How to Take Care of an Aging Dog (Lessons We Learned from Wile E.)
There is something especially sweet about caring for an aging dog. There are slower walks, gray muzzles, extra naps, and precious loyalty and companionship. All of these become reminders of just how much these faithful little animals weave themselves into our hearts and lives.
Our sweet dog Wile E. taught us so much during his senior years. Although he has since crossed the rainbow bridge, the lessons we learned while caring for him still stay close to our hearts. From learning how to make him more comfortable to adjusting our routines around his changing needs, his later years reminded us that love is often patient, gentle, and shows up every day.
If you are walking through the senior years with your own dog, I hope these tips and reflections encourage you and help you care for your aging fur baby with comfort and compassion.
Quick Takeaways
- Senior dogs need extra comfort, patience, and routine.
- Small adjustments can improve their quality of life.
- Regular vet visits become even more important with age.
- Emotional care matters just as much as physical care.
- Aging dogs leave lasting lessons about loyalty and unconditional love.
Our Experience with Aging Dogs
I need to be upfront with you though, these tips are coming from my experiences, not from an expert in the field. We have had several dogs over the years, and they have all lived pretty long lives.
As the majority of our fur babies got older, they went downhill very quickly. It was not that way with Wile E. We had a learning curve with him – all new experiences! Our time with him was truly a learning experience in how to take care of an aging dog.
Signs that Your Dog is Getting Older
There can be many obvious signs that your dog is getting older, but sometimes they are hard to see when you see the baby and their behaviors on an every day basis. Sometimes they come on very gradually, and other times they appear suddenly.
Here are some common signs of aging dogs:
- Slowing down
- Taking more naps/longer naps
- Not barking at neighbors, mailmen, Amazon deliveries, etc. as much as usual
- Grayed facial features
- Not hearing as well
- Cloudy looking eyes
- Accidents in the house
- Stiff joints
- Wandering/pacing
- Changes in appetite
Our Aging Dog Wile E.
Meet Wile E. – he’s the little one with the gray face and the tired eyes!
Wasn’t he adorable? He was always such a spunky, spirited little guy who kept us laughing. If you ever left the front door open, even for a second, he would be out in a flash – running through the neighborhood, making his “mark” on everything!
Rarely could we catch him. We would have to wait it out (while watching for cars from a hiding place). When he got tired and thirsty, he would finally make his way back home.
As you can tell from the picture of him with Ally, he was definitely the boss! You can sense that she was really laughing at him when he thought he was putting her in her place.
Wile E.’s aging signs came on gradually, so it was really hard for me to see it. A lot of it was probably denial on my part also.
Best Ways to Care for a Senior Dog
It was so sad to see him in such an elderly state, but for the longest, he did not show any signs of being in pain.
He had lots of changes though – he was almost completely deaf, he had lost most of his close-up vision, and he was missing a few teeth. He no longer had the desire to make his mark in the neighborhood.
These changes are what led us to make some adaptations and adjustments in how we took care of him. Here are some of the things that worked for us as we learned about how to take care of our aging dog.
Have a Great Veterinarian
I know everyone probably loves their vet or they wouldn’t stay with them. We have used our vet for so many years. She has taken care of many of our babies.
She is wonderful! It is so important to have someone you trust and who will actually listen to you. I literally keep her contact information in my “favorites” on my phone.
Medications
As you can probably guess, Wile E. was on several different medications. Some of these worked wonders for him for years. There was always something that needed to be refilled, and there was a schedule to keep up with.
It almost seems crazy, but we had to use a medication organizer to make sure we gave him what he needed at the right time.
Other Medication Tips:
- Keep their medications in a medicine box organizer.
- Check your options for pick-up or home delivery to see which is the most economical.
- We found that pill pockets worked best as far as pockets are concerned because they are softer and more pliable. These worked for several years!
- At the end, it was hard for him to get the pill pockets down. I tried almost everything – cheese, lunchmeat, peanut butter, and many other things, but nothing worked with him. Then I found it – FROZEN COOL WHIP! He loved it, it is soft and pliable, and it didn’t get stuck in his teeth.
(FYI – Velveeta cheese works well for most dogs too.)
Special Dog Food
Check with your vet on the type of food you give your aging dogs. We had to change his dry dog food several years ago, and it made a huge difference.
He still ate the same brand of dog food, but we started supplementing with the canned version. It seemed a little easier for him.
Sleeping Arrangements
I know I will get mixed responses on this, but our four legged babies sleep in the bed with us. This has never been an issue in the past, but it became like sleeping with a newborn (which I never did) – one eye was always open.
He would sleep very soundly, but I was always afraid that he would wake up and jump off of the bed. It was not a problem until he became more fragile, and the bed was very high.
We bought a small memory foam dog bed for the bedroom, but he never would use it. I knew that he was comfortable in our bed, and we didn’t really want to change things up on him since he was aging. So, I continued to sleep with one eye opened. 🙂
If your four legged aging baby will sleep in a dog bed, there are some really nice memory foam beds you can get to help with any aches or pains they may have.
Although he didn’t like the little dog bed, Wile E. loved his large dog bed in the laundry room. This is where he slept during the day.
If you need a spot for a “dog room,” a laundry room works great. It is out of the way, and the food, water, and a bed will usually fit nicely.
Safety for Your Aging Dog
Safety Inside the House
In Wile E’s later years, he did a lot of pacing! In fact, every time I talked to someone on the phone they either asked what the strange noise was or they already knew and would tell me that they could hear Wile E. pacing. His nails would click on the wood floors with every step he took.
While the pacing was going on, he would end up right under your feet! We were constantly telling each other, “Watch out! Wile E. is right behind you!”
If you have an elderly dog, they may tend to get right under you or your company’s feet. Many times it is easier to put them in the “dog room” for their protection and your guests’ as well. You never want a guest to get hurt tripping over your fur baby.
Any time we went to the refrigerator or pantry, he would stick his head inside the door. Because of his slower reactions, he wouldn’t back out when we did. There were several times that we almost closed his head in the door. We had to be aware and watch out for him constantly.
Later, we found out that one of the signs of Doggy Dementia is pacing. We aren’t sure that is exactly what he had, but we do know that there was some sort of neurological disorder.
Safety Outside the House
Our dogs have always had the run of the house, and they have had a doggy door to go in and out as they pleased.
We started to notice that on occasion when we would come home from being gone, he would be outside. It was almost as if he were looking for us. Some days he could figure out how to go in and out of the doggy door but not always.
We started out closing the doggy door when the weather was bad. Eventually we had to keep it closed any time we were not at home. I hated taking that freedom from him, but his safety was more important!
Keeping the House Clean with an Aging Dog
Our home is not one that is magazine ready at all times – it is lived in, and we enjoy it. However, I have an issue with germs – I like to know the house is clean.
Wile E. always used the doggy door to go potty; we never had an issue with that. In those senior years, he had a few accidents in the house. Fortunately, they were almost all on the wood floors. That sure made for easier to clean up than when it was on the carpet.
I can give you a strong warning about what NOT to use as a solution. If your aging dog is like ours and paces constantly. Do not put them in the laundry room with a doggy gate if you leave the house! You will be in for one huge mess if they POTTY and then pace! This is a strong warning!
After that last incident, we put a few preventative measures in place.
Preventative Measures for Potty Messes
- Bathroom Routine – When we were at home, we took him outside about every two hours.
- I also found that when he first woke up, he would potty better if I held him for a little bit until he was fully awake.
- Sometimes a very small treat would get him alert and ready to go potty.
- We started keeping a small moving blanket in the laundry room floor. We tried the potty pads, but they didn’t work well for us with his pacing.
- We kept all of the bedroom doors closed since they had carpet.
- We used two doggy gates to block the den area (which had carpet).
- And then there was the most ridiculous thing ever – the only way I could block the dining area was to lay the dining room chairs down, side by side around the carpeted area. There were large open areas, but he usually didn’t mess with them.
- Of course when we had company, I would put everything back in a semi-normal state.
- On a funny note, we came home from church one Sunday to find Wile E. trapped in the middle of the dining room. He had gotten through the chairs to get into the area but couldn’t figure out how to get out of it.
Did I mention that this is the most ridiculous thing ever???
If we happened to forget, or the preventative measures didn’t work we had a few more things in place.
Other Ideas that Helped with Potty Issues
- We kept a mop by the back door.
- The carpet cleaner was always handy.
- We exercised lots of patience and remembered that he couldn’t help it.
Products to Help Care for Aging Dogs
These are the products we have used in the past to help us take care of our aging dogs.
When potty pads quit working due to his pacing through them, we put down a small moving blanket. It worked great and was washable. This saved us quite a bit of money.
These are the best Pill Pockets we have found.
FAQs About Taking Care of Aging Dogs
Although dogs can live well over 14 years of age, most dogs are considered seniors around age 7. Larger breeds often age faster though. Our vet begins doing more annual routine blood work when they turn 6.
Soft bedding, routine vet care, easier access to food and water, and gentle exercise can all help.
Yes, senior dogs often sleep significantly more as their energy levels drop with age.
Loss of appetite, confusion, mobility issues, increased sleeping, and behavior changes can all be signs.
Caring for an aging dog can be both beautiful and heartbreaking. The routines may change, the pace may slow down, and the difficult days may become more frequent, but the love only grows deeper.
Looking back now, I am thankful for every moment and every extra bit of care we gave Wile E. His life will always remind me that one of the greatest examples of loyalty, grace, patience, and unconditional love comes wrapped in fur and has paws.
If you are currently caring for a senior dog, cherish the difficult days. They are precious in their own quiet way.
Related Posts
For more about Wile E. and Ally along with a rescue testimony, read the post “Rescued.”
See Spiritual Lessons from the Dogs here.
See How to Get Skunk Spray off Your Dog here, just in case!
How God Led us to Gizmo: A Faith-Filled Dog Rescue Story about Prayer, Timing, and Trust
How to Use AI to Create Custom Dog Portraits
Until next time,
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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19
Such a sweetie pie, Susan! Our dogs all lived to 17, 18, 19 and they were not easy towards the end so I have deep empathy for what you’re going through. Both of our terriers had canine dementia in their later years and would stare at blank walls or get caught under the table or a desk not knowing how to get out even though both were open on 3 of 4 sides. We eventually had to put the all the chairs on top of the table cafeteria style, pull up all the rugs, and leave as many wide open “lanes” as possible to keep them safe. We have hardwood floors, tile and an open floor plan though so our set up is a little different. We also had to eventually place an air mattress on the floor for the same sleeping reasons you were concerned about. It was tough especially when they would sundown and be up for most of the night but also an honor to love them through it. I’ll definitely be keeping you guys in my prayers. Big hugs and hang in there, CoCo PS: small meals helped (they all loved roasted chicken) and cream cheese helped them take their meds.
Wow! 19 is a really long time for a dog. You probably have lots of stories! I have never thought about cream cheese, but I will definitely try it. I think he would love it!
Such a great post. Non-dog lovers just don’t understand dog lovers. Some precious pets become family members to us, not just a pet. We’ve all heard that dog is man’s best friend. It’s so sad that they don’t live longer. Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedLinkParty 102. Shared.
You are so right! I have dear friends who think I’m crazy! 😂
First, thank you for linking up on Whimsy Home Wednesday Blog Link Party. I read your post with tears in my eyes as we are starting to see our chiweenie age and decline. He is my buddy, my best friend and has been through ALL THE THINGS with me for eight years (even though it seems longer). My daughter, last night, asked why can’t he stay awake and be with me? That was a hard answer, after pacing and pacing he falls hard asleep. And he is almost totally deaf so it’s hard to wake him up without startling him. We have learned to blow gently in his face to wake him up if needed. Once again thank you for sharing your experience and tips. Huge help!
It is really hard – the price of true love! That is exactly how Wile E. Sleeps. There are times I have to check to see if he’s breathing. It’s heart breaking, but what joy they bring us!! ❤️
We lost our 14 year old several months back and the last year was hard. Patience is such an important reminder no matter how frustrating they are doing nothing on purpose the challenges are frustrating for them as I know with our girl she had been stubbornly independent in all the 12 years we had her from rescue.
One product that I had never heard of that was helpful as she started to struggle with getting up off the floor that our dog PT person suggested was the Help ’em Up Harness. I have my own physical challenges so helping her up and assisting her up and down our back stairs to get out was incredibly challenging for me. The harness is worn at all times and it was such a gift. It has to be some what comfortable as she was the kind of dog who hated wearing anything and she wore this close to a year before she passed.
I can’t echo having a Vet you trust as being such a priority. It is a blessing to have a Vet you trust even when the answers aren’t the ones you want to hear.
It’s so incredibly hard!! I’m thankful that you shared about the harness. I’ve never heard of that. I have a friend going through this very thing, and I think it would be very helpful to her.
Blessings,
Susan
Thank you! ❤️
I totally understand where you’re at and we have been there so many times in the past. Right now we are nursing an elderly dachshund back from a serious spine injury. ( I loved your frozen cool whip tip for meds! ) Our dogs also sleep with us and I offer no apologies for that! We did purchase a collapsible pet ramp that has allowed me to sleep as soundly as our little Cooper does now. We also attached retractable gates to several areas in the house. They are a soft nylon material and come in several sizes. We can close off our living room, dining room, ect. easily now. When we downsize, we will have to patch the holes as the base is drilled into the wall, but that’s such a small price to know they are safe! Sending hugs your way! Wile E. was a lucky dog to have found you all those years ago!
It’s so good to hear from other dog lovers who understand! I’m so sorry to say, but last week we lost him. I’m still heartbroken, but I’m just trying to love on Ally so she doesn’t feel so lonely. Wile E was a precious soul and will be missed much!
Prayers for your little baby. I hope he heals quickly!
So very sorry! I’m a big believer in the Rainbow Bridge! He’ll be waiting for you there. Prayers!
Thank you! I totally agree! In fact, I put a stone over his grave with a quote about the Rainbow Bridge.
Susan, your babies are so precious. This is wonderful and important information, and I appreciate that you share tips from your family’s experiences. My fur baby, Little Girl, is a seven-year-old beagle with epilepsy and takes medication daily. This is so important. I felt others should know this information, Tewwted, and Pinned it.
Thank you so much for sharing this valuable information with Sweet Tea & friends this month.
Thank you so much! Our fur babies are priceless, aren’t they? I hope your baby is doing okay and the medicine helps. I’ve learned a lot with this little guy. My kids always teased that he was my favorite child. It was just that he was my empty nest child, so he was a little spoiled. I’m sorry to say that we lost him a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been heartbroken, but Ally is helping us heal. I appreciate your kind words and sharing! I love the Sweet Tea site! Have a blessed day!
Susan, I’m so saddened to hear your little guy passed on and over the rainbow bridge.
Thank you! He was such a special little baby! 😢
I have had dogs almost my entire life, they are always more than a pet to me and my family. Our current beloved pooch is like a child to us, he goes everywhere we do. People who are not dog lovers just do not get it, but we tell people he is our four legged child, and if they do not like it then we can go home. I have been through many deaths, and I am always crushed when it happens so I understand what you have gone through. After my last pup, I said no more, but my husband convinced me I was missing a piece of my heart, and so I opened my heart up to another one, but he is nothing like the others I have had which I think has been good for me. He keeps us on our toes, and is always into something.
I know what you mean! My kids used to say that Wile E. was my favorite child. 😂 We lost him in March, and I was crushed! We already had Ally and chose not to get a second baby, which I thought would be odd, but she enjoys being an only child.