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Senior Wellness in Your Pet
It is a fact of life that our pets are going to grow old. But if we provide the proper support and care, it can be an easy transition.Regular wellness examinations, proper nuitrion, exercise and
medication helps control the ailments of aging. It will allow our pets to flourish into their golden
years.
With a stronger focus on pet owner education, our pets are living longer than before. As our
pets age, they will experience gradual changes that are similar to those of aging people.
Grey hair, bodies not as flexible, reflexes not as sharp, hearing, eyesight and sense of
smell may detoriate. Actually, one of the first signs of aging is a general decrease in
activity and a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly.
Visit Your Veterinarian
Because our pets age at least five to seven times faster than we do, senior pets
need to have regular exams. The American Animal Hospital Association(AAHA)
and the American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA) recommend that
senior pets visit their vet every six months for a complete physical examination
and laboratory testing. As a part of their survival instinct, pets hide signs of disease,
so regular visits to the vet are an important part of preventing a health catastrophe.
It is important to know what is "normal" for your pet. During each of your visits
to your vet, they should run a complete check up from head to toe of your pet.
This should include a physical examination, blood screening, an urinalysis and
a fecal exam. Another important test, especially for older dogs, is a thyroid
blood test. Dogs with thyroid tend to be overweight, lack energy and have a
poor quality haircoat. Cats with thyroid disease tend to have weight loss, diarrhea,
unkempt coats but they usually have a good appetite. If caught early, thyroid
can be controlled and your pets can have a longer life.
Also, if your pet is on a regular routine or medication, regular blood testing
is very important. Regular testing will help to make sure the dosage remains
appropriate and that the medication is not causing any problems.
Eating Right
As our pets age, their nutritional needs change also. The senses of taste
and smell can alter and may affect their appetite. Changes in exercise and
any other activity can affect the body's nutritional requiremenst also. One of
the top concerns for older pets is obesity. This can make heart disease and
arthritis worsen.
Switching to a senior food can help promote a longer life by providing
enhanced levels of nutrients, such as vitamins, antioxidants and fatty
acids that are important to skin and mental health. Senior diets are also
usually lower in fat and provide better quality protein. Senior pets that are healthy
need a diet that has reduced calories, increased fibers and vitamins.
Your veterinarian may recommend a special diet if your pet's health requires it.
Feeding your senior pet at specific times during the day is important.
You can better monitor your pet's food intake. Make sure to measure the amount
of food so you know if your pet's appetite is decreasing or increasing.
Exercise
Routine exercise helps maintain our pets proper weight and muscle tone.
This in turn helps strengthen joints and lessen the impact of arthritis. As
our pets age, more frequent, shorter periods of exercise will be less
stressful on aging joints. Sessions should include a slow warm up walk
of 5 minutes, gradually increasing in pace. exericise of 20 to 30 minutes and a
cool-down of 5 minutes. Exercise is essential to your senior pet. Each's pet's
exericise requirements differ, so be sure to ask your veterinarian for an individualized
exercise program.
Keeping Pain Away
Recognizing and relieving any pain or discomfort caused by aging is very important.
The aging process brings many changes that can affect a pet's ablity to take part
in normal daily activities. Pain not only hurts, but it can cause other problems.
Signs of pain are reluctance to jump, panting, loss of appetite, reduce activity and
behavioral changes. These can range from depression to aggression. In cats,
elimination problems can occur as senior cats can have problems gettin into
the litterbox. Minimizing discomfort in our senior pets can increase the
length of their lives. Consult with your vet on how to keep your pet pain free and
which medications are best for your pet.
What to Watch For
Senior pets need wellness exams at least every six months. Call your vet right away if you
notice any of the following:
- Blood in the stool or urine
- Constipation or trouble passing urine
- Excessive panting
- Excessive weight loss or weigh gain
- Foul mouth odor or drooling
- Hair Loss
- Inability to chew dry food
- Increasing inactivity or amount of time spent sleeping
- Lameness that last more than three days or lameness in more than one leg
- New lumps, sore, or multiple scabs on the skin
- Noticeable decrease in vision, especially if sudden in onset
- Persistent coughing or gagging
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
Significant incerase or decrease in appetite
- Sudden loss of housetraining
- Sustained increase in urination frequency or amount(wetter litterbox)
- Sustained increase in water consumption
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