Through the years, you have probably made many summer memories with your pet. The fun times don’t have to end because your pet is a senior, but you will need to take a few extra precautions to ensure their safety under the sun.

Senior pets and heat

High temperatures are dangerous for all pets, but senior pets are especially vulnerable. As pets age, maintaining proper body temperature becomes more difficult, and they can struggle to keep cool or warm. Senior pets also dehydrate more rapidly because of inadequate water consumption and various medical conditions. To prevent an emergency, pay special attention to your senior pet’s environment, behavior, and comfort during warm or hot weather. 

Heatstroke is a potentially deadly condition that occurs when a pet’s internal body temperature exceeds the environmental temperature. Heatstroke can onset rapidly and requires immediate action. Heatstroke warning signs include:

* Excessive panting 

* High heart and respiratory rate

* Red gums 

* Restlessness

* Vomiting 

* Diarrhea

* Weakness

* Incoordination

* Collapse

* Seizures

Remove overheated pets to an air-conditioned or shaded area, offer them water, and wet them down with cool—never cold—water. Call your veterinarian immediately for specific instructions. If your pet has lost consciousness or is seizing, take them to the nearest veterinarian or emergency hospital immediately. 

Heatstroke is a preventable emergency. To protect your pet:

* Never leave your pet in a parked car or enclosed, unventilated space.

* Always exercise in the early morning or late evening, and restrict activity to short, low-impact walks. Stay indoors during excessive heat. 

* Always supervise your senior pet outdoors.

Senior pet summer hazards

As your pet ages, you may notice personality changes and atypical behaviors. Age-related behavior changes may be because of medical conditions such as arthritis, chronic disease, changes in vision or hearing, or cognitive dysfunction. A highly stimulating summer can bring out many of these previously unnatural characteristics, so closely monitor your senior pet, especially around the following hazards:

* Food — Senior pets have a more sensitive digestive system, and summer foods are often salty, sugary, greasy, and high in fat. Avoid sharing these delectables with your senior pet, to prevent gastroenteritis and pancreatitis. Never offer your pet cooked or raw bones, which can cause choking, lacerations, or gastrointestinal blockage. 

* Fireworks — Many senior pets are startled by unpredictable noises, and those with hearing, vision, or cognitive decline can develop new phobias, such as fireworks. Keep your aging pet indoors during a big show, and turn on the television to drown out the noise.

* Escape — Summer guests may forget to close a gate or door, and your senior pet can wander away. Elderly pets are less likely to return home on their own, because of disorientation, sensory loss, and cognitive impairment. Plus, time is often of the essence for many seniors who rely on daily medication to keep them healthy. Prevent accidental escape by confining senior pets during busy times, and discussing house rules with guests. Keep a collar with current identification on your senior pet at all times, and microchip them.

* Toxins — Certain senior pet medical conditions may cause pica (i.e., the consumption of non-food items). Owners are often shocked when their previously well-behaved, intelligent pets begin this peculiar behavior. Observe your senior pet closely, and store common toxins out of reach, including human and veterinary medications, toxic foods, plants, rodent bait, fertilizers, and insecticides.

Summer exercise alternatives for senior pets

Physical fitness is necessary to maintain your senior pet’s mobility, strength, and mental health. During warmer weather, reduce their physical activity to prevent heat-related injury, or try some safe indoor alternatives:

* Scent games — The sense of smell is never more important for a dog or cat than when their other senses decline. Embrace their olfactory-oriented world by playing games where they find hidden food. Select some strong-smelling treats, and introduce your pet to snuffle mats, reach boxes, puzzles, and food-dispensing toys. Ensure you purchase puzzle toys for your pet’s skill level and prevent your pet from becoming frustrated by making the puzzles as easy as possible during the learning process.

* Physical fitness — Ask your veterinarian about appropriate fitness exercises. Senior pets can improve their balance, flexibility, and strength with low-impact, at-home activities.

* Water therapy — For aquatic-minded seniors, ask your veterinarian about hydrotherapy. Controlled swimming and underwater treadmill therapy are fantastic low-impact options.

Don’t skip your senior pet’s preventives

While we block the sun with sunscreen, your pet needs a similarly strong defense against fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. All senior pets, including those who live indoors, are at an increased risk for parasitic infection because of their weakened immune system. Whether your senior pet stays inside, or heads outdoors, ensure they receive regular flea, tick, and heartworm preventives.