at-home care for older dogs and cats

Support your senior pet’s quality of life with these at-home guidelines.

We’ll take you through the basics (and not-so basics) on exercise, mealtime, and comfortable considerations for your home.

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Senior pets and exercise

Tips on keeping your elder pup or cat active.

What to know
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Diet and nutrition for senior pets

Here’s how to optimize your older pal’s health.

It's mealtime
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Senior-proof your home

From ramps and stairs to toe grips and litter boxes. Make your home comfortable

Commonly asked questions

There are a few things to consider when feeding a senior dog or cat. These include making sure your senior receives the appropriate recommended nutrition, has proper bowel movements, avoids excess weight, and has an ideal bowl placement.

If you’re unsure about any of these, talk to your vet.

There’s not a quick and easy answer here, since it’s mainly dependent on the individual pet. The good news is, if your pet is doing OK with their adult food, you might not have to make any changes!

Talk to your vet to see what they recommend for your senior pal.

Ideal activities for senior dogs include walking, swimming, and playing with their favorite toys. Ideal activities for cats include playing with ball and track toys, cardboard box “caves,” and cat trees.

For more on exercising your senior pet, check out this article.

While senior dogs can be just as active as their younger selves, it’s important to make sure you don’t push them. Signs of too much exercise include excessive panting, shaking legs, reluctance to move, and extreme tiredness after the workout.

If you notice any of these signs, pull back and discuss them with your vet.

Custom care that grows with your pet

You can save more than 30% by bundling your pet’s preventive care with an Optimum Wellness Plan. On top of comprehensive exams, vaccinations, and diagnostic testing, these convenient packages also include unlimited office visits, 24/7 Pet Chat™, discounts on most Banfield products, and more.

Our NEW Senior Care Optimum Wellness Plan includes our most in-depth diagnostic testing yet. This helps us detect changes in organ function and overall physical health, so that we can begin any recommended treatment as soon as possible. 

Learn more about our packages

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Senior Care

Designed to help detect early signs of age-related illness.

This plan combines essential services like vaccinations and exams with in-depth diagnostic testing.

See what’s included in Senior Care

Senior Care Plus

Designed to help detect early signs of age-related illness and support additional dental needs.

This plan includes all the services in our Senior Care plan plus a dental cleaning.

See what’s included in Senior Care Plus
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doggie dilemma? cat conundrum?!

An Optimum Wellness Plan gets you access to 24/7 Pet Chat™, where you can text with a veterinary professional to get the pet health advice you need.
Log in to start chatting
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visit the Banfield Shop

Discounts on eligible products with your pet’s Optimum Wellness Plan, convenient AutoShip options, and more!
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