Geriatric dog care focuses on maintaining quality of life through proactive management of age-related conditions and honest quality-of-life assessment.
Elderly dogs are frequently undertreated for pain because owners and veterinarians underestimate the prevalence and severity of osteoarthritis and other painful conditions. Behavioral changes including reduced playfulness, decreased social interaction, and reluctance to climb stairs often reflect chronic pain rather than normal aging. Proactive multimodal pain management including NSAIDs, gabapentin, and physical rehabilitation significantly improves mobility and engagement in senior dogs. Honest quality-of-life conversations between owners and veterinarians prevent both premature euthanasia and prolonged suffering. Palliative care teams help families navigate the challenges of terminal illness while maintaining dignity and comfort.