As the years go by, your 4-legged friend is going to need you more and more, and it’s likely that you’ll have to adapt his living environment and the rhythm of his days. You may have noticed that he doesn’t always find his way around the house: his eyesight may be declining, he may have difficulty climbing stairs or furniture, or he may hear less, and this can be a source of anxiety for him. You may also find that he spends more time sleeping and that his walks become shorter and shorter. Here are a few ways you can improve his day-to-day life, and yours.
Age-related stiffness and muscle wasting can make your dog or cat less agile and disrupt his habits. If he’s allowed to, you can help him onto the sofa by adding a step to act as an intermediary. This could be a box or small steps designed for this purpose. These are generally easy to transport, so you can use them to help your dog climb into the boot of the car when you’re out and about. Generally speaking, it’s best to keep stairs to a minimum. Ideally, you should have everything he needs on the same floor.
Although it may be tempting and well-intentioned, don’t restrict your pet’s living area. It’s important to maintain different areas (sleeping, feeding, litter box) because, even though your pet’s sense of smell may decline with age, you don’t want unwanted odours to disturb it when it’s eating, for example. Plus, it’ll give him a bit of exercise! As far as his sleeping area is concerned, it’s important to make sure your dog or cat has a comfortable cushion, especially if he spends a good part of his day there! Remember to change it regularly. If your 4-legged friend’s condition requires it, you should know that there are orthopaedic cushions to help prevent bedsores.
Despite the difficulties in moving around, it’s still important to keep physically active. Moderate but regular exercise will help your pet maintain a healthy weight, muscle mass and flexibility. If moving around has become really difficult, you can also help with physiotherapy: think swimming. Physical activity in the water limits the strain on the joints, while re-strengthening the muscles and exercising the cardio-respiratory system.
With age, your 4-legged friend’s eyesight can deteriorate. To help him, try to limit changes in his environment, and try to create (if your home allows) “corridors” that are free of clutter to make it easier for him to move between different living areas. Certain conditions that cause reduced vision, such as cataracts for example, are now very easy to treat surgically (if they are not accompanied by another condition). Don’t hesitate to discuss this with your vet.
To date, there is no treatment that can restore hearing, and it is even relatively complicated to test it in our pets (as accurately as in humans). However, the fact that your dog or cat can’t hear properly is very likely to cause stress. If your pet has behavioural problems, you can help with supplements. Ask your vet for advice.
A final point not to be overlooked is mental stimulation. Play and brain activities are excellent for this, as well as increasing the bond between you and giving your 4-legged friend a physical workout. There are also supplements that act on cognition in older animals.
The AAHA’s “Life stage of the dog” recommendations: this document, intended for veterinarians, uses the guidelines drawn up by the American Animal Hospital Association, which divide the dog’s life into 5 stages (puppy, young adult, mature adult, senior and end of life). It provides an easy-to-understand basis for an evolving care strategy throughout life.
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