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Help Your Senior Pet Stay Healthy

What can you do to keep your friend healthy and comfortable? Consider these common questions about aging pets, then schedule a comprehensive physical exam with your veterinarian.

What changes can I expect in my older pet?

Breed, size, activity, and level of care determine how quickly your pet will age, but most dogs reach their senior years around 7 or 8. Large dogs age more rapidly than small breeds, but veterinarians consider all dogs more than 10 years old to be geriatric. Cats become geriatric at 12.

Pets age as humans do. Their hair turns gray, they lose muscle tone, their senses dull, they're prone to joint problems and arthritis. They experience digestive upset more often, their bathroom habits may change, and some lose bladder control. Pets, like people, can develop kidney and liver disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and cancer.

Some pets grow crotchety, other clingy. Aging pets typically play less, react more slowly, and nap often. They're less tolerant of temperature fluctuations, changes in routine, and active children. Some act depressed, and a few suffer from cognitive dysfunction syndrome, a condition that is similar to Alzheimer's disease.

Many of these changes are gradual and tough to spot, but a veterinarian can point out age-related behaviors you may overlook -- which is why regular medical exams are important.

How can I help my pet?

Some pet owners accept age-related conditions as a normal part of growing old, but many of these problems aren't normal and are treatable. To keep your older pet in tip-top shape, work with your veterinarian to offer:

	Routine dental cleaning. Older pets often develop chronic bad breath from bacterial plaque accumulation on their teeth. A professional dental cleaning helps your pet stay healthy. Why? Dental disease has been linked to heart, kidney, and liver disease.
	A specially formulated diet. Dogs older than 7 years and cats older than 8 years need nutritional evaluations. As pets age, their metabolisms slows, they're usually less active, and the pounds can pile on. Older pets are more likely to experience organ dysfunction. Your veterinarian can recommend easily digested foods that contain less fat and sodium and offer a balance of fiber and protein. Also, diet changes may improve skin condition and help control allergies, and supplements can ease joint stress.
	Top-notch medical care. Advances in veterinary research provide ever-growing treatment options so that aging doesn't have to be debilitating. Surgery can correct hyperthyroidism and cataracts. Twice-a-year physicals and annual blood and urine tests help detect common health conditions by measuring sugar, protein, cholesterol, and hormone levels.

Your watchful eye and commitment to routine medical care will help ease your pets into their golden years. Make an appointment today with your veterinarian. Then enjoy life with a healthy pet by your side.

Disclaimer: The information provided is not to be used in place of qualified medical advice. Please contact your veterinarian with any questions or concerns regarding your pet's health and well-being. Information provided by Second Chance Pet Adoptions is done so in good faith and therefore does not accept responsibility for your actions based on the content of the information provided.