dog experience fewer effects of aging, Venator said. Owners need to switch their dog's food over to one formulated for seniors once a veterinarian says so. He offered some tips on what to look for on a bag of food:
Protein: Older dogs need it to help maintain their lean muscle mass.
Medium chain triglycerides: Provide additional energy to the brain through ketones.
He added that consumers can always call hotline numbers found on dog food packaging to question the manufacturer about how the food is formulated, the science behind it and studies the companies have conducted. The American Kennel Club states that pet owners should check whether the selected dog food meets the criteria of the Association of American Feed Control Officials. The requirements include making sure a meal is "complete and balanced for dogs," according to the association.
Venator warned owners against giving their dogs too many treats, scraps and extra meals as obesity is a common killer of senior dogs. Dogs should have an hourglass shape with an abdominal tuck, he said.
If a dog is significantly slowing down, that could be a different conversation owners need to have with their vets and families.
Learning when to let go
Just like humans and other living beings, a dog's life will end. Putting a dog to sleep is tough on owners and their families.
Venator said it may be time to assess whether a dog needs to be put down if it's in excruciating pain and distress and has stopped eating altogether. Veterinarians will make recommendations to pet owners on what to do if a dog's quality of life declines. The conversations aren't easy, he said, but they can help owners say goodbye to their pets in a respectable way.
No matter how many years a senior dog has left, Venator and Castle, of Best Friends Animal Society, encouraged anyone looking for a dog, to consider adopting an older one.
"The beauty of a senior pet is that they've been in a lot of movies before, and they've kind of settled into their own fur," Castle said.
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.
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