Senior pets are no longer the exception—they’re the norm. As of 2022, more than half of dog- and cat-owning households have a senior companion. Thanks to better nutrition, and natural holistic care, our pets are living longer than ever before. With that gift of longevity comes a responsibility: ensuring our dogs and cats aren’t just living longer, but living well.
Caring for senior pets means looking beyond the surface. Their bodies may move slower, their minds may change, and their emotional needs often grow. This is what we call the senior pet revolution—a new era of care that honors the mind, body, and soul of our aging companions.
When Is a Dog or Cat Considered Senior?
The age at which a pet is considered senior depends on size, weight, and breed:
- Small dogs and most cats: around 10 years old
- Medium dogs: around 8–9 years old
- Large and giant breeds: as early as 6–7 years old
But the calendar isn’t the only factor. Sometimes, you’ll notice the signs first—shorter walks, less eagerness to climb stairs, or changes in routine. These shifts remind us to start thinking about how to support joint comfort, mental sharpness, and overall vitality.
Lessons from Rescuing Senior Dogs
When I first began caring for senior and geriatric dogs, my focus was on the body—the immune system, the endocannabinoid system, and the physical needs that come with age. I adopted the old, sick, and unwanted because I believed they deserved more. Pain, confusion, or peeing in the house shouldn’t be a death sentence.
Too often, pet parents give up on their seniors because they face so many challenges and aren’t getting meaningful help from their veterinarians. But with real food diets, hemp, functional mushrooms, and adaptogens, I’ve seen countless dogs thrive again—living longer, healthier, and happier lives.
But then some of my oldest rescues began reaching 16 and beyond, and I realized I was missing something…
What I Learned from Miss Daisie
Like many pet parents, I had seen the signs—wandering, staring at walls, disrupted sleep—and I wrote them off as “just old age.” Then came Miss Daisie.
She arrived at my rescue at 14 years old with a large mass pressed against her spine and a limp in her back leg. Most people would have given up on her, but I saw a dog worth saving. With holistic care—fresh food, hemp, fungi, and adaptogens—her body healed, and she blossomed into the vibrant senior she was meant to be.
But in her final months, she showed me something I wasn’t prepared for. Miss Daisie literally forgot how to eat and drink. No amount of physical healing could restore what her brain was losing. Watching her decline broke my heart and taught me the hardest lesson of all: if I was truly going to care for the whole dog, I had to support not just the body, but the mind too.
The Birth of Clarity
After Miss Daisie, I knew I had to find a way to support the aging brain. I turned to nature, research, and traditional wisdom. I carefully chose adaptogens and mushrooms with a long history of supporting cognitive health, grew and harvested them the way nature intended, and prepared them using dual, spagyric extraction.
This became MycoDog Clarity—a formula designed to nourish and protect the aging brain.
Caring for the Whole Senior Dog: Mind, Body & Soul
True senior care means looking at the whole picture. A dog’s body may need extra support for mobility and comfort, their mind may require nourishment to stay sharp and engaged, and their soul thrives on connection, routine, and love. By addressing all three—mind, body, and soul—we can help our senior companions age with dignity, vitality, and joy.
Supporting your Senior Pet’s Aging Body
Senior pets often slow down physically—whether it’s stiffness, shorter walks, or less playtime. But that doesn’t mean their joy has to fade. With the right food, gentle movement, and natural wellness tools like mushrooms and adaptogens, we can help them stay comfortable and mobile.
As pets age, it’s natural to notice changes in their mobility or activity level:
- Slower movement or stiffness
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Shorter walks or less play
Greater sensitivity to exercise or weather
These shifts don’t mean the end of joy or activity. Senior dogs and cats thrive with:
- Gentle movement: short walks, stretching, and low-impact play
- Balanced nutrition: whole foods with supportive nutrients
- Natural support: plant- and mushroom-based formulas to complement mobility, joint support, immune balance and overall vitality
Supporting your Senior Pet’s Aging Mind
Just like humans, senior pets can experience changes in memory, recognition, focus, and sleep patterns. These aren’t “just old age”—they’re signals that the brain may need extra care and nourishment. Supporting cognitive health can help your pet stay engaged, rested, and connected with you as they grow older.
That’s why I created MycoDog Clarity for Senior Dogs. This formula is crafted with adaptogens and functional mushrooms chosen for their unique roles in brain and nervous system wellness:
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom — researched for its ability to stimulate nerve growth factor, helping maintain healthy neuron communication and cognitive sharpness.
- Reishi Mushroom — traditionally valued for its calming qualities, it helps ease stress and supports a balanced nervous system.
- Ashwagandha — an adaptogen known for its ability to balance neurotransmitters, ease oxidative stress, and help maintain resilience under change.
- Bacopa Monnieri — long used in traditional medicine for memory and learning support, Bacopa can help sustain attention and focus.
- Cordyceps — supports mitochondrial energy and oxygen utilization, helping fuel both the body and the brain.
Together, these plants and fungi work synergistically to help:
- Support memory and recognition
- Promote calm and restful sleep
- Sustain brain energy and resilience for everyday engagement
I’ve seen these effects firsthand. My own soul dog, Odie, found restful sleep again with Clarity, and many of my senior rescues regained spark, focus, and joy in their daily lives. For countless pet parents, it feels like “getting their dog back”—a chance to preserve not just longevity, but quality of connection.
Supporting your Senior Pet’s Soul
Senior pets often become more emotionally sensitive as they age. They may crave reassurance, routine, or simply your presence. But when mobility slows or cognitive changes set in, it can affect more than just their body—it can impact the ways they feel connected to you and your family.
If your dog can no longer join on long walks, or your cat spends more time sleeping, they may miss out on the daily rituals that once bonded you together. Struggling to sleep at night, hesitating to climb stairs, or feeling left behind when the family goes out can all contribute to feelings of disconnection.
Supporting the soul means finding ways to keep them included and engaged, even as their needs change. That might look like:
- Quiet companionship and gentle touch — sitting together on the couch, brushing their coat, or offering calm presence.
- Creating calming, stress-free environments — minimizing loud noises, sudden changes, or overstimulation.
- Adapting activities to their abilities — replacing long hikes with leisurely sniff walks, rolling car rides, puzzle feeders, or sunbathing in the yard.
- Prioritizing connection — choosing togetherness over isolation, making sure your pet still feels like part of the family rhythm.
Love, patience, and inclusion go a long way in creating dignity and comfort during the senior years—reminding your pet that even if their body or mind slows down, their place in your heart never will.
Supporting Senior Pets at Home
Caring for senior pets goes beyond supplements and nutrition—it’s also about making small, thoughtful adjustments at home. These can help your dog or cat stay comfortable, included, and connected as they age.
- Create accessible spaces: Add ramps or non-slip rugs to make it easier for your pet to move around safely.
- Adapt activity levels: Short, frequent walks or play sessions are often more enjoyable than long outings.
- Prioritize rest: A soft, supportive bed in a quiet space helps older pets recharge.
- Stay engaged: Puzzle toys, sniff walks, or gentle training games stimulate the mind and keep them mentally sharp.
- Consistency is key: Predictable routines reduce stress and give senior pets a sense of security.
These small changes can make a big difference in your senior pet’s day-to-day comfort and overall happiness.
A New Era of Senior Pet Care
Miss Daisie taught me that senior care isn’t just about adding years—it’s about adding quality to those years. It’s about connection, dignity, and joy. It’s about lifespan and healthspan.
This is the senior dog (and cat) revolution: a commitment to caring for our companions as whole beings, honoring their mind, body, and soul every step of the way.
Are you caring for a senior dog and want to be part of the change in how we support aging pets? Learn more about the Senior Dog Study — a first-of-its-kind clinical trial measuring how functional mushrooms and adaptogens may support brain health, behavior, and quality of life in aging dogs.
About Angela Ardolino
Angela Ardolino, a certified fungi clinician, brings over 20 years of expertise to the field of holistic pet wellness. She is a passionate advocate for safe, natural, and ethically-grown whole plant and fungi medicine tailored for pets.
Angela is the founder and formulator behind Hemp Dog Health and MycoDog, two pioneering brands that prioritize pet health through carefully crafted Full Spectrum Hemp for dogs, cats, and horses, as well as wild-harvested, dual-extracted mushrooms and adaptogens.
Committed to the highest standards, Angela continues to educate and inspire pet parents through her popular podcast, Your Natural Dog, where she hosts experts to discuss holistic pet care, natural remedies, nutrition, and training. Follow Angela Ardolino on her website, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to stay updated on her mission to educate and empower pet parents everywhere.
