At what age is a dog considered senior?

Merck counts dogs over 7 to 8 years old as seniors and advises vet visits twice a year or more. Size changes it: the American Veterinary Medical Association puts giant breeds at 6 to 7 years and small breeds at 8 to 11. Your vet may call your dog senior earlier.

At what age is a cat considered senior?

International Cat Care calls cats mature from 7, senior between 11 and 14 years, and super senior from 15. From middle age, watch for drinking more, weight loss, stiffness, grooming less and changes in the litter tray, and book the vet for any of them.

Can my dog stay away from home while on medication?

Often yes. Pack every medicine in its labelled box with the prescription and a written schedule, and ask your vet before the stay whether anything needs to change. The sitter follows the vet's instructions exactly, logs each dose, and calls the vet if a dose is missed or refused.

What should I tell a sitter about my older pet?

Its routine, its medicines and the vet's written schedule, the signs of pain to watch for such as eating less or restlessness, what is normal for your pet, how it manages stairs and floors, and your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour vet. Put it all on one care sheet.

Is boarding or a sitter at home better for an old dog?

For many old dogs, a sitter at home. The RSPCA says older dogs prefer a predictable routine and advises avoiding too much change. A healthy, sociable older dog that has boarded before may cope with a sitter's home. Talk to your vet first, as Texas A&M advises for elderly pets.

What if my pet misses a dose while I am away?

The sitter should follow what your vet wrote for a missed or refused dose, and call your vet if the plan does not cover it. A sitter should never double up or change a medicine on their own. Ask your vet for these instructions in writing before you go.

My old dog seems confused at night. Can I still go away?

Talk to your vet first. Cornell says confusion, changed sleep and house-soiling can be signs of cognitive dysfunction, and the vet needs to rule out other causes. A dog like this usually does better at home with an overnight sitter, because a familiar place and routine reduce stress.

Can a pet sitter give injections or eye drops?

A sitter can give medicines the vet has prescribed, exactly as written, once they have been shown how. Ask your vet team to demonstrate at a visit if the sitter has not done it before. Only the vet decides the dose and the times; the sitter follows the plan and logs each dose.

Care guide 16 min read

Going away with a senior pet or a pet on medication

Updated October 2026By PetymFacts checked against official sources on 21 October 2026

Quick answer

Merck counts dogs over 7 to 8 years old as seniors, sooner in big breeds, and International Cat Care calls cats senior from 11. Before a trip, ask your vet for a check-up and a written medicine plan, and give the sitter every medicine in its labelled box. The sitter follows the vet's instructions exactly and never changes, pauses or adds a medicine.

Older pets cope less well with change: the RSPCA and International Cat Care both say they prefer a predictable routine. For many, a sitter in your own home suits better than boarding. Tell the sitter the signs of pain and illness to watch for, and to call your vet for anything urgent. In a large UK study, dogs aged 12 or older had the highest odds of heatstroke.

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At what age is a dog or cat a senior?

It depends on size for dogs, and on the stage for cats. Your vet may call your pet senior earlier.

	Senior from about	Whose figure
Small or toy dog (under about 9 kg), such as a Shih Tzu or Pomeranian AVMA	8 to 11 years	AVMA
Medium dog (about 9 to 23 kg), such as a Beagle or many Indies AVMA	8 to 10 years	AVMA
Large dog (about 23 to 41 kg), such as a Labrador or German Shepherd AVMA	8 to 9 years	AVMA
Giant dog (over about 41 kg), such as a Great Dane or Saint Bernard AVMA	6 to 7 years	AVMA
Any dog, as a rule of thumb Merck Veterinary Manual	Over 7 to 8 years, earlier in large breeds; vet visits twice a year or more	Merck
Cat, mature International Cat Care	7 years	International Cat Care
Cat, senior International Cat Care	11 to 14 years	International Cat Care
Cat, super senior International Cat Care	15 years and older	International Cat Care

AAHA's 2023 senior care guidelines start from the principle that old age is not a disease: care is planned around the pet, and can include changes to its surroundings.

What are the signs of ageing in dogs and cats?

Slow changes that are easy to take for granted. Each one is worth a word with your vet, and a line on the sitter's sheet.

In dogs, the RSPCA lists stiffness and trouble getting out of bed or going upstairs, poorer hearing or eyesight, needing the toilet more often, needing more rest, and changes that can look like normal ageing but may have a medical cause, such as being less playful or losing weight. Dogs live an average of around 12 years, the RSPCA says, and regular health checks matter for ageing animals so that problems are found early.

In cats, International Cat Care describes older cats hunting less, spending less time outside, sleeping for longer and grooming less. It lists reasons to book the vet: loss of appetite or weight, drinking more often or more per day, stiffness or trouble jumping, lethargy, lumps, balance problems, toilet accidents or trouble passing urine or faeces, disorientation and changes in grooming. Older cats' claws can overgrow, which can point to arthritis or a medical problem such as an overactive thyroid.

Changes in the mind count too. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center says dogs may start to develop cognitive dysfunction syndrome from around nine years of age, with signs such as getting lost in familiar places, getting stuck in corners, staring into space, changed sleep, house-soiling and anxiety. Owners often miss the slow changes and assume they are just old age. Cornell advises a vet check with blood and urine tests to rule out conditions with similar signs, such as pain, arthritis or loss of sight or hearing.

What signs of pain should the sitter know?

Older pets hide pain well. A sitter who does not know your pet needs the list in writing.

Merck's guide to recognising pain lists eating less, trouble getting comfortable, restlessness, hiding, mood changes, irritability, and licking or biting a sore spot. In cats, International Cat Care adds grooming less than usual, which can be a sign of long-term pain from arthritis, and says arthritis is very common in older cats and often goes undiagnosed, because cats hide pain and quietly limit what they do. A cat that no longer jumps onto the bed or the window ledge may be in pain, not just old.

Write your pet's normal next to each sign: how it gets up in the morning, which sofa it still climbs, how far it walks before it slows, how it lies when it is comfortable. That turns a vague list into something a sitter can compare against. Ask the sitter to log anything new in the daily update, and to call your vet the same day if your pet will not put weight on a leg, cries when touched, or stops eating.

Never let anyone give a human painkiller to a pet. Merck says never to give a human medicine to a pet without a vet's approval, and International Cat Care warns that many human medicines are toxic to cats. If your pet seems to be in pain, the sitter calls your vet.

What words might your vet use about an older pet?

The conditions most often behind an older pet's medicines, and what each means for a sitter.

Osteoarthritis: Wear in the joints that causes stiffness and pain. Obesity makes it worse, and steady, gentle walks every day suit sore joints better than sudden bursts of exercise. PDSA
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome: Age-related changes in the brain: disorientation, changed sleep, house-soiling, anxiety. Play, interactive toys and regular exercise help; the vet rules out other causes first. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Chronic kidney disease: Common in older cats; Cornell says it affects up to 40% of cats over 10. Signs include drinking more and weight loss. Good hydration is essential, so water goes in several bowls. Cornell Feline Health Center
Dehydration: Senior cats are at greater risk, especially those with kidney disease. International Cat Care suggests several water bowls in easy-to-reach spots away from food. International Cat Care
Incontinence: Leaking urine or new accidents in the house. The RSPCA says changes in toilet habits should be discussed with your vet, because they can have a treatable cause. RSPCA
Dental disease: Bad breath, drooling or eating less can point to a sore mouth. International Cat Care advises checking an older cat's teeth and gums regularly. International Cat Care
Diabetes: Usually managed with the same food, in the same amount, at the same times, and medicine at the times the vet sets. A sitter follows that plan exactly and calls the vet if anything is missed. PDSA

Should an older pet stay at home with a sitter or board?

Ask your vet first. Texas A&M advises talking to your regular vet before boarding an elderly, medically fragile or very anxious pet, to decide whether it is safe and what precautions are needed.

If Your pet is stiff, slips on smooth floors, or struggles with stairs
Stay at home, where you have already put down rugs and know the lift and stairs. A new home means new floors. Pet sitter at home or boarding? RSPCA
If Your pet seems confused at times, or its sleep has changed
Stay at home with an overnight sitter. A predictable routine and a familiar place reduce stress. Drop-in visits or overnight sitting? RSPCA
If Your cat is a senior
A sitter at home, visiting more than twice a day or staying overnight. Older cats do not cope well with changes to routine. Senior cats International Cat Care
If Your pet needs medicines at fixed times through the day
A sitter experienced with medicines, at home, for each dose time. Cats Protection says very old cats and cats with health conditions may need more frequent visits. Special-needs care Cats Protection
If Your dog is healthy, sociable and has stayed away before without trouble
A stay in a sitter's home can work. Visit first, and check for slippery floors, stairs and a quiet place to rest. Home boarding RSPCA Australia
If Your pet has a serious or unstable condition
Your vet and the carer decide together, case by case. Petym does not keep a list of conditions that cannot board.

How do you prepare an older pet for your trip?

Leave more time than you would for a young pet. The vet visit comes first.

Four weeks before
Book a vet check. Ask what the sitter should watch for, whether anything should change before the trip, and for a written plan for every medicine. RSPCA Australia advises a recent health check before any stay. RSPCA Australia
Three weeks before
Ask your vet for written instructions for each medicine: what it is for, when it is given, and what to do if a dose is missed or refused. US Food and Drug Administration
Two weeks before
The meet and greet. Show the sitter how your pet takes each medicine, or ask your vet team to show them; International Cat Care says vet teams are usually happy to demonstrate. International Cat Care
Ten days before
Refill every prescription so there is enough for the whole trip plus a few days. RSPCA (England and Wales)
The week before
Fill in the medication schedule and the care sheet. Put rugs on slippery floors, and the bed in a quiet spot away from draughts. RSPCA
The day before
Walk the sitter through the medicine kit, box by box, against the schedule. Sign a letter allowing vet treatment, and tell your vet the sitter's name. PDSA
While you are away
A daily update with each dose logged, meals and water noted, and anything new reported the same day.

What should the medicine handover include?

Everything a sitter needs to give each dose exactly as your vet wrote it, without calling you.

Every medicine in its original labelled container, with the prescription, kept apart from human medicines. US Food and Drug Administration
A written schedule copied from your vet's instructions: what, how much and when, exactly as prescribed. Merck Veterinary Manual
What to do if a dose is missed, vomited or refused, in your vet's words. US Food and Drug Administration
How your pet takes each one: in food, in a treat or by hand, shown at the meet and greet. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Which tablets must not be crushed, split or hidden in food, or must be given on an empty stomach. Ask your vet. PDSA
For a cat: how your vet showed you to give it, and a towel for a wriggly cat. Never restrain a cat heavily. International Cat Care
How each medicine is stored, and where, including any that must be kept cool.
Your vet's name, clinic and number, and the nearest 24-hour vet. Merck Veterinary Manual
A short medical history: conditions, recent test results, and what your vet asked you to watch. International Cat Care
A tick-box log for every dose, so nothing is given twice. Petym's free medication schedule prints one.

How should a sitter give an older pet its medicines?

Exactly as the vet wrote, at the time the vet set, and logged when given. The vet decides; the sitter follows.

Do

Give each medicine exactly as written on the vet's prescription, and log it at the time. Merck Veterinary Manual
Finish the whole course. Stopping early, for example with antibiotics for a skin infection, can let the infection come back. Merck Veterinary Manual
Check the label against the schedule before every dose. US Food and Drug Administration
Call the vet if a dose is missed or refused, and follow what they say. PDSA
With a dog, gently hold the mouth closed and stroke the throat; licking the lips is a good sign it has swallowed. PDSA

Don’t

Change, pause, skip or add a medicine without the vet. Merck Veterinary Manual
Double up after a missed dose. PDSA
Give one pet's medicine to another unless the vet says so. US Food and Drug Administration
Give any human medicine to a pet without the vet's approval. Merck Veterinary Manual
Crush or split a tablet unless the vet has said it is safe. PDSA

Which changes in an older pet need a vet call?

A sitter should know these before you leave. For anything urgent, the pet goes to the vet first and you hear on the way.

If Heavy panting, drooling, weakness or collapse on a hot day.
Heatstroke. Dogs aged 12 or older had the highest odds in a large UK study. Move to a cool room, gently pour cool water over the body, create airflow and go to the vet now. Scientific Reports (2020)study
If A cough in an older dog after a stay or contact with other dogs.
Kennel cough can be more serious in older or unwell dogs, and can sometimes lead to chronic bronchitis or pneumonia. Call the vet. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Drinking much more, eating less, or weight loss.
Log the amounts and tell the owner. In a cat, these are reasons International Cat Care gives to see the vet. International Cat Care
If A cat that has not eaten for a day.
Cornell says loss of appetite can harm a mature cat's health in as little as 24 hours. Call the vet. Cornell Feline Health Center
If New accidents, straining, or going much more often.
Call the vet: changes in toilet habits should be discussed with one. A male cat straining with little urine is an emergency. RSPCA
If Seeming lost, pacing at night, or a sleep cycle that has flipped.
Keep the routine steady and call the vet, who needs to rule out medical causes. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
If Signs of pain: eating less, restlessness, hiding, irritability, licking a sore spot.
Note when it started and call the vet. No human painkillers. Merck Veterinary Manual

What is different for an older pet in an Indian home?

Heat, power cuts, smooth floors and stairs all weigh more on an old body.

Heat is the biggest risk. In a large UK study, dogs aged 12 or older had the highest odds of heat-related illness, and PDSA lists old dogs among those most at risk of heatstroke. PDSA says very old cats are less able to regulate their temperature too. In an Indian summer, an older pet needs a cool room, water in several bowls, walks only in the early morning and late evening, and a plan for the power cut: what the inverter runs, which room stays coolest, and whether any medicine must be kept in the fridge.

Floors and stairs come next. Marble, tile and vitrified floors are slippery for stiff legs, and PDSA suggests rugs or anti-slip mats, and a thick, supportive bed in a warm spot away from a cold air-conditioner blast. In a flat, a dog that can no longer manage the stairs depends on the lift, so tell the sitter what to do if it is out of order. The RSPCA notes that some older dogs need help or a ramp to get into a car.

The routine matters most of all. The RSPCA says older dogs prefer a predictable routine, and International Cat Care says older cats do not cope well with change. That is the strongest argument for a sitter in your own home: the same floors, the same bed, the same walk, the same window, with only the person changing. An older dog may also need the toilet more often, so a sitter's visits, or an overnight stay, have to fit that.

How will Petym care for older pets and pets on medicine?

With the vet's plan, followed and logged. Whether a pet can stay away is for your vet and the carer to decide together.

Petym is not taking bookings yet; it opens city by city once its sitters pass Petym's checks, which include pet first-aid training before the first booking and a named 24-hour vet within reach. When it opens, care for an older pet will start with a free meet and greet at your home, where you show the sitter the medicines and how your pet takes them. Your pet's plan, including every medicine, is followed as you write it from your vet's instructions and logged as it happens, with a photo update every day of the booking.

In an emergency, the sitter calls you and takes your pet to the nearest 24-hour vet on the city's list. Petym does not keep a list of conditions that cannot be cared for, and never decides a medicine, a dose or a schedule: that is your vet's job. For pets with daily medicines, a special diet or a long-term condition, Petym's special-needs care is built around the vet's written plan.

Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

Find a sitter for an older pet How it works

Meet your sitter first, free
PAN-checked, first-aid trained
A photo every day
Pay through Petym, never cash

Questions owners ask

At what age is a dog considered senior?: Merck counts dogs over 7 to 8 years old as seniors and advises vet visits twice a year or more. Size changes it: the American Veterinary Medical Association puts giant breeds at 6 to 7 years and small breeds at 8 to 11. Your vet may call your dog senior earlier.
At what age is a cat considered senior?: International Cat Care calls cats mature from 7, senior between 11 and 14 years, and super senior from 15. From middle age, watch for drinking more, weight loss, stiffness, grooming less and changes in the litter tray, and book the vet for any of them.
Can my dog stay away from home while on medication?: Often yes. Pack every medicine in its labelled box with the prescription and a written schedule, and ask your vet before the stay whether anything needs to change. The sitter follows the vet's instructions exactly, logs each dose, and calls the vet if a dose is missed or refused.
What should I tell a sitter about my older pet?: Its routine, its medicines and the vet's written schedule, the signs of pain to watch for such as eating less or restlessness, what is normal for your pet, how it manages stairs and floors, and your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour vet. Put it all on one care sheet.
Is boarding or a sitter at home better for an old dog?: For many old dogs, a sitter at home. The RSPCA says older dogs prefer a predictable routine and advises avoiding too much change. A healthy, sociable older dog that has boarded before may cope with a sitter's home. Talk to your vet first, as Texas A&M advises for elderly pets.
What if my pet misses a dose while I am away?: The sitter should follow what your vet wrote for a missed or refused dose, and call your vet if the plan does not cover it. A sitter should never double up or change a medicine on their own. Ask your vet for these instructions in writing before you go.
My old dog seems confused at night. Can I still go away?: Talk to your vet first. Cornell says confusion, changed sleep and house-soiling can be signs of cognitive dysfunction, and the vet needs to rule out other causes. A dog like this usually does better at home with an overnight sitter, because a familiar place and routine reduce stress.
Can a pet sitter give injections or eye drops?: A sitter can give medicines the vet has prescribed, exactly as written, once they have been shown how. Ask your vet team to demonstrate at a visit if the sitter has not done it before. Only the vet decides the dose and the times; the sitter follows the plan and logs each dose.

Keep reading

Make a medication sheet for the sitterEvery dose, every day, with your vet's number.
Caring for a senior dog
Caring for a senior cat
What to pack for your pet's stay
Heatstroke in dogs
Dog age calculatorHuman years, life stage and senior age by size.

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Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

Merck Veterinary Manual: Routine health care of dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
AVMA: Caring for senior cats and dogs (read in the web-archive copy of 4 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Recognizing and assessing pain in animals (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior problems in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: How drugs are given to animals (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026

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Merck Veterinary Manual: Planning for travel with pets (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Calculating your dog's age (read in the web-archive copy of 28 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
AAHA (JAAHA): 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
PDSA: Kennel cough (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine: Detecting the subtle signs of pain in pets (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
International Cat Care: How to spot signs of pain in cats (2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
International Cat Care: Special considerations for senior cats (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
US Food and Drug Administration: Medications for your pet: questions for your vet (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
US Food and Drug Administration: Medication errors happen to pets, too (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital: How do you give oral medications to a cat? (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
PDSA: How to give your dog a pill (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Giving your dog oral medications (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
International Cat Care: Cats and poisons (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Holiday health for pets (leaflet) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine: Planning ahead: reducing stress when boarding your pet (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Caring for older dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (Riney Canine Health Center) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
International Cat Care: Arthritis in cats (updated 26 September 2025) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Arthritis in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Cornell Feline Health Center: Chronic Kidney Disease (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Diabetes in dogs (Pet Health Hub, December 2020) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
International Cat Care: How to give a cat medication (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Cornell Feline Health Center: Anorexia (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Heatstroke in cats (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
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RSPCA Australia: How can I find a good boarding facility for my companion animal? (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
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