As veterinary medicine improves, companion animals are living longer. Managing the welfare challenges of old age - pain, cognitive decline, sensory loss - is increasingly central to responsible pet ownership.
Senior companion animal welfare requires a proactive rather than reactive approach. Many conditions of old age are predictable, manageable and - if caught early - very treatable. Arthritis, the most common cause of chronic pain in senior dogs, is frequently undertreated because owners believe their dog is 'slowing down with age' rather than experiencing chronic pain. Regular screening, validated pain assessment tools and honest communication about quality of life allow welfare-informed decisions throughout old age. The goal of senior care is not maximum lifespan but maximum quality of life within a comfortable and dignified lifespan - a philosophy that requires owners and vets to align on what genuinely serves the animal.