Like humans, animals have a very definite aging process and every stage of their lives brings new challenges and joys.

Most animals age faster that we do. A 12 year old dog or cat is getting on in years, an 8 year old Budgie is becoming an elder statesman, a 3 year old Betta fish is Father Time and so on.  If you own turtles and tortoises things are a bit different and you had best leave provisions for their care in your will, ditto for the parrot!

With loving care and understanding all phases of your pet’s life can be happy for you and them. The transition from puppy (remember those days of chewing everything in sight and puddles on the carpet!) to a big vibrant adult dog (running around the garden barking at every sound and sight, digging holes and wagging wildly) to the slightly graying and dignified older dog who finds getting up a bit difficult (especially on those tiles he used to puddle on!), can be an exciting road to mutual respect and understanding.

You need to understand and respect your pet as much as they need to understand and respect you. This can be a bit one sided when applied to fish, turtles and the like, as they, perhaps, cannot understand you as well as our furry and feathered friends can. Understanding your pet well and being extremely familiar with their habits can save your animal’s life as they get older. Often the smallest change of habit when quickly observed can indicate a problem and if addressed immediately could avoid a serious complication.

Our wonderful crossbreed / street foundling Spats who is about to celebrate his 12th birthday, has a unique, though tedious way of letting us know that he is not 100%. Normally Spats makes it through the night without needing to go out, the first night that Spats wakes us up during the night because he needs to go out, is a warning sign, if this happens two nights in a row, he is off to Dr. Grant in short order. The only reason that this is a significant warning sign is that we are used to our elderly gentleman’s habits and know what his body is telling us….probably, low grade infection, possibly a slight fever, time for the Vet!

As your pet grows up he/she will develop habits and idiosyncrasies that will remain with him or her forever, learn them and love them, but, please, watch for any changes. I have a goldfish who loves to “stand up straight” in his tank and has for ages, he is perfectly healthy, if he stops doing that I will observe him very closely.

Your old cat or dog may well develop “tankage” problems, and you will have to adapt your schedule for later evening walks, and earlier morning walk. I always make sure that Spats goes out right before we go to bed, and that HE DOES something !!! Most important!

Dogs, especially, can become a bit cranky when they age, but then, don’t we all? If that applies to your precious elderly friend, gently put them in another room when guests arrive, especially noisy and active children. It is far better to be careful and peaceful than to over-estimate your pet’s patience and then have the horrible situation that your beloved pooch has bitten a little kid! Coax them into the sanctuary with a biscuit or a chew stick, make them feel loved and pampered, not banished.

Birthdays are special, even if you have a foundling and don’t know the exact date somewhere along the line you must be able to make an educated guess and award a day as your special friend’s birthday.  Don’t go overboard, wrapped presents are really not necessary, but, a special something, chew stick (dogs), biscuit (dogs / cats), fish (cats), extra dried shrimp (fish), dried turtle yummies (turtles) carrots, apples and sugar (horses) are always nice as a treat. I make my dogs (can be done for cats too) a ground beef (hamburger) “cake” with mashed potato “icing”, they share it with the others and there is lots of tail wagging. The animals know that they are being “feted”, they love the additional treats, the attention, and the humans enjoy spoiling their friends….. Everybody is happy!

There is great dignity about an elderly animal. If you look at them closely you will see a very wise look in their eyes as they sit and survey the world going on around them. Perhaps a bit stiff in the joints they do not attempt the “daring” feats of yesterday, in their youth, but they watch life going on around them with poise and presence. If only a few more humans would accept the years with dignity and grace! A grey muzzle, a few bumps here and there, a couple of teeth missing, and a wealth of love and understanding: this is what your old and faithful friend is made of. What an amazing gift to have had them for so long and to be able to care for and comfort them in their old age.

There is a vast selection of different “natural” medications readily available on line to help various aches and pains in your pet. Your local vet’s office certainly carries some of these remedies as well. I use a cocktail of natural medications for my older dogs, plus wheat germ in their dinner every night. They work well, are harmless, and help ease some of the problems.

There is a sad side to aging and that is that some elderly dogs and cats get turned in at the Humane Society or other animal support groups and need homes, for various reasons, all of them sad. We all want puppies: they are so comical and fun, but these old dogs and cats need somewhere to end out their lives in comfort and peace. If you are getting on in years yourself, or just plain don’t want the bother of an active puppy in the house, you might consider giving an older dog a good home. It would be very rewarding and your elderly companion would share his warmth with you most willingly.

So, I say, thank you God for letting my beloved pet become a geriatric pet and help me comfort him in his old age as he has comforted me and loved me unconditionally all his life.  

About the author: Kim Aranha grew up in the Berry Islands with her first dog, a beloved potcake named “Friendly” (who was anything but!).  First educated at home, and then in boarding school in Switzerland, Kim moved to Rome, Italy in 1974 to pursue a career in the dramatic arts and ended up working as an interpreter.  She moved back to The Bahamas in 1980, and now lives in Nassau with her husband Paul, and their two teenaged sons.  Kim has 3 dogs (soon to be 4), 5 fish (1 Beta, 4 Goldfish), 10 turtles (6 babies, 4 adolescents), 1 Asian box turtle and 4 Budgerigars. Her idea of relaxing is being home to take care of all her pets. Kim is a member of the board of the Bahamas Humane Society. Kim can be contacted at kimbva@coralwave.com