If you’ve ever had a senior pet ten you know all too well how much care is involved and what happens when our beloved pets’ age. Today we’re going to share some facts about senior pets. This information should help you determine whether you’re equipped to have a pet forever or not, and what to expect as your pet starts to age.
What is considered old age for a cat?
First, we’ll discuss some information about older cats. Experts say that 11 years is considered old age for a cat. If your feline friend is 11 years or older, then here’s what you might expect from your senior cat:
Your senior cat may not change at all, while some may change personalities.
- Less active.
- May gain or lose weight due to fewer playful days.
- Trouble loving their normal favorite areas, such as a beloved cat tower.
- More prone to arthritis.
- Could start losing eyesight and hearing.
You should make vet visits a priority for routine care during your senior cat’s life. This will help you find any aging troubles before they get too bad. While your vet can’t stop the aging process, there are ways they can help ease the burden of growing old for your kitty before it’s too late.
How many years old is a senior dog?
Dogs are slightly different than cats in that the various dog breeds tend to age at different rates. For example, a small dog breed will enter into its senior years at age 11, a medium-size dog breed will enter its senior year at age 10, and a larger dog breed will enter its senior year at age 8.
As a means to help you prepare for your senior dog years, we’ve put together a few things that you need to know or watch for during your older dog’s life:
More susceptible to getting sick from other dogs, be wary of where you take your senior dog.
- Can start losing eyesight and hearing.
- More prone to arthritis.
- May develop a fear of familiar people or animals.
- May start soiling inside and not requesting to go outside for bathroom breaks.
As with our tips for senior cat care, now is the time to make sure your senior dog is attending their regular vet visits. Your vet can help ease the burden of your dog’s aging body to ensure they’re more comfortable as they embrace being a senior pet.
All Other Senior Pets
There are so many pets to list, but we wanted to share some tips and signs that your pet is nearing the bittersweet days of senior life. A pet turtle may start to lose interest in eating and get more lethargic as they get older. A pet rabbit may nap more often, stop using their litter box if they’ve been litter trained, and have weight changes in addition to eyesight changes.
As you can see, most senior pets have some issues with moving around, and vision as they get older. This is pretty typical of senior pets, they simply start to have a failing body and it’s similar to what occurs in the human body. If you’re caring for a senior pet, just be sure to comfort them and do your best to make their last few years the most comfortable possible.