When we buy a baby animal, we can’t possibly imagine them getting old, being frail or feeling lethargic. Unfortunately, time flies and pets will get older a lot quicker than we had ever hoped for. All of a sudden they’re not interested in playing anymore, and all they want to do is sleep. This doesn’t mean you should invest in a new puppy right away, it means you need to dedicate some time to look after your elderly pet. Here are our top tips for ensuring your older pets are happy and healthy.
Playing
The worst thing you can possibly do with an elderly animal is treat them as if they’re still a puppy or kitten, trying to get them to play all the time. Older pets tend to be more frail and lethargic, which means that they’re not going to want to play every 10 minutes. You need to give your pet space and time to relax; they need it!
Exercise
Although you should give your pet space, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t still get exercise. Elderly dogs will still need to be taken on walks and cats should still get a run around every now and then. They won’t need to exercise as much as they used to, but it’s good to let them stretch their legs once a day.
Illness
It’s a common fact that as our pets get older, they are more likely to fall ill. It is important that your elderly animal visits the vets regularly in order to catch any possible medical condition in its early stages, or at least slow it down. You tend to find that dogs with heart conditions are older and frailer, as opposed to puppies which are young and sprightly. The same goes with any animal, as they will be more prone to long term illnesses when they reach their senior years.
Insurance
Most basic pet insurance plans won’t cover your animal after they reach a certain age, so it’s important to check your cover. As pets are more prone to illness when they get older, many insurance plans see this as too high risk and therefore stop covering them. However, there are specific plans that can cover your pet for their lifetime, so make sure you’re covered for any eventuality.
Affection
You may find that your pet becomes a lot more affectionate as it gets older, which is a clear signal for you to spend more time with them. They may prefer to curl up on your lap and be stroked than to run around the house playing fetch. However, some animals turn the opposite way and would prefer not to be touched as they get older. This could be because of some underlying medical condition, or it may just be that they’re getting grumpy in their old age! Either way, make sure you respect their wishes and get them checked at the vets if necessary.
Your elderly pet will probably require a lot of attention in their final years, as they find it more difficult to fend for themselves. Remember, they are in your care, and you are with them for life, not just whilst they’re young and playful.
These are some great tips! We have three cats, two of which are “elderly”, and they do require a little extra TLC. The youngster seems to forget that the other two don’t have quite as much energy and spunk as her so we have to give them space away from her too every now and then!! lol
These are some awesome suggestions. We have two elderly or as the vet calls them geriatric dogs. They do sleep a lot more during the day but other than that they still have their appetites and move quite well. A little arthritis that comes with age so yes, more affection and massages are needed. Stopping by from SITS