As the years go by, your four-legged companion will rely on you more and more, and you may need to adapt their living environment and daily routine. You may have noticed they don’t always find their way around the house: their vision may be declining, they may struggle with stairs or climbing onto furniture, or their hearing may be fading—all of which can cause them anxiety. You might also realize they’re sleeping more and walks are getting shorter. Here are a few ways to improve their daily life—and yours.
Supporting their mobility
Age-related stiffness and muscle loss can make your dog or cat less agile and disrupt their routines. If allowed, you can help them get onto the sofa by adding a step as an intermediate platform—this could be a box or small pet stairs designed for the purpose. These are usually easy to move, so you can also use them to help your pet climb into the car boot when travelling. As a general rule, it’s best to minimise stairs as much as possible. To do this, keep everything they need on the same floor.
While it may be tempting and come from a good place, don’t restrict your pet’s living space. It’s important to maintain separate areas (sleeping, feeding, litter) because, even if your pet’s sense of smell may decline with age, you wouldn’t want unwanted odors to disturb them while they eat, for example. Plus, it’ll give them a bit of exercise! For their sleeping area, make sure your dog or cat has a comfortable cushion—especially if they spend a large part of their day there! Remember to replace it regularly. If your four-legged companion’s condition requires it, orthopedic cushions are available to help prevent pressure sores.
Despite mobility challenges, it remains important to keep your pet physically active! Moderate but regular movement will help maintain their ideal weight, muscle mass, and flexibility. If moving has become truly difficult, you can also support them with physiotherapy—consider swimming! Water-based exercise reduces joint strain while rebuilding muscle and working the cardio-respiratory system.
Helping with Vision and Hearing
As your four-legged companion ages, their vision may decline. To help them, try to limit changes in their environment and—if your home allows—create clear "pathways" to keep their usual routes unobstructed, making it easier for them to move between their favorite spots. Some conditions that cause vision loss, such as cataracts, can now be effectively treated with surgery (provided they aren’t accompanied by another condition). Don’t hesitate to discuss this with your vet.
To date, there is no treatment to restore hearing, and it is even relatively difficult to test it in our pets (as precisely as in humans). However, impaired hearing very likely causes stress in your dog or cat. If your companion is showing behavioral issues, you can help them with supplements. Consult your veterinarian for advice.
One last point not to overlook is mental stimulation. Play and brain games are excellent for this, while also strengthening your bond and subtly keeping your four-legged friend physically active. There are also supplements that support cognition in senior pets.
Target:
AAHA’s “Canine Life Stage Guidelines”: This document, designed for veterinarians, outlines the guidelines developed by the American Animal Hospital Association, dividing a dog’s lifespan into 5 stages (puppy, young adult, mature adult, senior, and end-of-life). It offers an easy-to-understand foundation for a lifelong, evolving care strategy.
