Blog post 02/12/2025
Do you know if your pet is in pain?
No one knows your pet quite like you do, but some early warning signs of pain might go unrecognised. Pain can seriously affect your senior pet’s quality of life. Recognising signs of pain is important so you can provide them relief and keep them comfortable in their senior years.
So what are the common tell tale signs your pet may be in pain?
Decreased appetite can indicate a wide variety of problems in pets but it can also be a sign of dental pain. As dental disease progresses and infections fester their mouths can become painful.
Hiding or withdrawing from the family. When you don’t feel well you might curl up in bed and keep to yourself, well animals are just the same. So if they are hiding away they may be painful and trying to move as little as possible.
Soiling in the house can be a sign of pain. It can be a sign of cystitis which causes an urgency to urinate but it can also be a sign of arthritis if they can’t move quickly enough to get out of the house.
Biting or nipping. Your pet may become grumpy and feel the need to defend themselves from possible pain. A normally laid back pet who has suddenly become grumpy is likely to be in pain.
Poor hair coat in cats. Cats normally spend a lit of time grooming. If your cat is starting to get matted this can be a sign of pain as they try to minimize grooming to avoid pain and discomfort.
Limping is a typical sign we see with pain associated with arthritis and probably the most obvious sign we think of when we think of a painful pet.
Restlessness can also be a sign of arthritis. Pain will interfere with your pet’s ability to get comfortable and to settle. Restlessness can also be a sign of cognitive dysfunction (dementia).
Trembling can be caused by a variety of reasons but if your pet is painful and anxious they may go into a fight or flight response which is exhibited by trembling.
Vocalisation is also a sign of pain, it is one of the few ways they can communicate something is wrong.
Hesitation or avoidance in doing something can be a sign of pain. For example, a cat may hesitate when jumping up on the counter or a dog may start to avoid going down stairs.
If your pet is showing any of these signs it would be advised to make a veterinary appointment for a check up as they may require further investigation and started on some form of pain management. Whether that is medication or holistic therapies such as acupuncture or hydrotherapy.
Blog post 20/11/2025
Keeping Pets Safe this Winter
As the snow falls and winter is now here to stay I have created a list of key things to consider when looking after senior pets during the winter season.
Limit their time outdoors. Senior pets and those with short fur or an underlying health condition can struggle to regulate their body temperature so limit walks to short periods so they can still enjoy a wander to exercise their joints as this is important, but are in no risk of getting hypothermia.
Provide some extra warmth, such as a waterproof coat when out on walks, some booties to protect their feet or a warm jumper.
Remember to wash their feet and belly after a walk as the salt on the paths and roads as well as the ice can cause damage to paws.
Provide a warm indoor environment, free from draughts. An orthopaedic bed or raised beds can help with joint pain associated with cold weather.
Increased feeding Some senior pets struggle to maintain their weight and condition as they age so during winter they may need a slight increase in calorie intake to maintain their core temperature, but as they will be exercising less please keep an eye this isn't overdone.
Older cats should be kept inside during extreme cold snaps, and remember cats are also at risk of antifreeze poisoning at this time of year. You can stimulate cats with treat balls or puzzle feeders to keep them occupied.
Rabbits and guinea pigs should really be kept inside during colder spells. If this isn't possible then make sure they are well protected from snow and provide extra bedding for warmth. Line hutches with newspaper and cover the hutch with an old duvet, blanket, or tarpaulin.
Blog post 10/11/2025
How to explain cremation to children
When explaining cremation to children it is best to stick with the truth. Use simple words to discuss the process and let your kids ask questions. Be sure to do it calmly and don’t use scary language.
Keep things simple – consider your child’s age and level of maturity when explaining pet cremation. Explain what caused your pet to die and that animal’s bodies don’t last forever. You can mention that heat will dry the bones, eventually turning them to dust or ashes that you can keep or spread in their favourite spot.
Be careful of using frightening words. Some words like “fire” and “burned” can sound too intense for kids, making them feel frightened. Make it clear that cremation won’t hurt your pet’s body in any way.
Discuss it while doing something productive, for example while drawing pictures together so their sole focus isn’t on the conversation at hand.
Keep it light hearted. Discuss the process of cremation in an upbeat setting when you feel like your child is in the right mood.
Control your emotions and keep calm. While you shouldn’t hide your sadness, overly expressing your grief to them can make the situation even more confusing or unsettling. They misinterpret cremation as only being about pain and suffering.
Some of the most common questions children ask about cremation.
What is left when my pet is cremated?
After cremation only bone fragments and ashes from the pet are left. Cremation heats an animal’s body to a high temperature so nothing will be recognisable afterwards.
What does it look like when a pet is cremated?
No body will be left, it will be a combination of bones and ashes. The ashes won’t be the same colour as your pet’s fur.
Will my pet feel pain during a cremation?
Your pet stops feeling pain when they die. Their bodies don’t work anymore so they can’t feel heat or water.
What happens to my pet after cremation?
After cremation your pets ashes will be put in an urn/casket/pouch. You can then keep your pet in a safe place at home or you can spread them somewhere special like their favourite place to go.
For more information and additional help and support for children dealing with pet loss please visit the blue cross website
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss-support-children-missing-my-friend
Blog post 28/10/2025
How to prepare kids for the death of a pet.
A question I often get asked is what do I say to my children. It is already a highly emotional time and understandably parent's struggle with how to approach the conversation with their children.
My advice is to be honest and be specific.
Use simple and concrete terms like "dying" instead of "put to sleep" as they may get worried about bedtimes. Don't use phrases such as "old" as this may make them worry about grandparents.
Prepare them what to expect in the coming days/weeks/months to the best of your ability.
What I said to my own daughter is "Poppy is really sick and there is no medicine that can make her better, this means she is going to die soon, so she won't come back. It is ok to be sad as it is a really sad thing when someone we love dies.
Give them the opportunity to become involved in end-of-life planning.
Let them help in creating a bucket list, preparing a special home made meal for their pet, and creating keepsake memories like clay paw prints and collages.
Allow them the choice of being present for the euthanasia if they would like.
Just like us they may want the opportunity to be with their friend as they pass, it may also allow them to better understand what is going on.
At Tails of Love I have a craft case so they can prepare a special drawing to go with their pet afterwards whilst the euthanasia is taking place, I also have some work sheets to help them process their emotions after their pet has passed.
Most importantly, be there for comfort, support and validation.
Additionally there are a lot of pet loss books available which talk about grief and emotions. Such as "goodbye Mog" "the invisible leash" and "the rainbow bridge".
Blog post 25/08/2025
Cognitive Dysfunction in Senior Dogs
Cognitive Dysfunction is a common disease in senior dogs that is similar to human dementia.
Although common in dogs the signs of CCD are often put down to dogs "just being old". This condition is often underdiagnosed as the behavioural changes progress slowly.
CCD is caused by gradual and degenerative change age related changes in the brain.
CCD may start as a singular change but usually progresses over time and several symptoms may show.
Changes include:
Disorientation — Getting lost in familiar places, stuck in corners, staring into space.
Interaction changes — Suddenly clingy or avoidant, not recognizing familiar people.
Sleep pattern changes — Wandering the house at night, sleeping more during the day.
House-soiling — Urinating or defecating indoors when they were previously house-trained.
Activity level changes — Decreased interest in playing or doing other activities, restlessness, pacing.
Anxiety — Increased anxiety, new phobias, irritability, aggression.
Learning changes — No longer responding to previously known commands or struggling to learn new ones.
So what can be done to help dogs with CCD? Similar to humans there is no cure for dogs with CCD but studies are ongoing.
Treatment may include a combination of the following:
Diet — Certain prescription diets (Hill’s B/D, Purina Proplan Neurocare, Royal Canin Veterinary Canine Mature Consult) are rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and other important nutrients that help support the brain.
Enrichment — Interacting with your dog regularly through play, varied or interactive toys, regular exercise and more can help stimulate their brain.
Medications — Your veterinarian may prescribe medications to address specific issues, such as anxiety.
Supplements — Similar to the diets above some supplements can be added to your dogs diet to help support brain function such as Omega's.
CCD is a slowly progressive disease that many elderly dogs experience. Early intervention with diet, enrichment and medications can help slow the progression of CCD and improve their quality of life. If you are concerned your dog may be suffering from CCD please speak to your vet.