12 year old golden retriever and the five things we changed at home that bought her two extra good years according to our vet

Mira is our third golden retriever, she turned 12 in march, we have had her since 9 weeks. Two years ago at her annual our vet sat us down and said she was entering the phase where the things we changed now would determine the next two years and that "good senior care" was about specific modifications to daily life not just more vet visits. We did all five of the things she recommended and i want to write them down for anyone with a golden hitting 9, 10, 11 who wants to know what specifically is worth doing. Goldens age faster than people emotionally prepare for and the difference between starting these things at 9 vs at 11 has been the biggest thing in our experience.

Number one, joint support before symptoms not after. Our vet wanted us on a real omega 3 fish oil and a glucosamine plus chondroitin protocol at age 9, not waiting until Mira started limping. The brand she recommended was Nordic Naturals Pet for the fish oil (real dosing, third party tested) and Cosequin DS for joints. She specifically said the cheap chews you see everywhere are mostly under dosed. We started at 9 and the difference between mira and our previous golden who we did not start until she limped at 11 is dramatic. Cost is about 45 a month total. Worth every dollar.

Number two, rear end strength work twice a week. The single intervention our vet was most insistent on. Senior goldens lose their hind end first and they hide it well. We do three exercises, sit to stand reps (20 reps, 3 sets, with treats), walking up a low ramp ten times each direction, and the cookie around the hip stretch on both sides. Six minutes total, twice a week. Mira gets up off the floor today the way she got up at 8. Our last golden lost rear end strength fast at 10 and could not get up unassisted by 12. This is the change i would beg every senior golden parent to make.

Number three, swim or water work instead of long walks once she hit 10. Walks are still happening but the long hikes we did when she was 7 are not coming back. Water work is no impact and full body. We found a canine hydrotherapy pool 25 minutes from us, she swims once a week, 100 dollars a month. She comes home tired and content the way she used to from a 5 mile hike, with none of the next day stiffness. The first session she did not know what to do, by session three she was the most relaxed we had seen her in a year.

Number four, the floor. Our floors are mostly hardwood and tile and at 10 our vet asked us how slippery they were and gave us a homework assignment to put runners and yoga mats in every room she frequented and at the bottom of every set of stairs. Goldens with rear end weakness slip on hardwood and that single slip can be the difference between a strain and a surgical injury. We bought 7 runners and 4 yoga mats. House looks worse and dog moves better. Easy trade.

Number five, twice yearly senior bloodwork plus a thyroid panel. Our vet caught early kidney values changing at her age 11 wellness and we adjusted food before it became a problem. She also caught low normal thyroid which she said is common in older goldens and explained some of mira energy dips. The full senior panel is about 280 dollars twice a year. Cheap compared to catching kidney disease at the symptom stage.

Mira had her 12 year wellness last month and the vet said she has the bloodwork and the mobility of a 10 year old. She has good days and slower days and i know we are in the back half of her life. but the two extra years of "this is still our dog" feeling are the most valuable thing we have ever bought. Write down these five things and start them earlier than you think you need to