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Senior Pet Care
As our canine and feline companions get older, their care changes. There are many similarities between human and pet aging, but limitations in our communication with animals present challenges. Making adjustments in how we care for our aging pets at home and the veterinary clinic is essential to keeping them as comfortable and happy for as long as possible. Any changes you notice should be reported to your veterinarian to determine the appropriate next steps.
Changes in Vision and Hearing
You would expect your dog or cat to bump into furniture and walls if they can’t see well. However, most older animals lose their vision very gradually, so they learn a mental map of their surroundings and can get around quite well in a place they know well like home. It’s not uncommon for a dog or cat to be blind at home and an owner not know until a veterinary visit. Certain conditions cause difficulty seeing in the dark. Acute blindness does result in bumping into things since there has not been an opportunity to learn the mental map.
The presence of vision is tested with a menace response, which is when a dog or cat blinks when a hand is brought toward the eye. Impaired or absent vision will mean that a pet does not blink when it is supposed to. Checking visual acuity is difficult since a dog or cat can’t read an eye chart, so it can be difficult to assess for subtle changes in vision.
Hearing impairment also generally happens gradually. You may notice your dog sleeps rather than gets up to greet you when you come home or your cat doesn’t run to the kitchen when you open a can of food. Unfortunately there is no simple test for hearing aside from clapping your hands and watching for a response. There are no dog or cat hearing aids, so once your pet goes deaf, there is not much to be done.
Changes in Mobility
Arthritis is common in our pets as they get older. You may notice difficulty getting on and off furniture, jumping in and out of the car, going up and down stairs, or even posturing to urinate and defecate. Some pets will limp on a particularly bothersome leg or have a hard time getting up after rest. Interpreting signs of pain in dogs and cats can be tricky because they won’t yelp in pain or wince, but arthritis is a painful, inflammatory condition. Fortunately, there are many treatment modalities including medication, acupuncture, and physical therapy to help.
Metabolic Changes
As the internal organs age and change, there are some signs we can watch for. Changes in frequency in vomiting or diarrhea, increases in the amount of water consumed and urine produced, or new coughing or breathing patterns are all helpful clues. Unintentional weight loss is another big indicator of an underlying condition. Chronic kidney disease, liver changes, thyroid conditions, and diabetes are all common diseases in older pets. However, some internal changes don’t result in any changes we can see, so blood work is very helpful in taking a peek on the inside.
Testing in Older Pets
A full physical exam twice yearly is recommended for senior pets. Based on those findings further testing may be recommended. In general, annual blood work including a complete blood count to check red and white blood cell counts, a chemistry profile to assess liver and kidney function, blood sugar, electrolytes, a thyroid check, and a urinalysis are helpful to have as a baseline and check for abnormalities. More testing may be recommended depending on how your pet is doing and initial results from laboratory testing.
Teaming up with your Veterinarian
In general, keeping the lines of communication open with your veterinarian is key in management of senior pet issues. Often senior pets are on multiple medications and require more frequent visits than a younger, healthier animal. Staying on top of any issues and addressing them as promptly as possible will lead to better outcomes for you and your pet.
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