Senior dog care: arthritis, dementia and what helps

Dogs are living longer, which means more owners face the questions that come with age: stiff joints, nights of pacing, accidents in the house, a dog that seems lost in its own home. Many of these changes can be eased, and some are signs of treatable problems rather than "just getting old."

When is a dog a senior?

It depends on size. Giant breeds age fastest and are often considered seniors several years before small dogs. Our dog age calculator converts your dog's age to human years by size.

Joint pain and arthritis

Osteoarthritis is very common: studies cited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) suggest nearly 40% of dogs show signs of it, and only about a third of those are treated. The signs are easy to dismiss as aging:

• Slowing down on walks, or not wanting to go
• Trouble getting up, using stairs or jumping into the car
• Stiffness after rest that eases with movement
• Less interest in play, or irritability when touched

Treatment has improved. Besides anti-inflammatory pain medicine, the FDA approved Librela, a monthly injection for arthritis pain in dogs, in 2023. Keeping your dog lean takes load off sore joints and is one of the most effective things you can do at home. Measure food with our dog food calculator; many seniors need fewer calories as they slow down.

Dementia (canine cognitive dysfunction)

Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center describes the signs with the acronym DISHAA:

• Disorientation: getting stuck in corners, seeming lost at home, not recognizing familiar people
• Interactions: ignoring the family, hiding, or new irritability
• Sleep-wake changes: pacing, whining or barking at night, often the first sign families notice
• House soiling in a dog that was house-trained
• Activity changes: more or less active, aimless wandering
• Anxiety: new fear of places, people or being alone

Cornell's checklist scores each area from 0 to 3; bring your notes to the vet. Before assuming dementia, your vet will want to rule out other causes, such as a bladder infection behind new accidents.

What helps: a steady routine; nightlights and blocked-off stairs; gentle enrichment like sniff walks, food puzzles and simple new tricks; and talking to your vet about diet and medication. Selegiline is a prescription medicine for cognitive dysfunction; Cornell notes it can take up to six weeks to show changes. Ask before adding supplements or melatonin, since evidence for them is limited.

Teeth

Dental disease builds up over a lifetime and is often worst in old dogs, where it causes pain they hide well. Keep up brushing or a VOHC-accepted chew, and ask your vet whether a cleaning is safe for your dog. See do dental chews work?.

Vet visits and food

• Checkups every six months for seniors, Cornell advises. Problems caught early are easier and cheaper to treat.
• Senior diets vary a lot in calories and nutrients; there's no legal definition of "senior" food. Choose based on your dog's weight and health with your vet. Our WSAVA guide explains how to judge the company behind a food.

Watch your senior closely and write down changes in sleep, appetite, thirst, weight and toilet habits. Those notes make vet visits far more useful.

Questions