Notice changes. Know what to do. Get the free senior dog care guide. Practical steps for everyday changes—and clearer questions for your vet.
Movement Sleep Eating Water Bathroom Daily life Some changes cannot wait. Breathing difficulty, collapse, severe distress or a sudden inability to stand need urgent veterinary help. Call your vet for new or worsening symptoms. Never delay care to collect more notes.
Find urgent care ↗ 1. Movement
Watch Watch the first five steps after rest, slipping, stairs and recovery.
Do today Add traction, shorten difficult routes and record one natural rise.
Track and share Save a 10–20 second natural-rise video plus the surface, pause, first five steps and recovery time.
Call sooner Sudden inability to stand, dragging a limb or severe pain. Explore complete care lessons ↗ 2. Sleep
Watch Record wake time, pacing, breathing, toileting and what helps settling.
Do today Keep water, a clear bathroom route and gentle night lighting available.
Track and share If your veterinary team says home monitoring is safe, record wake time, first behavior, bathroom trip, breathing and what helped settling.
Call sooner Breathing difficulty, collapse or severe disorientation. Explore complete care lessons ↗ 3. Eating
Watch Measure what was offered and eaten; note chewing, nausea and weight.
Do today Keep food familiar and bowls easy to reach while arranging care.
Track and share Record food offered, amount eaten, chewing side, dropped food, nausea clues and a dated weight when available.
Call sooner Repeated vomiting, a swollen abdomen or refusing all food with weakness. Explore complete care lessons ↗ 4. Water
Watch Watch for drinking more or less, a bowl left untouched, or needing to urinate more often.
Do today Keep fresh water available and add easier bathroom access.
Track and share Measure one ordinary day's intake and pair it with urination, appetite, medicines and energy changes.
Call sooner Inability to urinate, collapse or severe distress. Explore complete care lessons ↗ 5. Bathroom
Watch Record time, urgency, posture, amount, route and signs of pain.
Do today Offer more frequent access on a short, well-lit, non-slip route.
Track and share Track time, urgency, posture, output, accidents and the exact route your dog must travel.
Call sooner Repeated straining without output, blood with weakness or severe pain. Explore complete care lessons ↗ 6. Daily life
Watch Name the exact routine your dog no longer starts, joins or finishes.
Do today Offer a shorter, lower-effort version and let your dog choose.
Track and share Name the routine that changed, how often it happens, what your dog still chooses and what lowers the effort.
Call sooner Sudden confusion, seizure, collapse or rapid major behavior change. Explore complete care lessons ↗ Day 1 · Record an ordinary moment. A natural rise, meal or night waking. Do not prompt the behavior.Days 2–3 · Compare the same routine. Note the time, effort, frequency and recovery.Days 4–5 · Make one safe change. Add traction or easier access. Record what helps.Day 6 · Bring the details together. Sleep, appetite, water, bathroom habits and medicines.Day 7 · Prepare for your vet. What changed? When did it start? How often does it happen? What is harder now?If symptoms worsen, stop monitoring and call your veterinarian.
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