Pets are living longer and have a higher quality of life than ever before, thanks to better preventive care, advances in veterinary medicine and better nutrition, As a caring owner, you play a key role in helping your senior pet remain healthy. Around the age of seven, dogs and cats begin to enter their "golden" years. The decisions you make regarding exercise, nutrition, and health care, have a big impact on your older pet. This brochure identifies some steps you can take to improve your dog or cat's quality of life during the "golden" years.
Aging Issues: Signs and Solutions
Generally, most pets age 7 or older qualify as seniors, although giant dog breeds reach senior status at age 5. Since your pet doesn't suddenly become old at a certain age, you should look for the physical, behavioral and metabolic changes that signal the aging process.
Different size breeds and species age at different rates. Check out this chart to determine your pet's "human age".
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Physical Changes and Early Disease Detection
A touch of gray around the muzzle, increasing cloudiness in the eyes and a less-frisky gait are some of the more obvious physical changes you might see in your senior dog or cat. Other changes may be more subtle. It takes a watchful eye to recognize what may be early signs of disease or health problems. Often when you see outward signs of disease, your pet has already lost significant organ function and has actually been dealing with this disease state for some time. Early disease detection and establishing a baseline for organ function is important.
Your veterinarian can run a variety of blood chemistries, hematology, urinalysis, and electrolyte profiles that will check the function of your pet's blood, liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, electrolyte balance, and thyroid function. These tests, and others such as radiographs, tonometry, and ultrasound, will provide your veterinarian with an excellent picture of your pet's current health status. We recommend yearly laboratory testing, as well as twice-yearly examinations for senior pets.
Exactly when these changes occur will vary from pet to pet, influenced by factors such as genetics, the environment and nutrition. By reporting changes in your senior dog to your veterinarian as early as possible, you can help improve your dog's quality of life and keep potentially serious conditions under control.
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Dental Disease in Senior Pets
Periodontal (dental) disease is a major chronic health problem in senior dogs, affecting 85 to 95 percent of all dogs age 4 and older. The first signs of periodontal disease are bad breath and a buildup of plaque on your dog's teeth, which can lead to gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (inflammation of the soft tissue, ligaments and bone that surround and support the teeth). Without treatment, these conditions can provide entry for bacteria into the blood, which may lead to infection in almost any body organ. Consult your veterinarian when changes in your dog's mouth are first noted. Your veterinarian can diagnose the presence of disease and recommend appropriate action, such as:
- Regular veterinary cleaning or more extensive dental procedures.
- At-home dental care.
- Dental chew toys.
- Antibiotics, where appropriate.
Find out more about dental disease, including pictures.
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Arthritis
Arthritis is a common, painful condition that affects one out of five adult dogs- more than eight million in all. It occurs when joint cartilage begins to split and fragment. The first signs might include stiffness, lagging behind on walks, or perhaps difficulty jumping up. Often, these signs are mistaken as part of the natural aging process. But chances are, the real cause is arthritis. The first step to take is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to identify what's causing your pet's discomfort. If arthritis is the problem, your veterinarian can recommend the best treatment option for your dog's condition, such as:
- Long-term pain relief. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that's approved for long-term use, such as Rimadyl, may be prescribed to relieve your dog's pain and inflammation, thereby improving quality of life.
- Weight-loss/exercise program. Taking off excess weight will help decrease stress on affected joints, while moderate exercise can help prevent decreased joint function.
- Surgery. In severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to address such abnormalities as hip dysplasia.
- Diet change. Your veterinarian may recommend a diet specially designed to meet your pet's needs, such as Eukanuba Senior Plus, or Hill's G/D.
For more information on arthritis, see
Bark If It Hurts, and
Medications Can Soothe Your Arthritic Pet.
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Hearing and Vision Loss
Cataracts and diabetes are common causes of vision loss in senior pets. Infections and tumors also can cause loss in vision and hearing. Consult your veterinarian to determine the cause of any vision or hearing changes. To help a senior pet with compromised hearing and vision:
- Keep him on a leash in an enclosed yard (or in the house in the case of a cat) to help eliminate hazards.
- Reduce stress by slowly introducing new situations and objects, and minimizing disruptive changes in his environment.
- Walk heavily and speak in soothing tones as you approach your blind dog or cat.
- Teach your blind dog verbal directions, such as "stop," "turn right," or "turn left."
- Flick the lights on and off to get the attention of your deaf pet.
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Digestion Problems and Nutritional Concerns
As your pet's digestive system ages, it becomes less efficient in breaking down foods for absorption into the body. The stomach and intestines grow less tolerant of human foods, such as table scraps. Pet owners can easily spot signs of digestive problems: vomiting, flatulence and intermittent diarrhea, constipation.
As your pet ages, the need for proper nutrition is paramount. It is truly the most significant health factor that you, the pet owner, can influence on a daily basis. Feeding your pet a high-quality, premium senior food, such as Eukanuba Senior Plus Formula, or Hill's G/D Diet will enhance your pet's health and may offset some digestive, and other health problems. Consult your veterinarian to determine the exact cause of persistent digestive problems, since other diseases or infections could be causing these signs.
Behavior Changes
Behavior changes in senior pets often occur gradually, making it hard to pinpoint exactly when you first noticed your pet's decrease in activity level or gradual withdrawal from family members. Maybe your pet is sleeping more or confusing night and day sleep patterns. Your dog might be less responsive to familiar verbal clues, and may, at times, appear confused. While these signs may be considered a part of the aging process, certain medical conditions can cause them to occur.
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Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
Age-related mental decline in senior pets that cannot be attributed to a specific medical condition such as a tumor, organ failure, or hearing or vision loss may be due to a newly identified condition known as canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). Dogs with CDS typically exhibit several behavioral signs that affect their level of function as a family member and impair their quality of life. CDS behaviors will vary, but some of the more common signs include:
- Disorientation. Wandering aimlessly; appearing lost or confused in the house or yard; staring into space or at the wall.
- Decreased responsiveness to family members. Less interaction with the family. Less enthusiastic greeting, or doesn't recognize you. Turns away when being petted.
- Abnormal sleep and activity patterns. Sleeping more during the day, staying up at night. Barking at night. Wandering or pacing.
- Loss of housetraining. Having accidents indoors soon after being outside and/or within view of owners.
If your dog is showing one or more of these behaviors, consult with your veterinarian.
If your dog suffers from CDS, there are steps both you and your veterinarian can take to manage the condition and help restore the relationship between you and your senior dog.
See article below for more information.
Is Your Dog Acting Senile?
There's Help for the Older Pet.
It's heartbreaking to see our old dogs acting, well, old. You figure there's nothing that can be done for a dog showing signs that resemble senility. This is just part of the aging process, right? Maybe not.
A remarkable medication, called Anipryl, was approved by the USDA in December of 1998 to treat age-related behavior changes (although it has been on veterinary shelves to treat canine Cushing's disease, a hormonal imbalance). It may prove to be a lifesaver for countless senior dogs and could significantly improve the quality of their declining years and the pleasure you take in your dog. By enhancing dogs' functioning, Anipryl can prevent or reduce many of the symptoms of old age that can disrupt a household.
Once a dog loses its housetraining, stops interacting with the family, begins to grow restless at night or to become lost even in its own home, many owners will decide that it's time to put their beloved friend down. Those that don't must face their dog's progressive debility and the disruption and pain it can bring to the household. What they may not realize, however, is that sometimes these behaviors in old dogs that may look like senility or even Alzheimer's in humans are now believed by many veterinarians to be part of an aging-associated brain disorder.
Some of these changes that are usually interpreted as the typical aging process could be due to potentially treatable medical conditions, such as tumors and infections, which are more common in older dogs; call your veterinarian for an appointment anytime your dog's behavior changes suddenly.
A major source of behavior change in the aging dog, however, is very possibly the result of changes in the brain. This leads to the loss of cognitive abilities like thinking, memory, communication and problem solving. In some aspects it resembles Alzheimer's disease in humans. This generalized medical condition has been designated Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or CDS for older dogs exhibiting this group of problematic, age-related behaviors. 
Anipryl (the trade name for L-deprenyl or selegiline) may help CDS. In the absence of any physical cause such as cancer, infection, or organ failure, CDS is present when a dog shows one or more of the following five signs. See if your dog has any of these symptoms.
Disorientation or confusion:
Your dog may wander aimlessly,
stare out into space, or stand with his head in a corner;
your dog may appear lost or confused in the house or yard;
Decreased or altered responsiveness to family member:
Your dog may fail to respond to your attention, and stop seeking out attention;
he may be less enthusiastic in his greeting;
Disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle:
Your dog may bark, whine
or pace at night; he may persistently bark abnormally any time of the day;
he may be sleeping more, or awake more at night;
Decreased activity level:
Your dog may show less general interest
in his usual activities;
Deterioration in housetraining:
A normally housetrained dog is suddenly
having "accidents"; your dog may signal less to go outside and may urinate or
defecate indoors soon after being outside.
Given the possible benefits for CDS, Anipryl may well be worth trying when your dog is declining in ways that lead you to contemplate putting him or her down. If the normal course of aging and its difficulties are not disruptive for your household, you may not wish to consider medication. It's a judgement call. But it's nice to know that there's help for your older pet and some of the often devastating signs of aging are not something we are forced to live with and accept anymore.
Note: This drug has been used for many years to treat humans with Parkinson's disease. Interestingly, it has not shown any benefit for humans with Alzheimer's.
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House Soiling, Vocalization, and Other Changes
Senior pets, especially older spayed females, may have difficulty controlling their bladder. If your senior dog or cat starts showing signs of incontinence, consult your veterinarian to rule out illness, such as diabetes, kidney failure, or Cushing's disease (an endocrine disorder). If your pet suffers both urinary and fecal incontinence, neurological or spinal disorders may be the cause. Your veterinarian can determine if any medications will help with these conditions.
Other behavior changes, such as excessive vocalization, shyness, inactivity or nervousness, could signal that your senior pet is losing his sight or hearing-or your dog's excessive barking could merely be a call for attention, If this is the case, the solution may be to give your pet more attention when his barking stops. If excessive barking persists, talk with your veterinarian for further advice.
Metabolic Changes-Staying Fit
Changes in your pet's metabolism can result in weight shifts and alterations in appearance. Just as humans tend to gain weight during middle age, so do senior dogs and cats. Proper nutrition and regular exercise are advised for senior pets, just as for people, to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Obesity
Obesity is a common health problem for pets, and seniors are more likely than younger pets to be overweight due to decreased activity and reduced daily energy needs. The ideal weight is when you can easily feel your dog's ribs, with about 1/8 inch of fat covering them. Your pet's weight is an important area of concern because obesity increases the risk of serious diseases and health problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart and lung disorders. Though some medical conditions can cause obesity, overfeeding generally is the culprit. As a senior dog or cat's metabolism slows, caloric needs decline. If you don't adjust the food intake of your older pet, weight gain is likely. Weight loss treatment steps for your senior pet include:
- Limiting the number of calories consumed.
- For dogs, feeding two or three small meals daily, rather than one large meal.
- Increasing exercise to burn more calories.
- Modifying behavior to prevent regaining of lost weight.
- Choosing a senior pet food that provides the proper balance of protein, fat, calories, vitamins and minerals for seniors.
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Exercise and Playtime
An exercise program is key to maintaining your pet's health and fitness. Before you begin, check with your veterinarian to be sure your plans are suited to your pet's physical condition. Then it's time to get started. Suggestions for your senior dog:
- Begin slowly, walking your dog on a leash for 10 minutes per day.
- After a week, increase the daily walks to 15 minutes.
- Depending on your dog's condition, you can increase the daily walk length until you are up to 30 minutes a day.
- The hotter times of the day (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) should be avoided. Low temperatures can cause shortness of breath in older animals.
- Older pets may require a lot of water during exercise, as their body temperatures rise quickly.
- It's up to you to be sure your senior pet is healthy and in shape for the activity you've chosen. Be sure he doesn't exceed his limitations.
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Skin and Coat Problems
Many seniors develop thinner, graying coats and dry skin; however, if any of these changes seem extreme, consult your veterinarian. Itchy, red skin or a balding coat cold signal poor nutrition, fleas or other parasites, along with diseases, such as diabetes, Cushing's disease or thyroid disease. A few points to keep in mind include:
- Healthy skin and coat reflect a healthy pet, regardless of age.
- Feed your pet a high-quality food to promote a healthy skin and coat, especially one that provides the optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids,3 which can help rejuvenate dry skin and help develop a rich, luxurious coat.
- Older pets that lose coat density and muscle mass are less tolerant of extreme temperatures. Be sure to provide warm bedding during the winter and a cool retreat during hot summer months.
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An Ounce of Prevention
We believe older pets have different medical needs and benefit from specialized services and testing. That's why it's a good idea to establish a baseline that can be used as a benchmark for measuring changes before your pet reaches "senior" status.
Scheduling your senior pet for twice-a-year physical examinations is another important step since pets age 5-7 years for every year of human life. Consequently, problems can develop much faster in dogs and cats than in humans. Just as more frequent examinations and more extensive laboratory tests are a reality for middle-aged people, increased attention is important for disease detection in pets reaching the seven-year mark. Therefore, frequent veterinary visits are important to diagnose treatable conditions.
Your veterinarian may wish to run specific tests to ensure your pet is healthy to catch problems early. These procedures are common:
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Physical Examination and Testing
A twice-yearly senior physical exam includes checking your pet's general appearance, temperature, body weight, heart, lungs, ears, eyes, teeth, thyroid glands and skin. During your pet's regular examinations, it's important that you report any health or behavior changes you've noticed since the last visit in order to identify signs of disease early so you and your veterinarian can work on slowing or stopping its progression. You are the best judge of subtle changes taking place, and you are the veterinarian's most valued resource of an accurate history profile.
- Complete blood count and cell differential.
This test helps in the diagnosis of cancer, infection, anemia and bleeding problems, and it provides insight into the status of your pet's immune system.
- Serum chemistry profile.
This test is used for assessing the function of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and other organs.
- Complete urinalysis.
A urine sample will be checked for evidence of infection and to assess kidney function.
- Fecal analysis.
A fecal sample will be checked for evidence of parasites, unusual bacteria and protozoa, and red and white blood cells.
- Other tests.
Additional testing will be recommended as needed. Radiography, echocardiographv, abdominal ultrasonography, ocular tonometry to measure eye pressure for glaucoma, thyroid and adrenal gland testing, blood pressure measurement, as well as liver, pancreas and small intestine function tests may be considered necessary.
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Blood Pressure Measurement in Dogs
Blood pressure in dogs can be below normal or elevated for a variety of reasons. The occurrence of hypertension (high blood pressure) can be a very serious problem and should not be underestimated. Primary hypertension, (or high blood pressure as a disease in itself) which accounts for the majority of cases in humans, is very rare in dogs. Secondary hypertension, which develops in conjunction with some other disease process, is common. Two diseases that can cause high blood pressure are kidney disease and diabetes.
Since it is unclear at what stage of disease the high blood pressure occurs, routine rechecks are indicated.
High blood pressure can cause many problems, especially in the blood vessels, causing blockage, leakage, as well as changes to the retinas in the eyes and bleeding in the central nervous system. The heart has undue stress placed upon it. In dogs that also have heart problems, the added strain could lead to heart failure. In dogs with kidney disease, high blood pressure can cause the disease to progress to kidney failure.
Hypotension, or low blood pressure can occur with trauma, heart failure, shock and anesthesia. Certain medications can also cause low blood pressure. Hypotension can be a serious problem. Low blood pressure leads to less oxygen-rich blood reaching the vital organs. This can result in organ failure. Kidney failure is a major complication of hypotension.
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10 Steps for Good Health
- Visit your veterinarian for a senior health care exam at least every six months to monitor changes in your pet's health.
- As your pet approaches senior status, your veterinarian may recommend basic blood and urine tests as a baseline for measuring future changes. Regular blood testing can help identify diseases in their earliest and most treatable stages.
- Note changes in behavior or appearance and see your veterinarian. Treat simple medical problems, such as incessant ear-scratching, immediately. A trip to the veterinarian can get problems under control early, before they become major problems requiring more extensive treatment.
- Switch to a quality senior food that provides enhanced levels of key nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamin E and beta-carotene, plus gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid important to skin and coat health. Some of the high quality senior diets we recommend include Eukanuba Senior Plus, and Hill's G/D Diet.
- Ask your veterinarian to clean your dog's teeth regularly and follow the cleaning with recommended dental care at home.
- Provide moderate exercise. This will help with weight control and keep muscles toned.
- Talk with your veterinarian if your dog or cat tires easily or has trouble breathing.
- Groom your senior pet at least once each week. Check for lumps, sores, parasites and foul-smelling ears or discharge. Older pets may need to he bathed with medicated or moisturizing shampoo.
- Maintain a familiar routine and environment to minimize stress.
- If your pet has not been spayed or neutered, ask your veterinarian about having this done to avoid tumors of the mammary or prostate glands.
Partnering with Your Veterinarian
Our Care4Keeps Program is designed with your pet in mind, for all 4 stages of his or her life: pediatric, adult, senior, and geriatric. Every stage has its own special concerns.
The veterinarians at Harmony Animal Hospital have the knowledge and the tools to help your senior pet. By working with your veterinarian, you can help ensure that your pet will enjoy the best possible quality of life with you for the longest possible time.
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