Be understanding and work with your veterinarian for treatments or tips on coping with these changes. You wouldn't send grandma out into the snow Old age is inevitable, but many of the problems associated with it are preventable with diet, exercise, and regular checkups. Keeping your pets indoors as they get older is also an important change. If your elderly pets are not allowed to run around loose, they are less likely to be exposed to diseases, get in fights, or get hit by cars. Even if they have been outdoor pets their entire lives, giving them shelter when the weather turns bad is important for their health and their longevity.
Many older pets benefit from specially formulated food that is designed with older bodies in mind.
Obesity in pets is often the result of reduced exercise and overfeeding and is a risk factor for problems such as heart disease. Exercise is yet another aspect of preventive geriatric care for your companions. You should definitely keep them going as they get older-if they are cooped up or kept lying down, their bodies will deteriorate much more quickly. You may want to ease up a bit on the exercise with an arthritic or debilitated cat or dog. And don't forget an older pet's physical limitations when it comes to little children.