Has your pet reached the “Golden Years”?

A touch of gray on the chin or around the muzzle. Once-clear eyes becoming a little cloudy. A slight stiffness in what used to be a frisky gait. Any of these can be telltale signs that your furry best friend is entering the “golden years.”

While some signs of aging are easy to identify, other are more subtle. Most age-related changes in how your pet looks, acts and feels tend to be gradual. It takes a watchful eye to recognize what may be early signs of disease or health problems.

 

Signs of age-related disease in senior pets:

	Behavioral Changes
	Decreased activity
	Less interaction with family members
	Less enthusiastic greeting behavior
	Sleeping more, or sleeping during the day and being awake at night
	Disorientation or confusion (“lost” in house or yard)
	Less responsive to verbal cues or name

 

Metabolic Changes:

	Excessive weight gain or loss
	Changes in appearance (hair coat, skin, muscle tone)
	Changes in eating and drinking habits
	Increased urination
	Loss of housetraining

 

Physical Changes:

	Limping, stiffness of gait
	Vision and hearing loss
	Dental problems (bad breath)
	Increased infections
	Digestive problems

 

Remember: Changes in your pet’s behavior or appearance can be a sign that something is medically wrong, so don’t assume your pet is suffering from “old age” and can’t be helped. Keep a close eye on your senior and talk with us about any type of change, whether it occurs suddenly or gradually.

 

An ounce of prevention…

While we cannot stop our furry companion from growing old, there is plenty that we can do to ease them into old age and make their senior years happy and healthy ones. You can never start preventative measure too soon. The following are some of the measure you should take with you senior pet.

a.     Veterinary Examinations: A physical exam includes checking your pet’s general appearance, temperature, body weight, heart, lungs, ears, eyes, teeth, thyroid glands, and skin. These exams should be done annually if not twice yearly. Laboratory tests are also important for early disease detection in our aging pets.

b.    Vaccinations: Ensuring that your pet is kept up-to-date with vaccinations is important as the immune system becomes less effective are our pets age.

c. Neutering/Spaying: The chance of acquiring many health problems are eliminated or significantly reduced in pets that have had this operation.

 

Screening procedure for senior pets:

Just as certain health screenings become necessary for people as they age, we may wish to run specific tests to ensure that your pet is healthy and to detect problems early. It is important to establish a baseline of normal values for your pet in order to readily identify changes.

a.      Complete blood count. This helps in the diagnosis of cancer, infection, anemia, and bleeding problems, and it provides insight into the status of your pet’s immune system.

b.     Serum Chemistry Profile. These tests are used to asses the function of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and other organs.

c.      Complete urinalysis. A urine sample can be checked for evidence of infection and to assess kidney function.

d.     Fecal analysis. A fecal sample can be checked for evidence of parasites, unusual bacteria and protoza, and red and white blood cells.

e.    Other tests. Additional testing will be recommended as needed. These  may include radiography, echocardiography, abdominal ultrasonography, thyroid and adrenal gland testing, blood pressure measurement, as well as liver, pancreas and small intestine function tests.

 

Keeping your senior pet trim and fit:

We’re accustomed to the phrase “you are what you eat”. The health and well-being of our senior pet is also reflected in their diets and their nutritional needs change as they age.

While obesity is a common health problem for all pets, older ones are more likely to be overweight due to decreased activity and reduced daily energy needs. Obesity increases the risk of serious diseases and health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal disorders.

Although some medical conditions (especially metabolic diseases) can cause obesity, overfeeding is generally the culprit. As a senior pet’s metabolism slows, caloric needs decline, If you do no adjust the food intake of you older pet, weight gain is likely to result.

Selecting a food for your senior pet has been made easier thanks toe recent advancements in senior nutrition. Foods are now available that have been formulated with fewer calories, more protein, antioxidants and vitamins to meet the specific nutritional needs of our senior pets.

 

Don’t Forget Exercise!

A simple walk in the park may be just what your senior dog needs to help control weight and stay in shape. Spending a few minutes a day playing with your older cat will help keep her in shape as well as bring back a glimpse of the kitten you remember. Exercise increases energy use and promotes more efficient calorie burning, as well as toning muscles. Don’t forget, your pet’s exercise program can reap health benefits for you too!