Guides
Caring for an old dog

Caring for a senior dog (dementia, blindness, diapers)

This is something to decide with your vet. At home, keep furniture where it is, lay non-slip mats, block the stairs, use night lights and keep a steady routine.

For: While they are still here 23 owners asked about this

This needs your vet’s judgement. This page only shares other owners’ experiences and public information. It is not medical advice.

A real example

A 15-year-old dog with dementia barked at the wall in the middle of the night and could no longer go on long walks like before. His vet put him on special food and medication. His owner usually settled him first on a dog bed on the couch, sat with him until he fell asleep, then slept downstairs on a mattress with him, because if the dog woke and found him gone, he started barking again and got scared.

News, Newsweek, 28 Nov 2023Read the original

What others said

「My old dog has started showing signs of dementia.」

Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026

「My old dog has become incontinent, and I bought diapers, but they pulled them off.」

Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026

「Life with a senior dog: I'm often cleaning poop off the dining room floor.」

Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026

「Having an old dog is really hard.」

Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026

「This month I took my 14-year-old dog, who has several health problems, for the usual monthly grooming.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「My 19-year-old dog's back legs are weak and they keep falling, so I removed the sofa steps, and watching them look at the sofa hurts.」

Shared online (reworded) forum, Asia-Pacific, Oct 2026
Show 8 more

「After my 13-year-old dog went blind and kept bumping into walls, I fixed the furniture in place and laid non-slip and bumper mats.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「I care for two old dogs: one barks at night and wears diapers, the other sleeps all day, and I keep checking they're breathing.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「My old dog has weak legs, is blind and incontinent, and I'm often woken at night, not knowing how long this will go on.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「My 16-year-old dog started peeing all over the house, so they're finally in diapers, and I'm comparing different kinds.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「My 19-year-old dog still loves walks but tires easily, so now I take them out in a stroller.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「My old dog has gone blind, and I worry they'll bump into things, but I've decided to focus on what they can still do.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

「I do the hard work of bathing my old dog and giving medicine, yet they've grown closer to my husband, which hurts a little.」

Shared online (reworded) Asia-Pacific, Oct 2026

「Caring for my 18-year-old dog has turned me from someone who stayed up late into an early riser.」

Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026

What people do in different places

Do not suddenly rearrange the home; keep bowls in one placeUK | PDSA advice for blind dogs
Keep them on a lead and use your voice so they know you are nearUK | PDSA advice for blind dogs
Block off stairs and add night lightsUS | Cornell vet school on senior dog dementia
Keep mealtimes and walks on a set routineUS | Cornell vet school on senior dog dementia
Lay non-slip rugs where they usually lie and sleepUS | Dog Aging Project tips for owners
Put extra pee pads around the toilet area and use diapers if neededJapan | Niigata Prefecture guide for senior pets
If they cry at night or mix up day and night, film it and ask your usual vetJapan | Niigata Prefecture guide for senior pets

Sources

PDSA: Blindness in dogsOrganisation, PDSA
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Senior dog dementiaResearch, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
AVMA: Senior pets brochureOrganisation, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Dog Aging Project: Mobility tips and tricks for senior dogsResearch, Dog Aging Project, 18 Mar 2021
Niigata Prefecture: Senior life for dogs and catsOfficial, 新潟県 下越動物保護管理センター, 28 Nov 2025
23 posts from owners online: reworded and anonymised, showing only the platform, region and month. We keep the original links privately.

Updated 25 Oct 2026. This page updates daily from owners’ posts.

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