How to adapt your home for your senior dog

Sometimes, it’s hard to believe your senior dog is no longer a puppy. They’re still as keen as ever to go out for a walk. They still get excited at the sound of the doorbell. They still love their squeaking duck toy beyond all reason. 

Although they may be young at heart, a senior dog's movement tells a different story. To make your senior dog feel safe moving around the home, there are some really easy changes that can be made to the home. This will have a big difference to their mobility and their mood. 

Is your dog older than you think?

We tend to think that a dog becomes a senior at the age of seven. However, research by Ideker and colleagues (conducted on Labrador retrievers) found that a key epigenetic marker of ageing showed a ‘non-linear’ relationship between dog and human ageing. This suggests that there isn’t a clear correlation between a year in our lives and a year in our dogs’ lives.

Instead, Science Magazine has helpfully provided this dog age calculator based on the research mentioned above, which suggests that a dog is likely to enter their senior years at around the age of six.

Of course, take this with a pinch of salt – not least of all because different breeds of dogs have different average lifespans.

Signs of joint stiffness

As your dog graduates into the senior class, they may naturally demand more ‘top dog’ status perks, such as claiming the warmest spot in the kitchen for themselves.

You might also notice that your dog starts to show signs of joint stiffness. For example:

1. Your dog is sleeping more – while your dog might just fancy a nap, they could also have taken to their dog bed because their joints are feeling stiff.
2. Walks are taking longer – if your dog is lagging behind a bit on walks, it could be because they’re finding it harder to walk quickly.
3. Your dog finds it difficult to get up after resting – stiff, ageing joints might make it harder for your dog to stand up when they’ve been lying down.
4. Your dog is reluctant to walk, jump or play – if your dog’s joints are feeling stiff, your dog might find it harder to chase after a ball or jump up for a treat.

How you can help your dog’s stiff joints

As animal lovers, we want to do the best for our dogs and support their joints. So you may already be adjusting their daily exercise on the recommendation of your vet, and giving them a high-quality joint supplement for older dogs.

But did you know that there’s also plenty that you can do in your home to make life easier for your senior pup? Here’s our round-up of tips that can make a big difference for your dog.

Save your dog from slippery flooring

Wooden floors, lino and tiles can be very slippery under a dog’s paws, especially when they’re excited about walkies and are dashing for the door. As they get older, your dog may have to work extra hard to stop themselves from slipping, as their muscles may have become weaker with age.

This slipping and sliding can be hard on your dog’s body, and may further exacerbate joint stiffness.

Use non-slip mats and trim those nails

One simple solution is to secure mats to the floor with non-slip tape so that your dog can walk without the risk of slipping and sliding. Another option is to put non-slip rubber mats in areas where your dog tends to spend a lot of their time.

It also makes sense to ensure that your dog’s nails are well-clipped and that the hair around and between their toes is trimmed. This will help give them more traction as they walk across the floor.

No stairway to heaven (upstairs)

Your dog knows as well as you do that all the best dog beds are upstairs. You might insist that they’re for humans, not for sleepy canines, but they’ll never be convinced.

However, climbing up and down stairs can be tough on stiff joints. So, it’s a good idea to install baby gates at the bottom of your stairs to reduce the likelihood of your dog sneaking upstairs for a nap. This will also save you on laundry.

Ramping things up

Moving up and down steps outdoors can also put more pressure on your pup’s joints. You can help them by installing a dog-friendly ramp to give them an alternative route.

Even on the ground floor of the house, you may have a few steps between rooms that you could add a ramp to to ease the pressure on your dog's joints. There are some great foam steps that are portable - meaning you can carry from room to room for your dog. Foam or portable steps allow your dog to get up onto the bed or sofa. This maintains normalcy and gives them dignity and comfort in their senior years. 

Also, while we’re on the subject of making life easier for your senior dog, you could look into using a ramp to make it easier for them to get in and out of the car, too. Certain cars, like The Land Rover Discovery Sport, even have a portable shower to help you wash off your dog after they’ve trailed through a series of muddy puddles!

Get a deluxe dog bed

Help your pup to sleep sweetly at night – and during the day – with a dog bed that’s designed for older, stiffer joints.

The ideal dog bed for senior canine citizens will:

• Be large enough for them to spread out.
• If raised, will have a chamfered (sloping) edge, making it easier to get in and out of.
• Be secure with no risk of slipping – try putting a mat underneath to help with this.

Cold and damp draughts can make things worse for stiff joints, so make sure that you put your dog’s bed in a warm place away from draughty doors and windows.

Keeping them warm 

A senior dog will have a reduced body mass compared to their younger self. Therefore their ability to regulate their core body temperature is reduced. A senior dog will feel the cold or draughts much more than we would expect. 

When taking your senior dog for a walk in winter, use a dog coat or jacket to help keep them warm. Even indoors on a chilly day a senior dog will be thankful for a warm jumper to protect from the cold. 

If your dog refuses to wear clothes, add draught excluders to doors and windows in the main household rooms. Add extra blankets to their bed, and try to position the bed away from any exterior walls. 

Heated mats or clothing are not recommended, as they can lead to thermal burns. Ask a veterinarian if you would like more ideas on how to keep your senior dog warm in winter. 

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Making space 

As dogs age, it's not just their joints that start to fail. A senior dog's eyesight will be reduced or limited. This can make a senior dog even more cautious to move around the home. To give your dog the confidence to move around freely, try to keep the layout of furniture and bedding consistent. Keeping areas that your dog is likely to walk through regularly such as the kitchen or hallway free of clutter or objects can help reduce trips and falls

Take dinner to a new level

Another great way to take the pressure off your dog’s stiff joints is to use a raised-height dog bowl. There are all kinds of inventive designs available, including this fancy copper double bowl style and handmade personalised oak dog feeders

Exercising older dogs is another way we can improve their mobility at home. Whilst this might sound counterintuitive, gentle exercise actually helps increase muscle tone and mass in senior dogs. This in turn gives joints more stability and allows easier movement when at home.