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There's no way around it: Watching our devoted, beloved furry best friends get older is difficult. There have been few things harder than witnessing my once-spry adventure dog, my former running and hiking buddy, struggle to get on his feet. I can see the frustration and helplessness in his eyes as his still nimble mind tries to reconcile why his body isn't cooperating anymore.
But my senior dog Lieutenant Baxter Bear is persistent and attempts to get back up every time he falls down. I've echoed his determination by finding solutions to support his quality of life. Thanks to more experienced senior dog owners, his amazing physical therapist, and excellent primary veterinary care, I've found some ingenious solutions that have dramatically made my senior pup's life a lot easier.
Here are 15 senior dog products that keep my pup comfortable.
A backseat car hammock is great for most dogs. However, as pups get older, they may have a harder time staying on their paws and can get stuck floundering in sloped bucket seats. This solid platform car seat cover allows my dog to lie flat while the car is moving and regain his bearings more easily when we stop. The panels fold up on either side if you need to accommodate a passenger, and the ventilated panel in the middle keeps air moving into the back seat to keep dogs from getting chilly or overheated.
As dogs get older, their skin becomes more sensitive and they may develop environmental allergies. My pup has bitten his paws bloody in search of relief from itchiness. I tried a number of dog shoes before finding these galoshes. They're easy to rinse clean, don't hold odors, and dry quickly on a baby bottle rack. The textured bottoms help dogs with declining balance grip the ground more readily than their paw pads do. Be warned, the strap may detach over time, but for the price, these boots are a great deal.
Some dogs are born with determination and will that outlasts their physical ability. Mine is one of them. He sometimes forgets that he can't go as far as he used to and insists on continuing his walks with optimism. With this lightweight folding wagon, he can walk for exactly as long as his body allows him. The open tailgate lets him keep his arthritic front legs straight, or I can close it up for safety with twin buckles. Thanks to the wagon's oversized, swivel wheels with brakes, I'm still able to take him to things like farmers' markets too.
A dog's steadiness often declines with age, putting them at risk of sliding and falling. If you have a lot of tile or hardwood in your home, your senior pet may benefit from yoga mats. Inexpensive thin mats can give a senior dog some traction and a clear path to move around the house. They're similar to a nonslip rug, but because of the give on their surface, my dog is able to dig his claws into them as he pushes forward to the next step. Just be careful not to get the extra-thick mats, which are actually quite slippery.
Another good option is a washable rug. These typically have nonslip backings and you can throw them in the washing machine.
If you live in an apartment building or a multistory home, these grass patches can make some potty breaks easier. I have one set up on my second-floor patio so my dog doesn't have to struggle down a flight of steps before bed. The grass feels familiar to my well-trained pup, so it was easy to teach him it was okay to pee on the patio in this one spot. You can also customize the delivery period. To extend the patch's life, use a corrugated PVC roof panel, which provides better drainage than a pricey tray, and make sure to get a ventilated cover because heavy rain will destroy the grass.
While my dog's mobility has declined, his tenacity hasn't. He still thinks he can power himself up the stairs, but after catching him mid-slide down several steps, I bought a lightweight baby gate to ensure he stays safely on one level. Later, I upgraded to a more attractive gate with added features, including padded stabilizers to prevent scratches on floors.
My pup loves the silky shag side of this blanket my boyfriend bought him several Christmases ago, and he lies down to relax on it as soon as I place it down somewhere. The waterproof machine-washable blanket has held up well. His favorite spot for it is in any of his bolstered orthopedic beds. The taller, cushioned sides give him something to lean against and rest his chin on, which helps him feel more stable and secure. I also make sure he has a couple of inexpensive throw pillows to help prop him up when he needs it.
You might need to track your senior dog's reactions to things like changing food preferences due to inappetence, side effects from new meds, or to discern patterns of incontinence or nausea. An hourly daily planner has been helpful for veterinarian and physical therapist visits, showing how long it's been since he ate a full day's worth of food and when he took a tumble or started declining with certain faculties. This has been a great way to gauge his quality of life by documenting both his successes and setbacks.
Between supplements and prescriptions for his achy joints, itchy skin, and increasing infections due to an aging immune system, it's been helpful to use a twice-daily pill case to ensure my buddy gets all of his meds. This weekly pill organizer is great because certain medications require different cadences, such as alternate-day dosing, and being able to plan ahead makes things a lot easier. It comes in a zippered case that's convenient for travel.
When my dog was younger and more voracious, I could sneak pills into his food or put one on a treat and he'd gobble it up. Now, as a distinguished gent with a more sophisticated palate, he picks them out like the "The Princess and the Pea." Strongly scented Greenies Pill Pockets do a fantastic job of disguising his many chalky meds. I fit as many as four pills in each capsule-size Pill Pocket by squishing it all together in a ball. A cheaper but equally moist and pliable option is Milk-Bone Pill Pouches.
Who doesn't feel better after a nice massage? Senior dog muscles get sore, too, and a little bit of gentle massage can go a long way — as proven by my dog's sessions with his veterinary physical therapist. As soon as he sees me bring out this massager, he flops on his side, ready for some pampering. Per his physical therapist's advice, I keep it on a low setting with the softer ball attachment. A massage ball roller works too.
Sometimes, an older dog's muscles will get too relaxed. For that, I've found myself full circle in the potty training days as I tuck a training pad under his hind end for nighttime accidents. These budget pads are sturdy through dream chases and are better reinforced for waterproofing than other value brands. For wet accidents, Sprinkle & Sweep absorbs urine and vomit from hard surfaces (and their odors!) and turns it into clumped solids for easy disposal, cutting down on the need to use paper towels.
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