Growing old is part of life and our pets go through it earlier and faster than we think. It can be hard to watch our fur kids age but you can help your pet live a happy and healthy life in their senior years by providing them with the proper physical, mental and healthcare support. The average lifespan for cats is between 12- 18 years and 8-12 years for dogs. Small breed dogs are known to have a longer lifespan than large and giant breed dogs. Signs of ageing can vary between pets depending on species, breed, lifestyle, diet, exercise and medical history.
Common signs that require veterinary attention as your pet grows older:
Reduced agility – less responsive to their names, limited movements, reduced excitability.
Reduced appetite – can vary from being choosy to complete inappetence on certain days.
Lethargy – exercise intolerance, walking slowly, takes time to get up from a sitting position when being called, sitting or lying down most of the time.
Changes in skin and nail– nails of older pets do not get worn down due to reduced activity, skin can have pigmentations and they can be more prone to skin problems.
Changes in eye colour – whitish or greyish layer on the corneal surface or lens, thick sticky yellowish eye discharge – this is often due to dry eyes and other eye problems which need medical attention.
Behavioural changes – this can often be due to loss of vision or hearing and sometimes due to cognitive dysfunction. Signs may include decreased responsiveness to stimuli, deficits in learning and memory, faecal and urine soiling, extreme irritability, excessive licking, night vocalization, pacing or night walking.
Weight loss – If you notice weight loss in your pets, it could be a sign of something serious and this needs further work up. This includes a complete physical examination, routine blood tests, and imaging (with X-ray/ultrasound) to evaluate your pet’s overall health status.
Difficulty in breathing or swallowing – If you notice changes in the breathing pattern of your pet, such as loud breathing noises while asleep or breathlessness after mild exercise then you should seek immediate veterinary care.
Bleeding from mouth, nose or other parts of the body – needs immediate veterinary care.
What routine veterinary check-ups for senior pets include:
- Complete physical examination
- Blood pressure checks
- Blood tests – Complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry
Diagnostic imaging may be included if your pet is sick and their condition requires further workup in order to formulate a better treatment plan. This includes ultrasound, echocardiography, X-ray, CT scan, or MRI.
How to keep our senior pets comfortable:
Increased veterinary care
Our senior pets need veterinary check-up at least every 6 months as early detection of any illnesses allow for early intervention. Regular deworming and vaccinations are also recommended based on veterinary advice.
Diet and nutrition
Senior pets require easily digestible diets which contain antioxidants and other supplements. Pets with different types of illnesses will be given prescription diets and should be followed up with regular healthcare.
Medication
This will be prescribed by your regular veterinarian and should be given to your pets as per recommendation. It is always best to follow the instructions given and if you face any difficulty in administering the medication you should discuss methods and alternatives with your vet. Do not feed any human medication or supplements to your senior pets as they may have serious side effects.
Supplements
Usually senior pets will be given supplements like joint supplements, CoQ10, multivitamins and many other supplements will be recommended by your veterinarian based on your pet’s conditions.
Exercise
Maintaining mobility can be challenging for senior and aging pets as they will become less active as they age. We can help them stay healthier and more mobile through appropriate exercise and daily slow walks.
Environment
Some lifestyle changes can be made for senior pets like changing their bedding to a more padded and comfortable one, more indoor time, and avoiding the stairs.
Good hygiene is important. Clean your pet’s sleeping and toileting areas regularly, and wash/wipe them clean after urination or defaecation as they can have the tendency to soil themselves.
For multiple-pet households, sometimes keeping the more active and younger pets separate may be required.
Mental health
Continuously interacting with your senior pets will help to keep them mentally active. They may show signs of senility and cognitive dysfunction as they age, such as confusion, pacing at night, and soiling themselves. If this happens to your pet, remember to be very patient with them and consult your veterinarian on ways to care for your pet.
Wound management
Senior pets can easily injure themselves due to mobility issues. Joint areas such as elbows and hocks are common areas where wounds occur. Regular checking of your pet for wounds and cleaning the wound using normal saline and antiseptic ointments as directed by your vet will keep your senior pet clean and comfortable.
Dental Hygiene
Regular brushing and applying dental gel is recommended to maintain dental hygiene.
These are the most common geriatric pet diseases that we often see in the clinic:
- Dental disease
- Joint and bone disease
- Kidney and urinary tract disease
- Cardiac disease
- Spinal issues
- Liver disease
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Neoplasia (cancer)
Dr Lavinniya Nadarajah
Island Veterinary Clinic & Surgery (Penang)