Pets are living longer due to innovations in veterinary care, diagnostics, and earlier intervention. Even so the key to making the most of our “geriatric” pets lies not only in extending their life span, but in helping them enjoy their later years to the fullest.
Just like people, dogs and cats can be prone to debilitating disorders as they age. Kidney failure, heart disease, joint disease, dental problems, cancer malignancy, and cognitive dysfunction can take place through the typical aging process. Up to now, considering that a lot of health conditions were not identified until the pet was in the advanced stages, veterinarians could do little more than help to make a pet’s golden years a tad bit more comfortable by caring for the symptoms of age-related health problems. If the pet was fortunate, the issues could advance slowly. Most pet owners just simply accepted the truth that their four-legged pals were simply able to survive a comparatively brief life, get old, and pass on.
Yet thanks to technical advancements in cutting-edge veterinary medicine , surgery, diagnostics and nutrition, not only do pets survive longer but their quality of life has increased substantially as well.
One case in point follows human medicine in the development and use of the new generation of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. These types of medications assist the aches and pains of many geriatric pets while attempting to keep unwanted side effects to a minimum.Chondroitin and glucosamine supplements also seem to help older dogs with their arthritis. Advanced veterinary technology includes MRI’s, cat scans, radiation treatments, chemotherapy, advanced surgery with laser scalpels, laparoscopy, hip replacements, orthodontics, root canals, crowns, and much more. Physical therapy, water treadmills and even acupuncture can help pets recover from surgeries and gain their mobility quicker. More and more veterinarians are pursuing specialty practices to address the needs of those pets whose owners want the best treatment available.
Many age associated concerns will still be viewed as inevitable, but the thinking of both veterinarians and pet owners have altered. The belief today is the fact that “age is not a disease”, and veterinary medicine is putting increased emphasis on senior pet health through preventative health plans.
The sooner we can detect a problem, the more likely we can manage or even correct the problem. Lumps and bumps if surgically removed when they are small may prevent the tumors from spreading throughout the body. Advances in oncology now makes chemotherapy and radiation therapy almost a normal course of treatment for pets that do have cancer. By addressing dental disease early on, you can extend your pet’s life span by nearly 3 years. Diabetes can be managed with insulin and special diets and heart disease also has newer medications available to help the heart pump better.Cats with renal failure can benefit by many of the newer drugs released and fluid therapy to help them reduce the build up toxins that their kidneys can no longer flush out. There are even drugs that can help with cognitive dysfunction in dogs. These dogs seem to get “lost” or whine for no reason. There are specialists that can even remove cataracts so your pet won’t go blind.
Eighty three year old Sam Edwards grew up on a farm and has had pets almost all his life. He has taken advantage of breakthroughs in veterinary medicine to extend the lives of his pets. “As I’ve gotten older, I’m glad that some of the same medical advancements that have helped me age well are good for my pets, too.”
Edwards shares his home with “Niki”, a 15 year old cat, and a 16 year old terrier mix named “Bones”. “If you had told me twenty years ago that I would be brushing my dogs’ teeth, I’d thought you were crazy. But I brush Bones’ teeth every night while we watch the news. It’s something we both enjoy and my vet says it’s one of the most important things I can do to keep the old guy healthy.”
At what age is a pet regarded a senior? Generally, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than bigger breeds, and cats live longer than dogs. Life spans vary with individuals, and pets, like people, age at various rates, some more gracefully than others. Some smaller breeds of dogs, like Bones, are considered geriatric at fifteen. Large and giant breeds like Labrador retrievers and Great Danes are viewed as seniors as soon as seven years old. Cats, especially when they are kept inside your home, commonly live to their early twenties and don’t reach their golden years until their teens.
The single most crucial step a pet owner can take to keep their pet happy and healthy as long as possible would be to set routine veterinary exams. As pets age, these exams tend to be more critical than ever, because as with people, early diagnosis is essential for disease and problem intervention. Young pets would need routine exams once or twice each year. However as dogs and cats approach middle age, these exams ought to be much more frequent simply because each year in a pet’s life is equal to 5-7 human years.
“Keeping Niki and Bones healthy helps me stay young, too”, says Edwards. “All of us have arthritis so exercise is important to stay in shape and keep from getting stiff. Years ago, when my pets got arthritis, I just accepted it as old age and let them lay around. Now, we go for walks, and there are safer medications for arthritis pain. They even get glucosamine and antioxidants in their senior pet foods!”
Veterinarians often recommend routine lab work, electrocardiograms, blood pressure monitoring, and x-rays to locate early complications like thyroid, kidney, heart, and liver disease. With early detection, pets with body organ function conditions can be treated with prescription medication as well as specific doctor prescribed quality diets that not only prolong their life span but the quality of their lives. In some instances, health complications is also arrested.
Dr. Leslie Maclean a Tulsa, Oklahoma veterinarian followed the advice she gives her clients and found a hormone problem in one of her own Scottish terriers. “I discovered a rare adrenal gland problem on Brin’s first senior wellness exam. He was acting perfectly normal but his lab work picked up a problem. Early detection meant early treatment and easy management of his disease.”
In general, some early warning signs that your pet may be developing a problem are:
* increased thirst and urination
* losing bladder control or having accidents in the house
* continued throwing up
* halitosis, drooling or difficulty eating
* excessive panting or tires more easily
* lumps, bumps, nodules or changes in areas of skin color, bumps that bleed or are ulcerated
* change in appetite - eating more or less than usual
* changes in behavior including “spacing out” or excessive whimpering
* abnormal bowel habits - diarrhea or constipation
* variations in body weight - increasing or shedding weight
Observe your pet carefully and report any odd behavioral or physical problems to your veterinarian promptly. Seek advise from your veterinarian and develop a specific senior health and wellness routine for your pet’s distinctive requirements making sure that your amazing furry friend can enjoy aging gracefully.
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