Essentials for Senior Dogs

Essential Products for Senior Dogs

Find the best bed for your aging dog, as well as lifts, traction, and ramps in the Essentials for Senior Dogs collection at Orvis. Their whole lives, they’ve given us their all. Now it’s time for us to give them all they need. We offer tested and reliable products, including our popular memory foam dog bed for supreme comfort and orthopedic support, and other products to help them with mobility, joint, and comfort challenges. Whether your best friend is a working field hound or a pampered couch potato (or both—we don’t judge), we understand that these days she may have trouble jumping into her favorite truck or climbing onto her preferred napping spot. Our car ramps and seat extenders make it easy for an older dog to continue going for the rides she loves. Plus, adding a car seat protector for dogs keeps your pal comfortable while keeping upholstery clear of hair, bladder leaks, or dander. Dog stairs and stair treads provide a stable path to familiar places around the home, and dog lift slings help get them where they want to go with less pain. For older dogs whose hearts are willing but back legs are frail, our sturdy slings and lifts let you assist them up and down, in and out of the house, and with walking.

Tips for Caring for Older Dogs

• Provide extra warmth. As dogs age, their ability to regulate body temperature diminishes. In cold months, position your dog’s bed away from drafty areas to prevent a chill. Offer a fleece blanket for added warmth—some dogs may appreciate the option to snuggle up underneath it. A fleece dog jacket offers protection from the cold, and booties keep feet warm and provide traction on slippery ground.
• Allow plenty of rest. As she ages, your dog’s naps may stretch longer and her sleep patterns may change. Provide a comfortable area for your older dog to rest. A quiet space allows her to relax, and a comfortable memory foam bed provides the orthopedic support she needs to sleep well. She still needs her exercise, though—encourage activity to keep her healthy, to prevent obesity, and to engage her mind. Keeping her active can also help a restless dog sleep better at night.
• Start when she’s young. An older dog benefits from a memory foam bed and a car ramp, but you can protect her joints before she reaches her senior years. A memory foam bed distributes weight and alleviates discomfort for dogs of all ages, which may help prevent pain later in life. Likewise, a car ramp or stairs can limit joint damage or injury in a young dog, so she can enter her elder years gracefully—and without distress from a previous injury.

For those of us who have known the love of senior dogs, we know the gray muzzle years are some of their best. They have a lot of life left, and our essential products for senior dogs give them the best life possible.