Oh, the Guilt! Caring for Very Senior Dogs
We love the animals who share our lives so much that it can be very painful to watch them go through the degenerative processes of aging. They used to run, jump, and play, and easily jump up to cuddle on the bed. Now, they may be doing none of those things. We wonder if they are in pain or suffering, if they need pain medications or other therapies. And, of course, we wonder if we are doing the right things, or enough things, to improve the quality of their daily lives. The amount of time, energy, and focus required to care for a dog that no longer has normal mobility can be draining and demoralizing at times. They may be unable to maintain their potty-training habits.
These changes, which may be sudden or gradual, can produce compassion fatigue, and people who have not experienced this level of care for an animal may not understand what we are going through. Mobility is directly related to the quality of life, and in many cases, we humans can help, everything from specific exercises to simple household adaptations. Kate Titus is the founder and director of A Loyal Companion, which offers hydrotherapy, wheelchair fitting for paralyzed dogs, and helps their owners make simple changes to accommodate aging dogs' mobility issues. She is the author of From Emotion to Motion.
Listen to Episode #77 Now:
BIO:
A Loyal Companion began with one dog. And one impossible question: “What now?”
Kate Titus followed every recommendation from her veterinary team—rest, restricted activity, medications. But she knew there had to be more. Her dog needed support not just for his body, but for his mind and spirit. And as she met more senior and mobility-challenged dogs, it became clear: waiting wasn't enough. These dogs needed compassionate, thoughtful ways to move again—safely, comfortably, and with dignity.
So she started walking beside them.
In 2008, Kate began offering massage and strength-building sessions for senior dogs. In 2015, she opened Arizona’s first canine fitness and mobility facility, complete with an indoor pool and full gym. Over time, she built a practice around what she knew firsthand: that the bond between human and dog only grows deeper in the face of struggle—and that practical support is one of the deepest forms of love.
She developed movement-based plans for post-surgical dogs. Designed home routines for those navigating arthritis or paralysis. Fit carts and braces for families who’d run out of options. And she listened—really listened—to what caregivers were afraid to ask out loud.
That story is still being written every day. But it always starts in the same place. Not “What’s wrong?” But “Where are you struggling right now—and how can we help?”
Transcript: