Pups Deserve To Feel Pampered In Their Old Age, So Here’s How To Make Your Home More Comfortable For A Senior Dog
For most of us dog owners, our dogs are official members of our family and receive the same amount of love a close relative would.
When our pups get older and enter their senior years, it can be a bit scary, and some of us almost want to deny their age because the thought of fewer years with our dog frightens us.
However, dogs can still make wonderful memories and live great lives after entering their senior years and will thrive if you give them the support they need.
So, if your beloved dog has just hit the senior mark or you’re considering rescuing an older dog and making it a member of your family, here are a few ways you can make your home more comfortable for a senior dog.
Get an orthopedic bed.
It can be really sad to see your senior dog start to struggle to jump up in your bed or onto the couch every night when, in the past, they would leap right up to get a good night’s sleep with you. If your older dog can’t get into bed with you anymore and needs to start sleeping on the floor, treat them to a nice orthopedic bed that’ll be great for their joints!
There are tons of orthopedic dog bed options online for dogs of all shapes and sizes, making it easy to give your older friend the good sleep they need.
Cover your hardwood floors.
One of the biggest issues senior dogs have is getting up and steadying themselves on hardwood floors. They can go from speedy little puppies that get the zoomies throughout your living room to creaky old guys who have difficulty standing up without slipping.
pololia – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual dog
If you have hardwood floors, you should start covering them up to give your pup an easier time around the house. While you don’t have to necessarily cover your entire home in carpet, you can focus on covering the areas they spend the most time in with area rugs and even yoga mats.
Install dog stairs and ramps.
If your senior dog isn’t too fond of using dog beds and still insists on sleeping and lounging on your furniture, why deny them the opportunity to do so just because they’re getting older?
You can purchase dog stairs or ramps for the end or edge of your bed and couch, so your pup can get up there and snuggle with you. It may take them a while to get used to stairs and ramps, and you might have to do some training, but once they get the hang of them, they’ll love them.
Block any dangerous spots.
Remember when your dog was a puppy, and you had to block off certain areas or things so they wouldn’t go through them and chew stuff up? You can do the same for your senior dog to prevent any accidents.
For instance, if you have stairs to your basement accessible to your senior dog, consider blocking them off with a baby or puppy gate to prevent them from taking a tumble down.
The same thing can go with a staircase leading up, as you don’t want them falling in either direction. This is one little step you can take to prevent a big accident.
Elevate their food and water bowls.
Did you know that some senior dogs struggle to stand up and lower their necks to eat their food and water? Since our dogs love eating and will do almost anything to finish their dinner, it can be hard to spot them straining.
To help them out, buy some elevated food and water bowls so they don’t have to use as much strength to bend down and eat.
Install night lights.
As dogs age, some begin to develop vision issues and can’t see very well, especially at night. If you want to make sure your senior dog can easily make their way to their bowls for a late-night water break or find their potty pad, install little night lights throughout your home to guide them.
Dogs are amazing creatures and certainly don’t lose their charm as they age. While it may seem scary to see them getting grey, if you use some of these tips and give them lots of love, your pup will continue to live a happy life, no matter how grey they get.
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More About:Animals