Senior Pets - A Companion Animal's Golden Years

Our companion animals rocket through infancy in six short months,
struggle though an adolescence that seems like forever but it's
actually only 12 to 18 months, and then reach that plateau known as
adulthood - ages 2 to 8. Different breeds of dogs age at different
rates, with large breeds aging more rapidly than toy breeds. Thus a
Great Dane may reach old age by 8, whereas a toy breed may not be
considered geriatric until 14. Whichever the case, before we know it,
Mojo and Belle have reached their Golden Years.

As with every stage of life, cats and dogs in their golden years
demand some special considerations. For example, not unlike their
human caretakers, geriatric dogs and cats slow down - in some cases
way down. Older animals tend to sleep more soundly and for longer
periods. It is more difficult to roust them out of bed in the
morning, and they may become a bit more snappish if startled out of a
slumber. Osteoarthritis is a common problem in older animals, so a
soft, orthopedic foam bed with a machine-washable pile cover
(essential for cleaning up accidents associated with incontinence)
becomes indispensable for arthritic bones that seek warmth and
comfort.

Physically, older animals may lose muscle tone and appear thinner,
with a sagging abdomen and back, and their muzzle and whiskers may
appear grey. Their muscles may tremble when they walk, and while
exercise remains important, senior pets must be allowed to set their
own pace.

Because of changes in metabolism, an older animal is unable to
regulate his body heat the way he used to. A thinning coat doesn't
help matters either. Older pets feel colder in the winter and hotter
in the summer that they did in their middle years, so winter sweaters
may be advisable even for breeds that never needed them before.
Summer walks may need to be shorter or taken at the coolest time of
the day to avoid overexertion and heat stress.

Four of the five senses diminish with age, leaving only the sense of
touch as acute as it was in more youthful days. Hearing loss is noted
by owners who feel that their companion has tuned them out. Such a
loss may help to explain why older animals seem to sleep more soundly
or react more aggressively to being awakened.

Loss of the sense of smell can be quite dismaying for owners who rely
on their working dogs' noses to perform tasks such as drug detection,
search and rescue or tracking. (Although, I do know a few beagle and
basset hound owners who are excitedly looking forward to the day when
their dogs will be less scent-oriented on their strolls outdoors.)

A diminished sense of smell can be more serious for felines than for
dogs, because cats rely on the aroma of food for their appetite. Some
geriatric cats have been known to waste away as their sense of smell
waned. You can avoid such an outcome by purchasing a more aromatic
food or heating up the regular entree, thus releasing a stronger
odor.

Cloudy lenses, cataracts and eye diseases may dim the sense of sight
in your older pet. Most companion animals compensate extremely well
for loss of vision and can move about familiar surroundings with a
relative sense of ease. Sometimes an owner does not realize that a
pet has gone blind until the furniture is moved and an animal loses
it's way in unfamiliar terrain. A reluctance to leave the house by a
dog that once cherished his walks may have its roots in diminishing
vision. A trip to the veterinarian may be in order.

Like their human counterparts, many older animals gain too much
weight. Obesity is due to reduced activity, overfeeding, and a lower
metabolic rate. The additional weight stresses the heart and can
contribute to the development of and worsening of health problems
such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, etc, resulting in an
animal that is even less likely to exercise.

How do you help a fat cat or plump pooch? First, schedule a visit to
your veterinarian, and if all is well, start a program of diet and
exercise. Foods that can be found at both grocery stores and
specialty shops are formulated with the senior companion in mind.
Your veterinarian may advise prescription diets for cats and dogs
with heart, liver and kidney problems. Moderate activity can keep
muscles toned, blood circulating, and, perhaps most important of all,
the digestive system moving. In other words, remaining active can
help prevent constipation - a very serious problem, particularly in
older cats.

Mojo and Belle's senior years are a time that demands owner
alertness. Weigh your companion every three months. Bring weight
swings in either direction to your veterinarian's attention, for they
could indicate a serious medical problem such as diabetes. Sustained
weight loss can be an early indicator of a serious problem, such as
kidney disease or thyroid problems in cats. More frequent grooming
sessions may become necessary as your pet pays less attention to his
or her hair coat, and this also allows you to keep in touch with any
physical changes. Keep your eyes and nose open for tumors, lesions,
lumps, discolorations or bad breath, and report any such changes to
your veterinarian. Persistent coughing may be a sign of chronic
bronchitis or heart disease, while changes in urination patterns and
water consumption may be indicative of kidney problems. Loss of
appetite accompanied by loose teeth, tartar and plaque signify dental
disease, another common problem in older animals. Veterinary visits
should be scheduled every 6 months instead of just annually, as early
diagnosis and treatment of problems in geriatric animals can prolong
your companion's life considerably. Recent advances in veterinary
medicine have made it possible to manage many problems such as
incontinence, cataracts, cancer, arthritis and cognitive decline that
were previously considered untreatable.

Behaviorally, a cat or dog may become set in his ways and resist
change. Senior animals are less energetic, less curious and even
forgetful, sometimes even cranky and irritable. Slow introductions to
new environments and activities are in order. Don't fall for the old
saying. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"! Of course you can;
it just takes a little longer. Old Dogs, Old Friends, a book by Chris
Walkowicz and Dr. Bonnie Wilcox, is filled with stories of dozens of
canines who took up new activities in their golden years.

For those who think that bringing in a new, younger companion into
the household will put some life into their old boy or girl, think
again! If Mojo or Belle has been the "only child" a new addition can
add more stress than he or she can bear and cause the animal to, stop
eating become snappish and irritable, or go into hiding. It could
also lower their resistance to disease.

However, if your dog or cat has always been a part of a multi-animal
menagerie and is in relatively good health, a new household member
may fit in with little fuss. Also remember that the loss of an animal
companion may precipitate health problems in the survivor that
require veterinary attention.

Although geriatric cats and dogs are seldom the ideal new companion
for a young child, they do quite well presiding over a full-time
working household or sharing retirement with a senior citizen. If you
are interested in providing a few quality years for a feline or
canine senior, go to your local animal shelter or SPCA and make your
wishes known to the adoption counselors. A geriatric companion is
waiting to wash your face and warm your heart - not to mention your
feet. Ah, the "tails" they can tell!

For information on Senior Pets visit these websites:
Petfinder -

http://www.petfinder.com/journal/2003seniorpet.htm

VetCentric - http://www.vetcentric.com

PetsVetsandYou, Inc. - http://www.petsvetsandyou.com

The Senior Dogs Project - http://www.srdogs.com

Senior Pets - http://www.seniorspets.com

Pets With Diabetes - http://www.petdiabetes.org

Senior Canine Rescue Society -

http://www.seniordogrescue.org

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Courtesy of
ASPCA
National Shelter Outreach
424 East 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128-6804
212-876-7700