| Taking care of your senior pet |
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By Hillary Frank, D.V.M., Dipl. ABVP (Avian) As we age, our bodies are more susceptible to a wide range of illness. An 18 year old is less likely to have health problems than a 50 year old. The same is true for pets. By 7-8 years of age, pets are at a point in their lives that is equivalent to a 50-year-old person. This means that regular check-ups for senior pets are critical! In some studies, up to 20 percent of laboratory tests done with routine check-ups and vaccinations revealed medical conditions that otherwise would have gone undetected, such as diabetes, kidney or thyroid disease. This percentage rises as an animal ages. Blood work and urinalysis enable us to find, manage, and prevent life-threatening age-related illness. Additionally, physical examinations help us to evaluate and suggest treatment options for many problems that pet owners attribute to “old age,” such as arthritis and senility. Regular veterinary care will ensure that your pet has the best quality of life for years to come. In most cases, the larger the dog, the faster it ages. Great Danes usually live for only 6-8 years, while Toy Poodles can still be in their prime age at 7, living up to 15 years. Despite size and breed differences, you can expect most cats and dogs to enter their golden years around age 7. Because pets age quickly, they can develop problems seemingly overnight, making it crucial to catch symptoms early. Pets exhibit many of the same physical signs of aging as people do, including grey hair, dry skin, cataracts or stiffness. You may also see changes in behavior that could be related to senility or reduced eyesight or hearing. Veterinary treatment can manage many of these problems, as well as any internal aging-related problems that you can’t see. Weight changes are among the largest contributing factors to diseases that affect aging dogs and cats. A gain or loss of five pounds may be acceptable for people, but it can indicate a serious illness in older pets. Monitor your pet’s weight by getting in the habit of weighing him or her on the first day of each month, either on your home bathroom scale or at the animal hospital. As with humans, weight changes in pets are often highly manageable with proper diet and exercise. Your veterinarian can help you find a maintenance or therapeutic diet for your pet that can help control weight or certain medical conditions. You can help control weight in older dogs by enrolling them in an obedience class or taking them on daily walks. Cats too will benefit from improved diet, added attention and playtime. Hillary Frank, D.V.M., Dipl. ABVP (Avian) is the owner of North Central Animal Hospital, P.C., 20 W. Dunlap Ave. She can be reached at 602-395-9773. The information in “Pet Primer” is provided as general information only. For specific advice on your pet’s health, consult your veterinarian.
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