It is clear to see that across the globe, we love our dogs, with 95% of pet owners considering their pets as part of the family. This percentage is even higher at 99% for households without children.
However, as pets grow older, a real concern for most owners is the health of their ageing fur babies, with solutions to allow their animals to stay healthier for longer a priority.
From the age of seven, a dog and cat are generally classified as a senior, with the average life expectancy of a dog being 10 to 13 years old, whilst a cat is slightly higher at 12-14 years old.
But what is the perception of ageing amongst pet owners? And what are they expecting from the products they purchase for their fur babies?
Pet owner’s perception
A recent survey found that 80% of pet owners in the UK are concerned about their pets ageing, with 46% of these owners being very concerned and have an active interest in how their pet is developing into older age. The research also found that owners top 3 perceived signs of ageing is stiffness with 29%, joint pain with 31% and grey hair being the primary sign with 42%. Other perceived signs of ageing were loss of mobility and reduction of hearing and vision. In addition, the top 3 perceived behavioural ageing signs were mainly concerned with activity. For example, 24% of owners believed that shortness of breath was a factor in the sign of ageing, with 32% believing lack of vitality was a key issue. However, the biggest behavioural perception of ageing was an increased amount of tiredness and sleeping.
What are pet owners doing about pet ageing?
As pet owners have spent more time at home in recent times, there has been a clear focus on the health of their pets, with many conducting research into how they can prevent their pets from ageing. A recent study found that 76% of owners found out information on pet ageing from their veterinarian. Whilst 20% went to their pet shops, interestingly, 23% of millennials found information from their local pet shop compared to 17% of adults over the age of 35.
Many pet owners are looking to tackle the issue of pet ageing in several different ways. The research found that 42% of pet owners provide specific pet food for their pets life stages, with 88% of pet owners ready to change their dog’s diet to prevent ageing. In addition, owners tried to prevent pet ageing by regular exercise, playing with their pet, and giving their pet additional supplements and vitamins.
Here at Paws Pet Food, all of our recipes have been formulated to provide pets with benefits to help their health and well being throughout their life. As your pets start to age, your Grain Free Senior recipes are ideal for ageing pets; they include an excellent source of high-quality protein with a minimum of 26% Freshly Prepared meat, which is highly digestible & palatable and has a high essential amino acid availability to assist in tissue growth and repair.
Our recipes also have added Omega 3 to help supply those essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, which support a good skin & coat condition and have links to anti-inflammatory properties and improved cognitive and visual development.
