Your dog’s coat, skin, nails and joints all change with age, and grooming needs to change with them. This guide is for owners of older dogs who want to keep their dog clean and comfortable without causing aches, and who want to use grooming time to spot problems early.
The short version: groom more gently, but don’t stop. Older dogs often find it harder to keep themselves clean, their skin can become thinner, and stiff joints may not cope with long sessions. Keep sessions short, use a soft brush, keep nails short, and feel for lumps while you work, then take anything new to your vet.
When does a dog become a senior?
There is no single age. VCA Animal Hospitals says dogs are generally considered senior when they have reached 75% of their average lifespan. Giant breeds such as Great Danes are seniors at five or six years, while small breeds may be considered senior at 10 to 12 years. Blue Cross puts middle age for most dogs at over seven, and notes that larger breeds can start to slow down as early as six.
Because health changes in older dogs can be subtle, VCA recommends having your dog examined by a vet at least twice a year.
How do grooming needs change as dogs get older?
Blue Cross notes that senior dogs may struggle to groom themselves properly because of stiffness or arthritis, so it helps to focus on places that are harder for them to reach, such as the back end. Their coat may also lose its shine, and white hairs begin to appear.
Skin needs extra care too. Blue Cross says an older dog’s skin can become thin, so use a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching it. Fear Free Happy Homes adds that elderly dogs have thin skin that may cut or bruise easily, and suggests a brush with plastic pins that have knobs on the ends. A slicker brush with metal pins might be too harsh, and you could nick a wart or fatty lump.
Regular brushing still matters. VCA advises brushing your senior dog frequently to prevent mats, because mats can contribute to skin infections and may hide skin tumours.
How can I make grooming comfortable for a dog with arthritis?
Joint pain is common. VCA Animal Hospitals describes osteoarthritis as one of the most common chronic conditions affecting dogs, and Blue Cross notes that arthritis commonly affects older dogs. Fear Free notes that older dogs may not be able to stand comfortably for more than a few minutes at a time because of arthritis. A few changes can help:
- Keep sessions short. If your dog can only stand comfortably for a few minutes, plan the session around that rather than pushing on.
- Give your dog grip. Let them stand or lie on a bath mat or rug that gives some traction. VCA notes that slippery flooring can make it difficult for dogs with osteoarthritis to walk, turn and rise.
- Let your dog choose their position. Standing may be tiring, but Fear Free points out that lying down might put pressure on the hips or spine, so let your dog move around a bit.
- Take frequent breaks. Fear Free suggests pausing to simply stroke your dog. If they try to leave or start panting, they may be stressed or sore, so let them tell you when they have had enough.
Never give your dog human painkillers. Blue Cross is clear: do not try to treat pain at home with them. If your dog seems stiff or sore, ask your vet about pain relief that suits your pet.
If your older dog has also become nervous about handling, our post on helping a nervous dog enjoy grooming has more ideas.
How do I check my older dog for lumps and skin changes?
Grooming is a natural time for a hands-on check. In the American Kennel Club’s article on skin lumps, a veterinary dermatologist recommends that once a week you gently run your hands over your dog’s entire body, including under the armpits and between the toes.
The PDSA says fatty lumps (lipomas) are extremely common, especially in older and overweight dogs, and that not all skin lumps are cancerous. But you cannot tell which is which at home. As the AKC puts it, even vets can’t definitively determine what type of lump your dog has just by looking at it, so diagnostic testing, such as a fine needle aspirate and sometimes a biopsy, is needed.
If you find a lump:
- Contact your vet, even if it looks harmless. Blue Cross and the PDSA both advise this.
- Take a photo and note its size, so you can see whether it changes.
- Your vet may take a fine needle aspirate, which the PDSA explains is usually done during a consultation, often without anaesthetic.
When should I take my senior dog to the vet?
Grooming is never a substitute for veterinary care, and groomers do not diagnose. Contact your vet if you notice any of these:
- a new lump, or a known lump that is getting bigger, becoming less movable, changing in appearance or texture, or bleeding or weeping fluid (PDSA)
- masses, open sores or abnormal scabs on the skin (VCA)
- hair loss, especially with scratching or in specific areas (VCA)
- limping that lasts more than one or two days, or an inability to chew dry food (VCA)
- weight loss, which Blue Cross says may be an early sign of illness, or a change in behaviour, which it says can be a sign of pain or illness
How should I care for an older dog’s nails and paw pads?
Many dogs spend much of their time indoors or on soft surfaces, which The Kennel Club notes gives their claws very little wear. The Kennel Club warns that long claws are more prone to chipping, tearing, splitting and breaking, and in extreme cases can curl over and dig into the pad. Long claws also put pressure on the wrong parts of the foot, and a dog that changes the way it moves to ease the discomfort may be more prone to joint injuries, particularly an older dog whose posture may already be a problem. VCA adds that long toenails cause dogs to stand and walk abnormally and can worsen arthritic changes, and it advises keeping nails short to increase traction and reduce strain on the joints.
How to tell nails are too long, according to The Kennel Club:
- When your dog stands on a flat surface, the nails touch the ground.
- You can hear them clicking loudly on hard or tiled floors.
The Kennel Club suggests aiming to trim nails once or twice a month. Our nail clipping guide covers the details.
Check the paws while you are there:
- Hair between the pads. Fear Free notes that hair growing between the pads can make a senior dog slip on hard floors, and suggests trimming the sides and bottoms of the paws with blunt-tipped scissors for better traction.
- Cracked or thickened pads. The AKC notes that dogs may develop cracked, hardened pads from walking on pavement or hot surfaces. Some dogs develop thickened, rough or crusty skin on the pads or nose (hyperkeratosis). A vet quoted by the AKC says that in many dogs, especially seniors, mild thickening is more of a cosmetic issue than a medical emergency, but warns against aggressively peeling or cutting thickened tissue at home. Ask your vet if you are unsure.
- Calluses. The AKC also notes that a senior dog who sleeps most of the day on a hard floor may develop calluses on thin-skinned areas such as the elbows.
How Mutt Cuts can help
Mutt Cuts Pet Parlour in Wierdapark, Centurion, has groomed dogs of all breeds for more than 20 years, and you can read about grooming older dogs on our senior dogs page. Nail clipping is included with a groom at no extra charge, and you can also book nail clipping on its own. When you book, let us know about stiffness, sore spots or lumps your vet is already monitoring, and if your dog is nervous, tell us about their fears so we can take it slowly and let your dog set the pace. Vaccinations must be up to date for every pet. If travel is hard for your dog, our pet taxi collects and delivers across Centurion and surrounding suburbs.