As the furry members of your family get older, it becomes increasingly important to watch for signs of pain and discomfort. This is harder than it may at first seem, since animals cannot tell us where and what is hurting. The list below contains some of the more common body language and behavioural changes that may indicate a decreased quality of life in your older pet. You may want to track changes in these behaviours using a journal or a calendar to better understand these shifts over time. If you notice one of these signs of aging in your animal, talk to your veterinarian: they can work with you to provide pain control options, environmental modifications, or increase comfort at home or discuss the possibility of humane euthanasia to relieve suffering.
Signs of Aging in your Animal
Changes in interaction: Hiding from family members/other animals, less desire to play or cuddle, sudden bursts of anger or aggression when being touched
Decreased mobility: Less excitement to go on walks, travelling shorter distances on walks, takes longer to stand up, no longer able to jump on furniture
Decreased appetite: Eating smaller portions, becoming pickier or only eating treats, less enthusiasm around mealtime, requires hand feeding
Altered bathroom habits: More accidents in the house, less or more frequent “bathroom breaks”, struggles posturing to pass bowel movements
Dehydration: Decreased interest/intake of water, sunken eyes, sticky textured gums, decreased skin elasticity
Disinterest/disengagement: Less excited (or even completely ignoring) favourite toys, treats, places, and people
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