10 Favorite Things for Senior Dogs

Orthopedic Dog Beds

We’ve all heard the reminders from mattress companies that we spend 1/3 of our lives in bed, right? Well, when you consider how many hours a senior dog spends sleeping—both day and night—the importance of a quality bed is paramount. A good orthopedic dog bed can bring significant relief to our old pooches, especially if they’re arthritic or dealing with other painful ailments. The investment in a good memory foam bed will go a long way in improving your dog’s comfort and sleep.

Supplements and Medications

Several of Dr. Buzby’s favorite things fall into the supplements and medications category. Joint supplements, Omega 3 fatty acids, and probiotics can all benefit our dogs’ health and comfort, depending on their individual needs. What’s interesting, though, is that starting these earlier than the senior years may help to prevent—or delay—common conditions like arthritis, gastrointestinal issues, and dementia. This is a good conversation to have with your vet.

If your pet is struggling with pain, anxiety, or other issues from a medical condition, some drugs can bring relief, and your vet can help you weigh the benefits against any potential side effects.

Mobility Issues

Watching our beloved dogs struggle to navigate their world safely can be heartbreaking. What Dr. Buzby emphasizes, though, is that there are SO many wonderful products available to help with about any mobility problem. Slipping on floors, difficulty standing up, climbing stairs, or getting into the car—there are products available to help with all these issues. “Lift” harnesses, ToeGrips® and other foot traction products, ramps, and even wagons for neighborhood walks are all great options for helping our old-timers continue to enjoy and navigate their world with us.

Dementia, AKA Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD)

Dementia can be a stressful and heart-wrenching challenge to navigate with senior dogs. One of the most common symptoms is anxiety—especially at night—which is exhausting for everyone. Incontinence is another issue that can accompany dementia, or it can be an issue on its own. Working with your vet is vital in these situations, and there are supplements, special foods, and anti-anxiety medications that can bring relief.

The Bottom Line

No matter what issues you may be having with your beloved aging dog, research and working closely with your vet are critical to maintaining your dog’s quality of life. In this phase of our dogs’ lives, keeping them comfortable and simply spending time together can make all the difference—for us and them.

What Viewers are Saying

“Really practical tips for senior dogs. Some of it was new information and some of it reinforced things I already knew. All of it was valuable!”
“Keep on having these types of lectures. Very helpful! I am a physician with four senior dogs (and two senior cats). I usually adopt only senior animals, so these lectures are quite useful!”
“Thank you! My 14-year-old “baby” is my world, and all the information presented will help both him and me.”

About the Presenter

As an integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby seeks to blend the best of Western medicine, alternative therapies, and creative tools for maximum wellness in her patients, the majority of whom have grey muzzles. After years of frustration watching her patients struggle on hard floors, she developed Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips for dogs, assistive devices that enable instant traction and confident mobility. Dr. Buzby is passionate about educating clients on a multimodal approach to improving the quality of life for senior and special needs dogs.

Watch the full recording of this webinar here!

Wendy Gertridge is a writer, editor, and senior dog advocate who lives in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts with her husband and old hound mix, Scarlet Begonia.