Larry Holmes noticed a change in his nine-year-old shepherd mix, Kippy. She slept a good part of the day and seemed to lack enthusiasm. She’d just received a clean bill of health from the vet, so Larry wondered if Kippy was bored. He and his wife decided to bring home a new puppy.

Kippy showed initial interest in the puppy, whom they affectionately nicknamed Little Guy. But as Little Guy got more playful, Kippy became less tolerant, often snapping at the pup. Soon Kippy retreated to an upstairs bedroom for most of the day, and Little Guy was kept downstairs with child gates.

“Instead of being more active, Kippy became more lethargic,” says Larry. “He’d just stay upstairs and sleep.” As the puppy matured and was trained, things finally turned around, but it was a full year before the two came to enjoy each other’s company.

When a resident animal approaches his golden years, many families consider taking in a younger companion. Some hope a new playmate will keep their older animal young and active. Others hope it will help ease the family’s grief when the older dog or cat passes.

Yet deciding to bring home a second animal should always be done carefully, especially when you already have a senior companion.

Assess his health

“The biggest determining factor should be the condition of your resident pet,” advises Nancy Peterson of the Washington Humane Society. “Can you imagine being an older, arthritic dog or cat and having a young puppy or kitten jumping around you?”

Hint: Begin with a trip to the vet, particularly if your
resident animal has been acting lethargic. You need to
make certain there isn’t something else going on.

Talk to your vet about your plan to adopt a younger animal. Confront any “old age” conditions that your older companion has grown accustomed to, and how these may hinder any new relationships. For example, a hearing impaired animal may become startled if a younger animal approaches from behind.


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Published in the June/July 2008 issue of Animal Wellness