How can I make my home more senior dog-friendly?

A lot depends on what your senior dog is exhibiting. If they're fairly healthy and they're running around, still playing, great. But some dogs tend to slow down because of that arthritis, which is a common illness in senior pets, and you've probably heard me mention it many times during the questions. But they used to jump off that couch; now you’ve got to get some steps to help them step up. Maybe your food bowl was on the floor. Let's get a raised platform so they don't have to bend down to eat it. If they're having some vision problems, just be careful if you have a pool or anything else so they don't fall in. Try not to move things around the house too much. Sometimes if they do have arthritis and they're slipping, you should put runners on laminate or tile floor so they don't slip as much.

Great question. Again, I go back to thinking about that low-impact lifestyle for senior dogs, so one thing might be adding a ramp to your home if it has many stairs. You want a good grip, as dogs lose their grip. You'll see them splay out, or their limbs or their back end will collapse. If you have carpeted areas, that's usually great traction for them. If you have rugs, you want to make sure there are non-slip surfaces underneath and make sure any stairs have a good footing on them.

Some people will add steps to their bed if their pet likes to sleep with them, so they don't have to jump up or jump down. Also, avoid creating a giant obstacle course for them. If you do have many things in your home, make sure they have a clear path to the door. Sometimes as our dogs age, they can lose vision or hearing. Making those pathways nice and clear for them can help them out, too. If you have a taller dog, raising their dog bowls can also help, as that's less strain on their neck and can help them out overall.