Senior Dog Basics: buying list

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Everything mentioned on our starter-kit page and in the Senior Dog Basics guide, grouped by topic. Under each item we say what to look for, so you can judge any product, not only the ones we link. The links open Amazon search results, so you see current options, prices and reviews on Amazon itself. Ask your vet before changing your dog's food, supplements or medication.

Weigh and measure

Two numbers do most of the work for an older dog: what he eats and what he weighs. Scoops are unreliable (in one study, people measuring kibble were off by anything from 48 percent too little to 152 percent too much), so weigh the food.

• Kitchen gram scale. Reads in grams, flat platform, a tare button so you can zero the bowl, and a surface that wipes clean. See options on Amazon

• Scale for weighing your dog. For a small dog, a baby or pet scale with a capacity well above his weight and a readout to 0.1 lb. For a large dog, weigh yourself on a bathroom scale with and without him in your arms and subtract. See options on Amazon

• Notebook for the weekly log. Any notebook you will actually keep next to the food bowl: weight, appetite, water, how he gets up. A notes app works too. See options on Amazon

Teeth

Brushing has the best support in the research we found: in a 125-dog trial, brushing every other day and a daily dental chew each reduced plaque and tartar, while a water additive on its own did not. If his gums are red or sore, see the vet before you start.

• Dog toothbrush. Soft bristles and a head sized for his mouth. A finger brush is fine if he dislikes a handle. See options on Amazon

• Dog toothpaste. Dog-specific only. Human toothpaste foams and can upset his stomach. Pick a flavor he accepts. See options on Amazon

• Dental chews with the VOHC seal. The seal means the maker ran two 28-day trials that cut plaque or tartar by at least the council's threshold. VOHC does not test products itself. Check the VOHC accepted products list, count a chew's calories in the day, and skip hard items such as bones, hooves, antlers and hard nylon. See options on Amazon

Nails and coat

Nails that are not worn down can curl into the pads. A common test is that his nails should not touch the floor when he stands. A grinder or a pair of clippers pays for itself within a few trips to the groomer.

• Nail grinder. Quiet motor, a guard around the head, rechargeable. Let him get used to the sound away from his feet first. See options on Amazon

• Nail clippers. Sized to your dog, sharp, with a guard against cutting too short. See options on Amazon

• Styptic powder. Keep it in the kit in case you clip too close. See options on Amazon

• Soft brush and grooming wipes. Gentle on thin senior skin. See options on Amazon

Medication helpers

Only relevant if your vet prescribes something. Ask before you crush, split or hide a pill in food.

• Pill pockets. Soft, sized to the pill. Check the ingredients against his diet and count the calories. See options on Amazon

• Weekly AM/PM pill organizer. Seven days with morning and evening compartments and lids big enough to open easily. See options on Amazon

• Pill splitter. Only if your vet says the pill may be split. See options on Amazon

Comfort at home

Slippery floors are hard on a stiff dog, and hard floors are hard on elbows. Rugs and a thick bed are the first measures veterinary guidance mentions.

• Non-slip rugs or runners. Rubber backing and secured edges, laid where he walks and where he gets up. See options on Amazon

• Thick foam dog bed. Look for the foam depth in the product details, a low entry and a washable cover. See options on Amazon

Worth knowing

If you buy only three things, make them the kitchen scale, the toothbrush with dog toothpaste and the notebook: together they cover the three habits that matter most at this age, weighing the food, caring for his teeth and writing down what you notice. The rest depends on your dog. A dog that panics at the grinder is better off with the groomer, and a dog with no mobility problems may not need a new bed yet. We link to search results, not to single products, because we would rather you pick from what is in stock than from a product we cannot vouch for.

General information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet before changing your pet's treatment, diet or medication.