Dogs live longer than ever before due to advances in veterinary medicine. Ensuring quality of life in old age requires attention to pain recognition and management, not just disease treatment.
Senior dog welfare is frequently compromised by unrecognized and undertreated pain. Dogs evolved to hide signs of weakness and may continue normal activities while experiencing significant chronic pain. Signs including reduced enthusiasm for play, reluctance to climb stairs, and changes in posture are pain indicators that owners and even veterinarians may attribute to normal aging rather than treatable conditions. Regular geriatric health checks and validated pain assessments change this equation. Pain management in senior dogs has advanced significantly, with options including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentin, acupuncture, and underwater treadmill physiotherapy. Quality of life rather than life extension should guide end-of-life decisions.