Enrichment is an essential part of good heath for dogs. But as dogs get older, and less physically capable, how can we help keep our senior dog's brain healthy and delay mental decline?

Here are some simple ways to provide mental stimulation to senior dogs, which can help keep their minds active and engaged.

A dog needs different forms of stimulation to promote their physical and mental well-being, and a balance of continuous stimulation throughout their life. Let’s talk about different methods of enrichment that you can use,  and most importantly, how you can apply these tools for your pet.

Most of us also wish that our dogs will cross the 'rainbow bridge' peacefully in their sleep. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. 

But when is the right time to say goodbye? In this article we explain:

• A veterinary approved ‘quality of life scale’
• Suggested criteria to help pet parents make tough decisions
• Factors that can influence an owner in deciding when to say goodbye

As dogs age they often start to become less physically active. This doesn’t necessarily mean they should also become less mentally active too! In this article we will talk about the various ways pet parents can provide enrichment for their senior dogs.

• Sensory enrichment
• Environmental enrichment
• Cognitive and social enrichment

As dogs age, their brains age too, and this can affect learning and memory function. While we may be able to go to dance classes, learn a language, or do puzzles, to keep our brains healthy (Sudoku anyone?), our dogs don’t quite have the same options…Here we explain the terms, causes and signs and suggests ways to delay the onset.

Did you know dogs are living longer than ever? In fact,

a dog’s lifespan has increased by about 10% between 2002 and 2012. Many age-related issues dogs experience are associated with oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between antioxidants and oxidants in the body. In this article we explain how nutraceuticals for dogs containing antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins with immunomodulatory properties have been shown in many studies to benefit age-related health issues in senior dogs, particularly canine cognitive dysfunction, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.

You might think that as your dog gets older, it’s inevitable that they start to do a few odd things. But there’s actually a difference between normal ageing and pathological ageing – and it can start much earlier than we previously thought.