As veterinary medicine advances, companion animals are living longer, creating a growing population of senior pets with complex welfare needs around chronic disease management and end-of-life care.
Senior companion animal welfare requires specialized knowledge and proactive management. Chronic pain from arthritis is the most prevalent and undertreated senior animal welfare problem — because animals hide pain, owners often attribute reduced activity to normal aging rather than recognizing treatable discomfort. Validated pain assessment scales using behavioral indicators enable owners and veterinarians to identify and treat chronic pain that would otherwise go unrecognized. Cognitive dysfunction causes disorientation and anxiety that reduces quality of life and responds partially to environmental management and medical treatment. Senior pet welfare is optimized through regular veterinary monitoring, proactive pain management, and environmental adaptation.