Senior Pet Owner’s Guide
Sharing your home with a loving pet never gets old. But just like us, our pet’s wants and needs naturally change over the course of their life. So whether you have a fuzzy buddy that’s getting on in years or you’re thinking of adding a senior pet to your household, bookmark this handy guide. It’ll help keep them healthy, and help you receive the maximum amount of purrs and tail wags.
Benefits of Adopting a Senior Pet
While your social media feeds might be cluttered with pictures of energetic and adorable little puppies and kittens, the day-to-day reality of having a very young pet isn’t a great fit for everyone.
Younger dogs and cats may require more attention, training, and cleanup than you have time for. Luckily, there are many, many mellow and mature animals out there that are looking for a good home. And they’ll be so grateful if you decide to adopt them! If you’re interested in opening your home to an older animal, read these 10 Reasons To Adopt a Senior Pet and prepare to have your heart (and lap) warmed.
Best Dog Breeds for Senior Citizens to Adopt
While a dog’s energy level is partially determined by its stage of life, it’s also determined by its breed as well. If you or someone you know is looking for a furry companion to share their golden years with, these 5 breeds of dogs could prove to be a good fit!
When is My Pet Considered a “Senior”?
Hey! Who’re you calling a senior?! Well, that depends on if you’re talking about cats or dogs. Both animals have several distinct life stages. In the case of dogs, adulthood begins at 9-12 months of age for small breeds and 18-24 months of age for larger breeds. Senior years officially begin at around 7 years of age for giant breeds, but not until around 11 or 12 years of age for smaller breeds. (Stephens, 2009) And it turns out that old adage about dogs aging 7 years for every human year isn’t quite right… here are the actual facts.
For cats, the timeline is a bit different. Our meowing housemates reach adulthood by the time they celebrate their third birthday and are considered “senior” at approximately 11 years of age. (Bauhaus, 2017)
Senior Cat Age: When is a cat considered a senior?
| Stage | Age |
| Kitten | 0-6 Months |
| Junior/Adolescent Cat | 6 Months – 2 Years |
| Prime Cat | 3 Years – 6 Years |
| Mature Cat | 7 Years – 10 Years |
| Senior Cat | 11 Years and Older |
| Geriatric Cat | 15 Years and Older |
Senior Dog Age: When is a dog considered a senior?
| Stage | Age - Small Breed | Age - Large Breed |
| Puppy | 0-9 Months | 0-9 Months |
| Young Adult Dog | 9-18 Months | 9 Months - 3 Years |
| Adult Dog | 18 Months - 10 Years | 3 Years - 7 Years |
| Senior Dog | 10 Years and Older | 7 Years and Older |
Common Health Issues for Senior Pets
As your pet grows older, it becomes increasingly important that you keep an eye on their health and be aware of potential warning signs that they may be experiencing a medical issue.
- Trouble Rising, Stiffness, Limping and Arthritis: Just like humans, your pet’s likelihood of developing arthritis and other joint issues increases with age. While they can’t tell you verbally that they’re experiencing joint paint, they can tell you with their movement (or lack thereof). Here are the signs of joint pain in senior animals.
- Increased Thirst: It’s important for your pet to stay properly hydrated, but if they suddenly start drinking an unusually large amount of water it may be a symptom of diabetes, kidney disease or a urinary tract infection.
- Dog Cancer: While the signs of canine cancer can be difficult to spot, the good news is that there are many effective treatment options available. This is what you should know about canine cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Incontinence And Weight Loss: If your pet is going to the bathroom at improper times, it may be related to an underlying condition, or may just be a result of their advancing age. In the latter case, medicine may help to prevent this issue. Similarly, weight loss can be a natural part of pet aging – but bloodwork and other testing is required to rule out overactive thyroid, diabetes, and kidney disease. Learn more here.
- Feline Hyperthyroidism in Aging Cats: If your cat has an overactive thyroid, they may experience weight loss, thirst, vomiting and diarrhea. Stay vigilant and catch hyperthyroidism early.
- Dog Diabetes: Unfortunately, diabetes has become increasingly prevalent in dogs, with rates rising almost 80 percent between 2006 and 2015. But luckily with early diagnosis and proper treatment diabetic dogs can go on to live pretty normal lives.
- Dog Seizures: If your dog experiences a seizure, it’s important that you take them to the vet. And if the seizure lasts more than 3 to 5 minutes, it’s an emergency and you should go to the vet immediately. Here’s what you should know about seizures in dogs and the underlying conditions that can cause them.
Most Common Senior Pet Conditions Claimed
Atopy / Allergies
Osteoarthritis
General Illness
Gastrointestinal
Diabetes Mellitus
Chronic Renal Failure
Urinary Tract Condition
Undiagnosed Mass
Heart Disease
Undiagnosed Hepatopathy
Cushing's Disease
Undiagnosed Lameness
Cancer
Lymphoma
Hyperthyroidism
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
(Based on Pets Best claims data 2020-3/2021)
The best way to help your pet avoid serious health issues is early detection – and the second-best way is to make sure that they have a pet insurance plan that’ll help with their medical needs. If your senior buddy needs insurance coverage,
get in touch with us today for a free quote.
Health Warning Signs for Senior Pets
If you’ve spent any time googling your own health symptoms, you know that they can have a wide variety of underlying causes. The same is true for your pet – for instance, increased appetite in your senior pet could be caused by several things. Most importantly, you must take and act accordingly. Here are seven common warning signs in senior pets.
How to Keep Your Senior Pet Healthy
By keeping an eye out for any changes in your pet’s behavior, making sure they get proper nutrition and taking them to the vet on a regular basis, you can have an enormous positive impact on the health of your senior pet. Here’s why these three specific pet owner responsibilities matter so much.
Healthy Senior Dog Diet
Because proper pet nutrition can vary by the specific animal and breed, it’s important that you check in with your vet and get their input on what your lil’ critter needs. If you’re the owner of a senior dog, we’ve compiled a resource to help you shape their nutrition plan. On the topic of supplements, it’s also best that you check with your vet as their efficacy and usefulness can really vary quite a bit. (Lee, 2017)
Ongoing Healthcare for Senior Pets
Going to the vet on a regular basis is important for your senior pet - but it’s also vital that you go to the vet while your pet is still young as this allows for early detection of health issues. Similarly, it’s why we say you should get pet insurance while your pet is young: It’ll help them age gracefully! But once they do begin to get on in years, you’ll definitely want to secure senior pet insurance for them to help absorb medical costs. Just like for us two-leggers, senior pet insurance plans can be tweaked to accommodate different budgets and needs.
Need to learn more about senior pet insurance? We’ll get you covered! For older pets or for pets that may have a pre-existing condition not covered by pet insurance, a CareCredit credit card gives you the flexibility you need to provide your pet the best care possible at CareCredit enrolled providers.* Together, Pets Best and CareCredit offer a complete financial solution for a lifetime of care for your pet.
References:
Stephens, J. (2009, May 7). Dog Age In Human Years. Retrieved May 5, 2021, from https://www.petsbest.com/blog/dog-age-in-human-years/
Bauhaus, J. M. (2017, April 6). Cat care for all life stages: Hill's pet. Retrieved May 03, 2021, from https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/healthcare/caring-for-your-cat-at-all-life-stages
Lee, E. (2010, May 01). Dog vitamins and supplements: Nutrition, joint health, and more. Retrieved May 03, 2021, from https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dog-vitamins-and-supplements%231
* Subject to credit approval.