There are several things to keep in mind when looking at senior pet
health. The focus for senior pet health is making sure your furry
friends have happy, healthy and fruitful lives in their older years.
Age
Firstly, how old is a senior pet? There are many differences between
cats and dogs, but we consider them to be senior pets once they
reach the age of 8 years. This should only be seen as a starting
point, as some cat and small dog breeds can easily live double this!
Diet
Diet and weight are some of the most important things to address in
older animals. Diet is important for several reasons. Over feeding
animals leads to obesity, which puts massive stress on the
cardiovascular system (especially the heart) and the skeletal system
(especially the joints that have to carry the extra weight). It is
very easy to over feed a senior animal, as their metabolic needs are
slightly less than adults. Incorrect feeding can lead to disease via
lack of nutrient requirements (the older you get, the more
anti-oxidants, certain vitamins and trace elements are required)
allowing suppression of the immune system. Poor consistency of food
will allow tartar to build-up and can lead to gum disease.
A premium quality, balanced, commercial diet is the best way to
address the diet of senior pets. A diet specifically formulated with
high quality protein, added anti-oxidants, vitamin E and high
digestibility, while lower in fat and salts is essential for
managing older animals.
Heart
Heart health is very important. The best way to maintain a healthy
heart is regular exercise coupled with a sensible diet. Just like
humans, some pet heart diseases can be inherited from older
generations, so minimising extra stress on the heart, such as
reducing extra weight, is also required.
Kidneys
Renal disease is common in older animals, especially cats. The
kidneys function every second of our lives and often we do not even
realise they are there until something goes wrong. Kidney disease is
such a broad topic that it has its own profile on this website.
Regular urine testing (a free service when a sample is provided at
vaccination), along with blood testing, are the best ways to monitor
kidney function.
Joints
Arthritis can also go hand in hand with older age. Joints can become
arthritic for a multitude of reasons. Symptomatic relief is aided by
sensible diet and weight management to ensure the minimum stress on
joints to allow as much movement as possible.
Teeth
Tooth related disease is very common in older animals. Preventative
dental care BEFORE disease occurs is much more effective than
treating disease. Tartar build-up leads to gingivitis (gum
inflammation and infection), which can lead to tooth root
infections, and bacteria in the blood stream causing even more
severe infection! Dry foods whilst younger, rawhide bones to chew
and regular cleaning using pet-registered toothpaste or cleansing
solutions all form part of a preventative program.
There is an underlying theme in all of these processes – diet. There
are lots of different types of diets available, so it is imperative
that you speak to our trained staff to discuss which one is best for
your pet. Each pet is different; so if you have more than one,
especially if they are different ages, let us provide the
information you need to make their lives as fruitful as possible.
