Companion Animals

Dog Geriatric Care and Quality of Life

As dogs age, proactive geriatric care focused on pain management, cognitive health, and quality of life assessment helps maximise their wellbeing in later years.

Key Facts

Dogs are generally considered geriatric from 7 years in large breeds to 10-11 in small breeds
Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 80% of dogs over 8 years old
Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome is analogous to Alzheimer disease and affects 28% of dogs aged 11-12
Regular senior health screening identifies problems before they cause significant suffering
Multimodal pain management combining medication, diet, physiotherapy, and environment modification is most effective

Welfare Considerations

Senior dogs often suffer silently as owners attribute signs of pain and cognitive decline to normal ageing. Unrecognised arthritis pain is among the most common causes of preventable suffering in companion animals. Cognitive dysfunction causes confusion, anxiety, and sleep disruption that affect quality of life. Proactive screening, pain management, cognitive support supplements, and environmental modifications significantly improve welfare in the senior years.

What You Can Do

Schedule twice-yearly veterinary health checks from age 7-8 in medium and large breeds
Learn to recognise subtle signs of pain including reluctance to exercise and difficulty rising
Discuss multimodal arthritis management with your vet including Librela or NSAIDs
Use non-slip mats, ramps, and raised food bowls to make home life easier
Have honest conversations with your vet about quality of life using assessment tools