Setting up the home for a senior

Most falls and refusals in an older dog trace back to slippery floors and heights. AAHA's 2023 senior guidelines recommend simple changes: rugs, yoga mats or carpet runners for traction on hard floors, ramps or pet stairs for the car and the bed, an orthopedic or heated bed placed where the dog already likes to sleep, raised food and water bowls, nail grips or boots, a supportive harness for walks, and barriers at stairs and pools¹. The same guidelines note that a predictable environment helps dogs with cognitive decline².

Two habits protect joints more than any product: keep the dog lean and keep exercise regular and moderate rather than long weekend outings³. Trim nails and the fur between the pads so the feet can grip.

Watch the routes your dog uses most, the way into the garden, the path to the water bowl, and the way to your side, and fix those first.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Your vet knows your dog.

Sources

1. 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (Dhaliwal R et al.). American Animal Hospital Association, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 59(1):1-21. Accessed 2026-09-22.
2. 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines: Managing Cognitive Dysfunction and Behavioral Anxiety. American Animal Hospital Association. Accessed 2026-09-22.
3. 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (Gruen ME, Lascelles BDX et al.). American Animal Hospital Association, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 58(2):55-76. Accessed 2026-09-22.