As veterinary medicine extends companion animal lifespans, the welfare of ageing animals requires a holistic approach encompassing physical health, cognitive stimulation and quality end-of-life planning.
The extension of companion animal lifespans creates both opportunity and responsibility. A dog living to 16 years rather than 12 has four additional years that may be high quality with appropriate support, or may involve prolonged suffering without it. Holistic care of ageing animals requires regular veterinary assessment, proactive management of multiple concurrent conditions, environmental adaptation for reduced mobility, cognitive stimulation appropriate to changed capacity, and explicit quality-of-life monitoring. The welfare aspiration is to extend healthspan alongside lifespan — adding quality to years, not just years to life.