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The senior-dog home checklist
20 small changes that make home easier on an older dog. Most cost nothing, a few cost a little, and every one comes from the kind of home tips vets give senior-dog families. Tick them off as you go.
Floors and footing
Slippery floors are an older dog's nemesis. Win this one and everything else gets easier.
- Lay a rug or runner along their busiest route: bed, water bowl, back door.
- Put a yoga mat under the food bowl, so mealtimes come with steady footing.
- Keep nails short. Long nails turn hardwood into an ice rink.
- Trim the fur between the paw pads so the pads can actually grip.
- Try toe grips or grippy socks if hardwood or tile still gets the better of them.
Getting up, down and around
Same favorite spots, a gentler way to reach them.
- Add a ramp or a sturdy step for the couch, the bed or the car.
- Gate the top of the stairs, especially at night.
- For bigger dogs, a fitted, padded harness with a handle makes helping them up far easier on both of you.
- Walk the yard with fresh eyes: a pool, a steep step, a gap in the fence.
11 more to go
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How old is your dog, really? →Based on the home changes listed in the 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2023; 59:1–21). General information, not veterinary advice: anything sudden or worsening is a job for your vet.