What your aging pet wants you to know

Our 13-year-old dog, Holly, is slowing down. Her body is showing the signs of age; she now sleeps significantly more and can no longer do activities like running and jumping.

My husband Steve and I had planned a hiking trip to one of Holly’s favorite places. But, as the trip got closer, I could feel her reluctance. When I checked in with her, Holly communicated that the trip would be too physically demanding. Her reaction was one of calm acceptance, not disappointment. She was looking forward to a quieter adventure: staying with a family friend and their dog while we were away.

Our pets carry much wisdom and teach us about living in the moment and surrender.

Holly has been sharing messages about her aging process, and not surprisingly, her perspective is similar to what I hear from so many aging pets I have communicated with. You can listen to the messages I have received from Holly about aging on YouTube here