Heated pet beds are ideal for older dogs and cats that need a little extra help staying warm. While it is particularly important during chilly days and cold nights, it can be critical in air-conditioned homes when your pet is not able to warm themselves up.
While some pets can curl up and nap or sleep anywhere, when pets age, getting up and down can be a challenge and snuggling in for a comfortable sleep even more so. Pet beds designed with more structure and memory are fantastic choices to help your pet snuggle in.
Larger breed dogs often suffer from arthritis long before it is known to anyone but your pup. They compensate by the way they walk, curl up and adjust to find a comfortable sleeping position. Choosing the right dog bed as your dog ages is really important. Choose the right size, design and material for your pet’s needs.
When choosing pet supplies for aging dogs and cats, you want to always choose washable options. You will find some pet beds are fully washable, while others have removable covers, liners and cushions. For larger dog breeds you may want to wash them at a local laundry mat with large capacity washers and dryers to ensure they are washed properly and you don’t damage your machines.
Our older pets have accidents and often don’t even realize they are doing it. Make their life better and your life easier with a stash of washable pet blankets that are quick and easy to care for and protect your furniture, bedding, and flooring.
Add a washable pet blanket to aging crate trained pets to add comfort, warmth and to improve their comfort. Choose a washable blanket or one that is waterproof to make clean up easy and eliminate leakage as much as possible.
As pets age they often, if not before, want to sleep close and keep you in their site. To help them with their endeavor, consider a bed-side pet bed, washable on-bed pet bed, or bed-side steps to help them get where they need to go.
When your pet’s hips and footing is just not what it used to be, consider adding socks or shoes to your pet’s daily routine. They are really helpful when your home has slick tile, smooth concrete or polished wooden floors.
Q. Do they make non-slip socks for older pups to help them from slipping on hardwood, tile and smooth flooring.
A. Yes, there are a number of choices depending on your dog’s breed, size and willingness to keep them on.
It becomes difficult for some older pets to control their bladder. Choosing the right potty supplies will make life easier on you and your pet. Here are a few helpful products.
Chose elevated, tinted or non-stick bowls to assist your aging pet when eating. Many pets stop eating as they get older, so making it as easy as possible will help.
We often thing about pet toys only for puppies, kittens, and young pets, but they can be very helpful for older pets to sooth them, entertain them and calm them.
Transition playful dogs into toys that are more their speed. Chew toys with softer rubber, calming toys, licking toys and even a faux fur dog tail ball that is a lot easier on elderly pup’s teeth, but keeps them playing as much as they can.
Losing a pet is one of the hardest events pet-lovers must endure. While each pet owner must walk through the process in their own way, it is always good to know someone cares. Finding ways to memorialize our special pets, keep a part of them with us or share the grief is an important part of the process and truly helps us get through it. While we don’t ever forget, we move forward.
Wind Chimes are a wonderful pet memorial gift that are a wonderful reminder when the chimes sound as the wind breezes through them.
A framed photo is a very kind gift to give to a coworker, friend or yourself who is experiencing the loss of a dog. As time goes by the photo will have deeper and deeper meaning and provide solace.
A pet loving veterinarian that believes there is nothing better than a dog with a grey muzzle or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for their geriatric veterinary patients. Her goals is to help make the final life stage as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved.
Dr. Gardner graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, after a leaving a job in product development. Part of the Lap of Love team, has been a part of helping thousands of families with hospice and end of life care, she learned that caregivers really struggle caring for their aging pets.
Dr. Gardner released the book It’s Never Long Enough and the Geriatric Dog Health & Car Journal in January of 2022. She also won VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year in 2020!
“No Dog Should Die Alone” was the attention-grabbing — and heart-stirring — headline of journalist Laura T. Coffey’s TODAY show website story about photographer Lori Fusaro’s work with senior shelter pets. While generally calm, easy, and already house-trained, these animals often represent the highest-risk population at shelters. With gorgeous, joyful photographs and sweet, funny, true tales of “old dogs learning new tricks,” Coffey and Fusaro show that adopting a senior can be even more rewarding than choosing a younger dog. They may be slower moving and a tad less exuberant than puppies, but these pooches prove that adopting a senior brings immeasurable joy, earnest devotion, and unconditional love.
As your dog, cat or house of pets begins to age, it may be time to make some changes to make life with pets and people calm and compassionate. Simple changes can dramatically make life easier for your pets and give you peace of mind.