As pet owners, we all want to make life easier for our senior pets, so they can live their best lives in their golden years. As pets age, it is common for them to develop mobility problems due to arthritis, muscle loss leading to weakness, or general frailty. Pets can have difficulty navigating the home environment due to these changes leading to slips on slick surfaces and even falls, which can be painful and cause injury.
Therefore, it’s important to consider adapting our homes and routines to accommodate these changes and help our pets live better longer.
Dogs
While hardwood or vinyl flooring looks great, it can be very difficult to navigate for older pets, especially dogs. For a senior dog, slick floors can be like walking on an ice rink in street shoes. You may see your pet walking more slowly across these surfaces, scrambling to try to get traction or even falling, often with their hindlimbs splayed out. This can cause painful groin muscle pulls and makes your pet less likely to be active in your home because they get nervous to walk outside of tractioned areas.
We can help these dogs by creating safe walkways through the common areas of the home that have slick flooring. Rug runners are a good and stylish option. Yoga mats, which you can buy in large rolls, can also be used. For stairs your pet needs to navigate, consider adding adhesive grip tape, similar to skateboard surfaces, to the edges. This can be found at most hardware stores. For stairs going outside, ramps can be helpful and can also be covered with grippy material or slats. Be sure to restrict access to areas where a pet might injure him or herself if unsupervised, such as long staircases, by installing baby gates.
In addition to traction on the floor, we can increase our pet’s own traction by keeping nails and the hair between their paw pads trimmed short to increase the contact of the paw pads with the ground. For those that still struggle despite this regular grooming, products such as Dr. Busby’s Toe Grips - which attach to the nails - or Paw Friction - which is applied to the paw pads directly - can give immediate confidence to a pet struggling with mobility. Booties, such as those from Ruffwear, can also be considered, especially for use outdoors or for those pets who drag their feet due to neurologic changes.
Accessibility modifications for activities of daily living can also make a big difference in your pet’s ability to enjoy their normal routines. Raising food and water bowls to elbow height helps avoid excess pressure on the forelimbs and neck of dogs and cats who may have front end arthritis changes. There are commercial products available, but you can also simply find books or boxes to achieve the same height adjustment.
For those pets who like to get out for car rides, ramps are available to help a pet get into and out of the vehicle. These do require a little bit of training, but are very helpful especially for larger dogs who are difficult to lift. Alternatively, platforms that attach to tow hitches can also provide an extra boost. If your pet needs additional assistance, harnesses, such as those made by Help ‘Em Up, have handles that provide easy access for grabbing to lift or stabilize.
For dogs that sleep in dog beds, consider switching to a bed that has low sides to make it easier to get in and out (no bolsters). Having a bed that is waterproof may be beneficial if your pet starts to experience incontinence as they age. Baby mattresses meet these requirements and are a cost effective choice for large dogs. Some dogs prefer softer beds and some a more firmer material as they age. Notice which surfaces your dog seems to seek out (couches vs. hard floors) to determine which they may like best.
Cats
Cats, too, experience mobility changes due to arthritis and muscle loss, although they tend to be more subtle. Especially if your cat is eliminating outside of the litterbox, consider switching to an easier to access box such as one with a low lip to get in and out and no cover so that they can move to posture more easily. Large plastic containers (such as those you would store linens under the bed with) can be a good option for older cats.
One of the most common signs of mobility change in cats is a reduced ability to jump up. Add steps or platforms to help cats access their favorite elevated spots, such as couches or beds, or consider installing lower perches near windows to give them mental stimulation and warm sunshine for naps.
Many cats prefer warm areas, especially during winter, as the cold can make them feel more stiff and sore. Having a heating pad available on a very low setting that a cat can get on and off easily can be soothing to aging joints.
Just like dogs, raised food and water bowls to elbow height can be helpful for cats. Most cats tend to prefer wider bowls with low sides to avoid brushing their sensitive facial whiskers.
With a few small adjustments to your home environment, your pet can maintain a sense of independence and enjoy reduced risk of acute injury well into their senior years. It’s a way of giving back to the pets who have given us so many years of joy by making their day-to-day lives just a little bit easier.
At Petspan, we’re on the forefront of longevity interventions for pets. Want to learn more about what options are available to help your pet live a longer and healthier life? Schedule a consultation with one of our Petspan veterinarians.
