Senior dogs need adapted enrichment that meets their physical and cognitive needs while accommodating reduced mobility and changing senses. Understanding geriatric dog welfare improves quality of life in later years.
Senior dogs experience a gradual decline in physical and cognitive capacity that requires proactive welfare management. Dogs that were previously highly active but are now restricted by arthritis or heart disease suffer both physical pain and the frustration of reduced mobility. Cognitive dysfunction causes genuine distress through disorientation, anxiety and disrupted sleep. The challenge of senior dog welfare is maintaining positive experiences through adapted enrichment that accounts for physical limitations while continuing to provide mental stimulation and social contact. Under-stimulation of senior dogs is as much a welfare problem as over-exercise.