Senior Dogs - What a Blessing
- Kate Mularczyk
- Feb 17
- 8 min read
How lucky we are when our beloved dogs reach 'senior' age?
With their greying fur, their slowing steps and their slower movements, we are indeed privileged to be carers.
Dogs are considered 'senior' at different ages depending on their size. Generally speaking, it begins at 7+ years of age..
All of the dogs in my life have lived until at least 14 years old, with Luna lasting the longest at 15 years and 5 months. All of our dogs were in the large size range and probably lived a little longer than 'average' but was it enough? No, the longer they live it seems the greedier we humans get - it's just never long enough. With the advent of supplements, better nutrition knowledge, preventative health care and more, we still can't seem to get a whole lot of extra years although some research says that dogs are living longer now than say a couple of decades ago. I was given my first dog when I was 10, his name was Dhoby and he was a Labrador x Kelpie - he lived until I was 25 - so 15 years. Then we had Kiah. I got her for my 30th birthday, she was a German Shepherd x Kelpie. She lived until almost 15. Three years later along came Finn. A Samoyed x Golden Retriever. He came to us in 2011 when he was 9 months old. He died in March 2025 and was 14 years and 10 months. And finally, our darling Luna, born the same day and year (and litter) as Finn, she passed away in October 2025 aged 15 years and 5 months. Various forms of cancer took them all. We have learnt a lot having these oldies in our lives. We are involved with our aging dogs, so much so, that at times we just don't recognise that they have actually 'slowed down'. With some dogs like Dhoby and Kiah, there was the added indicator of their aging due to their greying muzzles but with Finn and Luna, it was less obvious in real life, day to day looking at them. They were very light coloured dogs but now, as I look back at photos of them, I can see marked changes - not at the time though.
We do realise how lucky we have been. We recently fostered a pure bred (shock horror have never had a pure bred dog before!) black Labrador, called Roydon. He was 10 years and 8 months and just lovely. Very active, joyful and full of beans. I would have loved to adopt him but I feared the emotional tax of him passing within the next couple of years was too much for me especially after losing Finn and Luna in the same year. With old dogs comes even more responsibility. Health checks, adapting exercise expectations, looking out for mobility and cognisant decline. It can be exhausting, yet oh so rewarding.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD SENIOR DOGS GO TO THE VET?
Senior dogs (typically aged 7+) should visit the vet for a check-up every six months as dogs age faster than humans, this frequency is necessary to detect, monitor, or manage age-related conditions like arthritis, dental disease, and heart or kidney issues early, which significantly improves their quality of life.
BI ANNUAL VISITS HELP WITH:
Early Disease Detection: Many age-related illnesses are subtle, and regular exams can catch them before they become severe.
Preventative Care: These check-ups often include blood work, urinalysis, and thorough physical exams.
Chronic Condition Management: Dogs with existing, chronic illnesses may require more frequent, sometimes monthly or quarterly, visits.
SIGNS A SENIOR DOG NEEDS IMMEDIATE CARE:
Consult your vet immediately if you notice:
Changes in appetite, weight, or water consumption.
Difficulty walking, limping, or stiffness.
Disorientation or sudden behavioural changes.
Increased thirst, urination, or accidents in the house.
Laboured breathing or coughing.
CREATING A COMFY AND SAFE HOME ENVIRONMENT AND BEYOND
Provide soft, preferably orthopaedic bedding
Place extra water bowls around
Feed them high quality food
Frequent low impact exercise
Keep them warm in winter and cool in summer
Use ramps or steps where they are needed
Place rugs or mats on slippery floors to help with grip
EXERCISE FOR OLDER DOGS
As with humans, as your dog ages, they will slow down. You might find that they won't run as much or jump as willingly. We noticed with our senior dogs that they were still very keen on their walks. They may not have been as long as they used to be but walking is a terrific low impact exercise. They need it for their physical well being as well as their mental well being. We used to call it a SNIFFARI. One way of the walk we would let them sniff to their hearts content (slow and meandering at times) and the way back we would make it more of a 'proper' walk for physical exercise.
If you are unsure whether you are over exercising your senior, look out for signs such as they sitting down during the walk, refusing to walk further, limping or acting distressed.
MENTAL STIMULATION
Use puzzle toys or light training sessions to keep their mind active
Spend quality time with them
Never underestimate the joy of a car ride
Sniffari walks
Think about getting a dog pram for those longer outings
Just going to a park, laying on a blanket, letting them sniff the air, enjoying the sounds of life going on around them is a sure pick 'em up
Handsome Neville - just before he went to his forever home in the country
ANTICIPATORY GRIEF - WHAT IS IT?
For many of us, the grief journey begins when we start to anticipate our final years, months, weeks, or even days with our pets. Once we realise our time with our pets is limited, it is natural that we begin to feel ‘anticipatory grief’. We are forced to consider the loss of our companions before their death has even occurred. These emotions can often be overwhelming, but they are a natural part of the grieving process.
Be Kind to Yourself and Seek Professional Support
Providing palliative care can be extremely challenging, both physically and mentally. Managing medications, cleaning up after accidents, and encouraging them to eat all contribute to a substantial burden. It’s important to acknowledge the weight of this responsibility and the effort it takes.
The palliative care process also forces us to watch as our companions lose their independence and experience change to their once-familiar personalities. Be kind to yourself; feelings of overwhelming stress and sadness are natural and you are not alone in experiencing them.
The fear of the unknown weighs heavy on us during the grieving process: How will the disease progress? How will I know when it’s time? What happens on the day? Of course, no pet parent should have to make these decisions on their own. You should always seek professional advice from your veterinarian who can help alleviate your fears of the unknown and guide you through decision making with quality of life discussion.
PLAN AHEAD
All we should want is that our pets pass peacefully and painlessly. Sadly, this rarely happens without intervention. Planning ahead for euthanasia allows us to take away the unknowns of ‘how, where and when’, and provide the pain free, peaceful ending that they deserve.
ENJOY THE TIME YOU HAVE TOGETHER
It’s important to remember that it’s okay to feel deeply sad while still cherishing the moments you share with your dog. Many peopler make a ‘bucket list’ with some of their pet’s favourite activities and ticking them off will help to create memories that bring joy to you, your family and your dog.
USING THE QUALITY OF LIFE SCALE FOR DOGS
A good quality of life is unique to each dog and their lifestyle. Your vet’s assessments, along with your own, are integral when discussing changes in your dog's behaviour and health.
When your dog no longer has a good quality of life, then it’s time to discuss humane euthanasia with your vet. Consider also, having a vet come to the home where your dog can pass peacefully and comfortably in their own home surrounded by all that they love.
BUT, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME?
You can take an at-home test. The Quality-of-Life Scale (HHHHHMM scale) is a short test for pet parents to help determine if their dog has a good quality of life.
HHHHHMM means:
Hurt
Hunger
Hydration
Hygiene
Happiness
Mobility
More good days than bad
Each factor is scored from 1 to 10 to help you evaluate your pet’s quality of life.
The US site, Lap of Love, which is a nationwide network of veterinarians dedicated to end-of-life care, has several resources that can help you determine your pet’s quality of life:
After taking an assessment at home, go over the results with your vet. They will help you to make an informed decision about what’s best for your dog.
If you are still unsure if humane euthanasia is the right decision, understand that this is normal. Speak with your vet to discuss your concerns and thoughts with them, they can help guide and support you.
Remember, one of the kindest things you can do for your beloved dog is to allow them to pass in peace and with dignity surrounded by love.
GENERAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN OLDER DOGS
Here are the main causes of death in senior Australian dogs:
Cancer (Neoplasia): Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over the age of ten. It accounts for nearly half (46.3%) of deaths in geriatric dogs, with mammary, hematopoietic, and digestive system cancers being particularly common.
Cardiovascular Disease: Heart disease is a major cause of mortality, particularly in older dogs, affecting 75% of senior dogs to some degree. Common issues include valvular endocardiosis (mitral valve) and cardiac dilation, which can lead to congestive heart failure.
Kidney (Renal) Disease: Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common causes of death in older dogs, resulting from a gradual, often undetectable, loss of kidney function.
Euthanasia (Quality of Life): A significant number of senior dogs are euthanased due to a combination of old-age factors, including cognitive dysfunction (dementia), severe arthritis, incontinence, and blindness.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: In cases of sudden unexpected death, gastrointestinal disease. particularly gastric dilatation and volvulus (bloat), is a common cause in older dogs.
FINN on the left + Luna on the right.
Both images taken of them just 2 days before they passed.
PROFESSIONAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT
The Animal Comfort Care Centre here in Melbourne specialises in Palliative Care "We aim to provide respect, dignity and grace to our patients
Most people believe that palliative care is only for patients who are terminal. While these patients are common, palliative care is the practice of delivering medical support and management plans when a cure is not evident for an ongoing or life-threatening condition.
In palliative care we take an integrative inter-disciplinary scientific approach, encompassing pain management and symptom control, while also focusing on psychological and environmental enrichment for the patient.
Palliative care is beneficial to patients that require extra physical, emotional, and psycho-social support in their day to day life. As such, we provide care for patients affected by a vast range of conditions, from disability to end-of-life care.
Our comprehensive services are designed to ensure that you feel confident in your ability to care for your pets appropriately, while knowing that you have our team supporting you through what can be a difficult and emotional time. We work collegially with your regular vet as well as allied health services to ensure the very best for your pet’s welfare.
At Animal Comfort Care Centre we understand that your pets are your family, and we love them as such. For this reason, we also provide support to grieving families, whether it pertain to anticipatory grief or grief due to loss of a pet.
Early palliative care intervention can assist you and your pet to live well while managing illness. If you would like to know more, or you feel your pet needs someone to go that extra mile to create a nourishing lifestyle for them, please get in touch with us."
Animal Comfort Care website
IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING AFTER THE LOSS OF YOUR DOG
There are quite a few places where you can get support after your pet has passed.
If you are a member of Bayside Dog Owners Group on Facebook there are many there who, sadly, have experience with senior dogs and dogs who have passed away. The group is great for support.
There are specific Pet Grief Counsellors such as:
Home Visiting Vets who are BDogs Business Members
Great article and must have been hard to write so soon after losing your 2
Thank you
thanks you have raised some great points