Senior Dogs and Cats

Recommendations for Helping your Senior Dog
Most breeds of dogs older than seven years of age are considered senior pets.  Senior dogs are in the stage of life in which the aging process is affecting every organ.  Some organs "wear out" faster than others, so certain observations are especially important to make.  The following is a list of key recommendations that we feel are important for older dogs. 

Keep vaccinations current. 
Your veterinarian will determine the proper vaccine schedule for your senior pet's lifestyle.  Brush your pet frequently to prevent matted hair.  This can contribute to skin infections and may hide skin growths. Clip toe nails as needed to prevent overgrowth.  Long toe nails may cause the dog to stand and walk abnormally and result in pain and exacerbate arthritic changes.  Keep plenty of fresh water available and monitor it's consumption.  Increase in water consumption or urination are often associated with conditions such as diabetes, kidney and liver disease.  Keep other pets from preventing your senior pet access to food and water.  Keep your senior pet indoors most of the time, especially in inclement weather.  Weigh on the same scale and record results at least every two months.  Changes in weight can be and early indicator of disease. 

How often should I take my senior dog to the veterinarian?
You should take your senior dog to the veterinarian at least once a year for an annual check-up.  Have your veterinarian examine your dog if you notice any of the following symptoms:

1. Sustained significant increase in water consumption.  (Abnormal is intake greater than approximately 1 1/2 cups/day for a 10 lb dog).
2. Sustained significant increase in urination
3. Weight Loss
4. Significant decrease in appetite or failure to eat for more than two consecutive days.
5. Significant increase in appetite
6. Repeated vomiting.
7. Diarrhea that lasts over three days
8. Difficulty in passing stool or urine.
9. Sudden loss of housetraining
10. Lameness that lasts more than three days, or lameness in more than one leg.
11. Noticeable decrease in vision, especially if sudden in onset or pupils that do not constrict in bright light.
12. Masses, ulcerations (open sores), or multiple scabs on the skin that persist more than one week.
13. Foul mouth odor or drooling.
14. Decrease in activity or increase in the amount of time spent sleeping.
15. Hair loss, especially if accompanied by scratching or if in specific areas
16. Persistent coughing or gagging.
17. Excessive panting.
18. Sudden collapse or bout of weakness.
19. Inability to chew dry food.
20. A seizure (convulsion or "fit").

 

Caring for your Senior Cat
There are now more pet cats than dogs in North America.  Improved nutrition, prevention of infectious disease and advances in veterinary medical care have resulted in pets living longer healthier lives.  In North America, over the last ten years there has been a 15% increase in cats over ten years of age and the proportion of the feline population aged fifteen years or older has increased from 5% to 14%.  It's a great time to be a cat!

Why should we treat old cats differently from young cats?

1. With advancing age, body functions change. 
As cats age, all of their body systems are affected: 
Reduction in exercise may result in reduced muscle tone, which may further reduce the cat's ability to jump, climb, or exercise.  This may also lead to a stiffening of the joints and arthritis.
When coupled with reduced activity, common in older individuals, this lack of exercise can result in a fall in energy requirements of up to 40%.  If a cat maintains a good appetite, its daily food intake must be reduced to prevent excessive weight gain. 

Inappetance or lack of desire to eat may develop in some senior cats since the senses of smell and taste become dull with age and periodontal disease is common.
Gut function and the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients are reduced in many older animals.
Monitor water intake, as changes in this may indicate an underlying health problem.
2. With advancing age, any medication must be given carefully.
Changes in physiology not only affect food and nutrient absorption, they also affect the way many drugs are metabolized.  Liver and kidney disease occur commonly in older cats.  When coupled with mild dehydration, these can result in reduced drug clearance rates and marked elevations in drug concentrations circulating within the blood. When treating geriatric patients, the dose and dosing intervals of some drugs may need to be altered.

Does my senior cat still need to have regular booster vaccinations?
Although little is known about the feline immune system, it is generally assumed that with age immune function may deteriorate.  This may in turn result in a reduced ability to fight infection or destroy neoplastic (cancer) cells.  Our veterinarians will determine the appropriate vaccination program for your cat based on its physical condition and lifestyle.
What diseases do senior cats commonly get?
The major health risks seen in older cats are:

Hormonal disorders such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus Kidney disease Liver disease Neoplasia or cancer Infections such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) Periodontal disease Heart disease Osteoarthritis

It is important to remember that while young cats usually have only one disorder at a time, this is often not the case in older patients, where diagnosis and treatment may be complicated by the concurrence of multiple interacting disease processes.
While it is true to say the "old age is not a disease", it does merit special attention.  This is important so that if your cat develops disease, we can recognize and treat it as early as possible, thereby maintaining its quality of life for as long as possible.
What can I do to make my senior cat as happy as possible?

Many cats age gracefully and require few changes to their general regiment.  Since older cats do not generally respond well to change, it is important that any changes are introduced slowly.
Elderly cats should have easy access to a warm bed, situated where the cat can sleep safely without fear of disturbance.
It is strongly recommended that you feed your older cat a premium brand senior diet.  They should always have easy access to fresh drinking water.
As cats age, some will experience a reduced ability to control urination and defecation.  To reduce the risk of "accidents" it may be necessary to allow access to multiple litter boxes. 
Senior cats should have regular health checks with their veterinarian every six months.

My veterinarian mentioned a Senior Care Program.  What does that involve?

The aim of any senior care program is to maintain the quality of the patient's life and to slow the progression of age-related disease.  Because most of the chronic diseases we see in senior cats are slow to progress, early recognition is usually only possible through diagnostic tests.  The earlier we can diagnose a disease, the more the likelihood that we can slow or reverse its process and maintain a longer period of high quality of life for your senior cat.  Programs usually include a thorough physical examination, blood and urine screening.  Body weight should be recorded regularly and booster vaccinations should be given as determined by your cat's lifestyle.  We will provide you with additional details about our senior care programs upon request. 

Call us at 952-929-0074 if you have any questions about your senior pet's health, diet, vaccinations or any other questions you may have.  We are here to provide your pet with the best quality if life possible.

 

 

 

 

 

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