When an animal you know by heart starts sleeping longer, hesitating at stairs, or turning away from meals they once loved, it’s easy to wonder what’s “normal ageing” and what needs a vet’s attention. In the background, small changes can be the first sign of pain, dental disease, kidney trouble, or other conditions that respond best when caught early.
Senior pet care is mostly quiet, practical work: noticing patterns, adjusting food and exercise, making the house easier to move through, and keeping up with regular check-ups. Done well, it doesn’t chase youth. It protects comfort, mobility, and appetite—day after day.1, 2
Understanding ageing in dogs and cats
Ageing doesn’t arrive all at once. It often shows up as a slow shift in pace and resilience: a stiffer rise from bed, less interest in rough play, longer recovery after a walk, or a new sensitivity to cold floors. Some changes are easy to dismiss because they’re gradual, but they’re still useful information for your vet.
What counts as “senior” varies. Smaller dog breeds often reach old age later than large breeds, and cats commonly show age-related disease without obvious outward signs until the condition is advanced. Rather than fixating on a birthday, treat any persistent change—movement, thirst, weight, toileting habits, sleep, breathing, or behaviour—as worth noting.1, 2
Common signs that deserve a closer look
- Stiffness, limping, reluctance to jump, slipping on smooth floors
- Changes in appetite, thirst, weight, or toileting habits
- Bad breath, dribbling, pawing at the mouth, dropping food
- New lumps, persistent coughing, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Confusion, restlessness at night, increased vocalising, withdrawal
None of these automatically means “end of the road”. They’re simply signals that your pet’s baseline is changing, and that a health check may prevent months of avoidable discomfort.
Common health issues in senior pets
Arthritis and chronic pain
Arthritis and other degenerative joint problems are common in older pets. Dogs may slow down or avoid stairs; cats often show pain more quietly—jumping less, spending more time on the ground, or becoming harder to handle for grooming.
Management tends to work best when it’s layered: weight control, appropriate low-impact exercise, pain relief prescribed by a veterinarian, and small home modifications (ramps, non-slip runners, lower-sided litter trays, supportive bedding). A multimodal approach is widely recommended because chronic pain rarely has a single simple lever.3, 4
Dental disease
Dental disease is more than bad breath. Inflamed gums and infected teeth can make eating painful and may contribute to broader health stress in the body. Regular dental checks matter, especially in older animals where small oral problems can tip appetite and weight.1
At home, daily toothbrushing is ideal, but even a few times a week is meaningful. Dental diets and approved dental chews can help, though they don’t replace veterinary assessment when there is pain, bleeding gums, or loose teeth.
Chronic diseases that become more likely with age
Older pets are more prone to conditions such as kidney disease, endocrine problems (including diabetes), heart disease, tumours, and cognitive dysfunction. Early detection is the quiet advantage of routine screening—many issues are easier to manage when found before they’ve eroded weight, hydration, and muscle.1
Nutrition for senior pets: steady, digestible, purposeful
Older bodies often burn fewer calories, but they still need quality protein to help maintain muscle. Some pets also need dietary adjustments for specific diagnoses (for example, kidney-support diets), and those choices are best made with veterinary guidance rather than guesswork.
If you’re changing foods, do it slowly over several days to reduce stomach upsets. If appetite has dropped, treat that as a symptom, not a personality quirk—pain, dental disease, nausea, and organ disease can all sit behind “fussiness”.1
Choosing a senior diet without getting lost in marketing
Ingredient lists can be misleading. A more reliable approach is to choose a complete and balanced food from a company that can answer practical questions about formulation, quality control, and nutrition expertise. The WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines outline what to look for and what to ask when selecting a pet food.5
Supplements: useful sometimes, not automatically
Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) and joint supplements are commonly discussed for older pets, particularly those with osteoarthritis. They may help some animals, but they can also interact with medical conditions and medications. If you want to try a supplement, ask your vet for a dose and a realistic way to judge whether it’s helping (for example, easier rising, longer walks, improved jumping).
Foods to avoid (especially important in older pets)
Some hazards are toxic at any age, and older pets may have less margin for error if they already have kidney, liver, or pancreatic disease. In Australia, government and welfare guidance consistently lists high-risk foods such as chocolate, grapes/raisins/sultanas, onions/garlic/chives, xylitol, cooked bones, alcohol, and caffeine products.6, 7
Exercise and mental stimulation: keep it gentle, keep it regular
Movement is maintenance. For older pets, the goal is not “fitness” so much as keeping joints lubricated, muscles engaged, and weight stable. Short, regular walks are often better than occasional big outings that leave them sore for days.
Watch the small cues: lagging behind, licking joints afterwards, refusing the next walk, or stiffness after rest. If you see these patterns, it’s worth discussing pain relief and a tailored activity plan with your vet.3, 4
Low-stress ways to keep the mind active
- Scatter feeding or simple puzzle feeders (easy to solve, low frustration)
- Scent games (finding treats in a towel roll or around one room)
- Short training refreshers using gentle rewards and plenty of breaks
Veterinary care: why older pets benefit from twice-yearly checks
For senior pets, six-monthly health checks are commonly recommended because health changes can move quickly, and early signs are easy to miss at home.1, 2
These visits often include a full physical exam and may include blood and urine tests to establish a baseline and pick up developing disease earlier. Your vet may also adjust vaccination and parasite prevention plans based on health status and lifestyle.1
Between visits: what to track at home
- Body weight (monthly if possible) and appetite
- Water intake and toileting changes
- Mobility (stairs, jumping, slipping, stiffness after rest)
- Breathing effort, coughing, or exercise tolerance
- New lumps, skin changes, or persistent bad breath
Grooming and hygiene: comfort first
Older pets often groom less effectively, and arthritis can make brushing, nail trims, and coat care uncomfortable. Keep sessions short and calm. Use non-slip mats, support the body gently, and stop if your pet shows signs of pain.
Regular grooming is also a quiet health check: you’re more likely to notice new lumps, sore spots, ear infections, or weight loss when your hands pass over the same landscape each week.
Dental care at home
Use pet-safe toothpaste only. Human toothpaste can contain ingredients that are unsafe for animals. If brushing isn’t tolerated, ask your vet about alternatives, but treat pain, drooling, or difficulty eating as reasons for a proper dental assessment rather than more chews.
Making the home kinder to ageing bodies
A senior pet’s world often shrinks to a few preferred routes: bed to water bowl, sunny spot to back door, couch to doorway. Tiny obstacles along these paths—slick tiles, steep steps, high-sided litter trays—can quietly reduce movement and independence.
Simple changes that make a real difference
- Non-slip runners on smooth floors and at the base of stairs
- Ramps or sturdy pet steps to favourite resting places
- Supportive bedding in warm, draught-free spots
- Food, water, and litter trays placed where your pet doesn’t need to negotiate stairs
Home modifications are also part of good pain management, not just convenience—especially for pets with arthritis or reduced vision and hearing.3
Emotional wellbeing: routine, predictability, and quiet company
Senior pets can become more sensitive to change. Keep routines steady where you can: mealtimes, medication timing, walk routes, sleeping places. If there are other pets in the household, watch that interactions stay gentle—older animals may need more space and more rest.
Signs of stress in older pets can look like clinginess, withdrawal, pacing, increased vocalising, or changes in toileting. Because medical problems and anxiety can overlap, a behaviour change is still a good reason for a vet visit, especially if it arrives suddenly.
End-of-life considerations: focusing on comfort and dignity
There may come a point where treatment shifts from “fixing” to “keeping comfortable”. Vets often help families assess quality of life using day-to-day markers: pain control, appetite, hydration, breathing comfort, mobility, and whether your pet still seeks rest and connection in familiar ways.
If you’re facing these decisions, ask for a clear plan: what can be improved, what can be managed, what decline might look like, and how you’ll recognise when comfort is slipping. The aim is not to delay or rush, but to avoid prolonged suffering that hides behind quiet stoicism.
Final thoughts
Good senior pet care is mostly made of small, steady choices. Softer footing. Shorter walks. Better pain control. Food that suits the body your pet has now, not the one they had years ago. With regular veterinary checks and careful observation at home, many older dogs and cats continue to live rich, comfortable lives—unhurried, familiar, and well cared for.1, 3
References
- RSPCA Pet Insurance Australia — The importance of regular veterinary care for your senior dog
- Pet Circle — How often should your pet visit the vet?
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) — 2023 Senior Care Guidelines: Pain management
- Sydney Animal Hospitals — Senior dog care (six-monthly wellness checks and what they include)
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) — Global Nutrition Guidelines
- Agriculture Victoria — Human foods to avoid for cats and dogs
- RSPCA Australia — Household dangers to your pet
- RSPCA Knowledgebase — What are common household dangers for pets?
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom