Companion Animals

Companion Animal Senior Care and Quality of Life

Senior pets have specific welfare needs that require proactive management of pain, mobility, and cognitive changes.

Key Facts

Dogs are considered senior at 7-9 years depending on size
Osteoarthritis affects over 80% of dogs over 8 years old
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in elderly dogs is analogous to Alzheimer disease
Pain in senior animals is frequently underrecognized and undertreated

Welfare Considerations

Senior pets often suffer from multiple concurrent conditions including pain, cognitive decline, and sensory loss. The stoic nature of many animals means suffering goes unrecognized. Proactive geriatric veterinary care and welfare assessment can substantially reduce suffering in elderly pets.

What You Can Do

Schedule twice-yearly vet visits for pets over 8 years
Learn pain assessment tools for dogs and cats
Discuss multimodal pain management options with your vet
Assess quality of life regularly using structured assessment tools