Is my darling already a senior?

Thanks to your caring care, the now very high-quality food and the possibilities of modern medicine, our furry friends are much older today than they were 20 years ago. In the “Guinness Book of Records”, Bobi was recognized as the oldest dog of all time at 31 years of age. He died in October 2023. Realistically speaking, depending on the breed, our dogs are more likely to be 9-16 years old and our domestic cats around 15 years old.

But when do our favorites become seniors and when does the geriatric phase begin? In the case of cats, it can be said that they count as seniors from the age of 10 and the geriatric age begins at the age of 15. For dogs, it depends a bit on the size and breed. Small breeds, for example, are seniors at 10 years of age and large breeds at 7 years of age.

Similar to humans, many elderly patients have joint problems and musculoskeletal disorders. It starts with pain when standing up; after prolonged periods of rest or climbing stairs, they need a longer start-up phase until they have settled back in. Climbing on the scratching post or sharpening your claws on it is often avoided. Cats also often find cleaning much more difficult than before. Arthrosis and arthritis of the joints as well as spinal changes can occur as wear and tear just like in humans.

If this is the case with your pet, you can make things easier for your pet with small changes in everyday life. Floors on which your pet does not slide and has a good grip provide safety and prevent painful slipping away. Food and water bowls can be brought to a comfortable height for the animal. This means that your dog or cat no longer has to bend over and saves a lot of muscle tension in old age. Or take a close look at the cat litter box — does your velvet paw have to climb a high entrance? It can sometimes be helpful for dogs to be carried up stairs or to be relieved by your help with a harness. There is already a wide range of harnesses with handles in pet supplies. You can also help when getting on and off. Either carry your dog into the car or use a ramp. You can also start training for this at a young age, which makes it all the easier in old age.

Another change in old age is appearance. On the one hand, the skin and coat change when the cat is no longer able to take care of itself enough, or there may be signs of endocrinological problems such as thyroid or pancreatic diseases. Increased drinking could indicate kidney problems in a cat. Some cats get dirty from one day to the next. If you notice any such changes in your pet, be sure to mention them during the annual check up. A blood test can often shed light on the darkness. Or maybe your darling is no longer as resilient as he used to be and quickly out of breath? This is also important information for your vet. Heart problems are just as much on the agenda of our four-legged friends in old age as they are for us humans. With the correct diagnosis and treatment, you can still get old here.

Many owners often overlook the fact that their cat is already blind or their dog is deaf, for example. The animals usually manage to cleverly compensate for this due to other senses. However, it should not be taken lightly; it can be an indication of high blood pressure in cats, for example.

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