As your pet moves into its senior years, you may notice your good-natured sidekick becoming testy and irritable. Your dog may now snap at the children who once crawled all over them, and your once-friendly cat may spend more and more timing hiding under the bed. A number of factors can make your senior pet grumpy, and getting to the root of their irritation can help improve their quality of life, and keep your loving bond intact. Here are six reasons your senior pet may be grumpy, and how you can help.

#1: Your senior pet may be painful

Arthritis is exceedingly common in senior pets, affecting up to 90% of senior cats, and a likely similar percentage of dogs. Cats tend to develop arthritis in their lower back, whereas dogs often become painful in their hips. However, any joint can be affected, and pets may have multiple painful joints that make moving around and performing normal activities difficult. Other medical conditions, including dental disease, cancer, and eye conditions, can also cause daily pain. If your senior pet is painful, being touched or handled may cause discomfort, and they may snap or bite if you attempt to pet them or pick them up. 

Your pet may not cry to communicate their pain, and instead exhibit only behavior changes, such as:

• Irritability

• Hiding

• Resisting contact or touch

• Inappetence

• House soiling

• Decreased activity and interactions

• Disorientation and confusion

• Decreased social interactions

• House soiling

• Altered sleep/wake patterns

• Anxiety

If your senior pet seems grumpy, your family veterinarian should evaluate them for painful conditions that can be treated to make them more comfortable.

#2: Your senior pet may be affected by cognitive dysfunction

Cognitive dysfunction is another common condition in older pets, with up to two-thirds of geriatric dogs and half of the geriatric cats affected. Similar to Alzheimer’s disease, the condition is characterized by a cognitive decline that causes behavior changes, including:

Disorientation and confusion

Decreased social interactions

House soiling

Altered sleep/wake patterns

Anxiety

Unfortunately, senior pets with cognitive dysfunction may not recognize their long-time family members and may react out of fear or confusion. 

Cognitive dysfunction is not a normal part of aging and can be treated to improve your pet’s quality of life. Your family veterinarian should evaluate your pet if they display unexplained behavior changes, including grumpiness, that may be caused by this condition. 

#3: Your senior pet may not feel well

Senior pets can develop a number of medical conditions that cause nausea, dizziness, or other discomforts. Unfortunately, many medical conditions cause vague or disjointed clinical signs, and your pet’s discomfort, aside from their irritability, may not be obvious. Chronic medical problems that cause ongoing discomfort can be particularly taxing, and also can explain your pet’s antisocial behavior. You are likely not the friendliest when you don’t feel well, and your pet deserves patience and grace in this situation. A thorough health assessment can help your family veterinarian get to the bottom of your pet’s behavior changes.

#4: Your senior pet may no longer see or hear well

Sensory changes, such as failing vision or hearing, can make your senior pet confused and fearful. Loss of these functions can occur gradually, and you may not realize your senior pet can no longer hear or see normally. If your senior pet is adjusting to life with poor, or nonexistent, vision, they may not realize you are nearby until you touch them, and then become startled and react out of fear. Likewise, your pet who cannot hear well may not realize you are approaching and become spooked, especially if they are sleeping. Your pet may also become frustrated by the difficulty of navigating daily activities with new limitations, which can affect their mood. If your senior pet’s vision or hearing has declined, you can adjust your environment and routine to accommodate their changing needs.

A medical condition that is affecting your senior pet’s normally sunny demeanor may progress and further affect their quality of life. As bad days become more common, you may choose to support your pet with veterinary hospice care or in-home euthanasia. Reach out to our telehospice service or find a Lap of Love veterinarian in your area for guidance.