How to Care For Aging Pets

Dogs and cats often need special care in their golden years. Follow this advice to keep them spry.

- LIZZ SCHUMER

Muzzles gray. Sprints become slow jogs. Appetites change. As pets age, it's important to adjust their care to suit their evolving needs so they can stay healthy and active for as much of their remaining time as possible.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your dog or cat-including feeding them the right amount of the right food, keeping a consistent exercise routine and scheduling routine vet care-can help prevent or delay life-limiting health conditions down the line, explains Carol Osborne, D.V.M., founder and director of the Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center: "Longevity research pretty much accepts the fact that optimal nutrition and healthy lifestyle can prevent and delay most of the diseases that are due to degenerative processes associated with aging. This means that regardless of what genetic predispositions a pet may have, if you make the relevant adjustments to their lifestyle, the odds are in your favor."

Depending on the size and breed of your pet, they're generally considered a senior at about 7 years old, explains Small Door Veterinary's Jamie Richardson, D.V.M., or 5 years for large-breed and giant-breed dogs.

Feed Them Age-Appropriate Food