Taking Care of Your Senior Pet: 7 Tips for Their Golden Yearsby

Club Cat | Jan 24, 2023 | animal health, Pet care, pet health, Veterinary | 0 comments

Obviously, every pet owner wants their four-legged friend to live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, though, our beloved pets don’t live forever. Eventually, you’ll be caring for a senior pet and enjoying your animal companion’s golden years. This can be a difficult time filled with mixed emotions. But the following tips can help you shop for them, make plans regarding their veterinary care, deal with your own stress, and more.
Photo by Ansar Muhammad on Pexels
Check Product ReviewsWith your pet getting older and needing more care, you might have started looking for some new products for them. For example, maybe you’ve been searching for a comfortable bed where they can spend long hours sleeping, toys that will be easy for them to chew, or sweaters and booties they can wear during walks when it’s cold outside. But with thousands of pet care products on the market, how can you choose the right items?
You’ll want to check out several reviews for any product before you decide on what to purchase. Keep an eye out for reviews written by veterinarians. If you find products recommended by vets, you can rest assured that you’re making the best decisions for your pet’s well-being.
Reduce Your Stress Are you feeling stressed out with your pet needing a higher level of care? This is perfectly normal – although you might feel guilty about these emotions, there’s no denying that caring for a senior pet can be challenging, and some days, it can leave you exhausted. But if you’re stressed, practicing self-care is crucial. This is because your pet can actually pick up on your stress, and if you’re upset, they might start feeling more anxious, too.
What if you’re struggling to balance work with pet care? This might be a good time to talk to your supervisor about adjusting your schedule. For instance, you can check in and see if you’d be able to work from home a couple of days per week. If that doesn’t work out, you could budget for a pet sitter to watch your pet for part of the week.
Financing Vet Bills Dealing with expensive vet bills can be one of the most frustrating aspects of pet ownership – and the cost of veterinary care only gets higher as your pet ages. Perhaps you’re struggling to cover these expenses now, and you’re wondering if you should try to pay off these vet bills with a credit card. But before you run up credit card debt, look into better payment options. The Dodo recommends asking your vet if they could offer you a long-term payment plan, which could come with a discount.
If you don’t have the money to pay for vet bills, one option is California pet insurance, which can help you cover those costs. However, it’s important to spend some time researching the different policies available in the state before making any decisions. You may also discover that the amount you’ll pay per month depends on what type of pet you own.
 Administering MedicationPhoto by Gustavo Fring on Pexels
Does your pet need to take medication on a regular basis? Maybe you’re frustrated because your pet tries to refuse medication, and you don’t know how to get them to take it. If you can relate to this scenario, rest assured that nearly every pet owner has been in your shoes at one point – and there are plenty of simple solutions! FirstVet recommends checking with your vet to see if your pet’s medication can be given with food. If so, you can hide a pill or tablet within wet food or treats to disguise it from your pet.
Exercising Your PetYes, senior pets still need exercise. However, your pet can’t be as active as they once were. You’ll need to modify their activity to ensure that it’s appropriate for their age and abilities. You want to make sure that your pet won’t get hurt when they exercise!
So, what kind of exercise is right for senior pets? Experts recommend giving your senior cat about 15 to 20 minutes of exercise per day. You might want to play in the backyard or go for a walk around your neighborhood. Keep an eye on your pet at all times so that you can call it quits if they seem too tired. Of course, the answer to this question is somewhat dependent on your pet, so it’s a good idea to ask your vet for recommendations.
Finding the Right DietWhat should your senior pet eat? Again, the answer to this question is highly individual – but if you’ve noticed that your cat’s digestive system seems to have changed, it’s also time to change their diet. Many senior pets need dietary adjustments as they get older, so rest assured that this is perfectly normal. You may need to purchase food formulated for sensitive stomachs, or food that is supplemented with different vitamins and minerals. Your pet may also need to switch from wet food to dry food, or vice versa.