When is a dog or cat considered to be a senior? This question has no specific black or white answer….but involves shades of grey…no pun intended. To be more specific, dogs are considered to be senior in the last 25% of their lives. Most toy and small breed dogs can live into their mid-teens, medium to large breeds can average early to mid-teens, and giant breeds tend to average 9-10 years of age. Let us use a beagle for example. The typical life-span of a beagle is 14-15 years. One of my two beagles is named “Jack,” and he will be 14 years old in April, so the points I mention below are from a personal perspective. Since Jack is a senior member of our family, I have thought about that day that I am dreading. I can’t imagine losing my best friend who helped me through undergraduate and veterinary school, strutted into my wedding reception to Elvis Presley’s “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog” and stood guard over my first child this past year. What you may find with some of these following points is that we humans share many similarities and requirements regarding maintaining a high quality of life during these Golden years.
It is a fact that older dogs and cats tend to have more medical problems. This can range from issues such as low or high thyroid levels, arthritis, heart murmurs, cataracts, and so on. Catching medical problems earlier in the disease process always gives us a better chance to treat and potentially cure or minimize the side effects. We therefore recommend evaluating and performing a thorough physical exam and history twice a year. As a general rule of thumb, one year of aging for a pet is like 7 years for us. We may also recommend periodic bloodwork or diagnostics to evaluate organ function or architecture that may not be detectable on the physical exam. Serious problems such as malignant skin tumors may be treatable if detected early. Although not usually a life threatening problem, something like an infected tooth can be dealt with and treated to help improve the pet’s quality of life. We may note some hip arthritis that may only need a joint supplement such as glucosamine that helps decrease pain and ultimately improve their quality of life. There is also a relationship between cost of treating a problem caught early versus one caught later. Expenses involved with catching and treating an ailment earlier rather than later are typically less. As you can see, it is not just the serious tumor or systemic disease that we may uncover, but the more minor problems that may be causing your pet discomfort. Our goal is to help these years be of the highest quality possible for your best friend and companion.
We all know that dogs, cats, humans, etc. experience noticeable changes during the aging process. For example, diminished hearing, eyesight, and activity level are usually fairly evident. Typically we don’t need worry about their nose losing its ability to smell…for good or bad. There really isn’t much you can do about hearing…unless there is an underlying ear infection. If you have two or more pets, a trick I taught my younger beagle was that in order to get back in the house, she needed to go round up Jack, so they could both come in. This helps avoid waking up the neighbors. You may also notice that there is a haziness quality to their eyes, and that your pet is taking longer getting around inside, etc. This is usually one of two things, nuclear sclerosis or cataracts, the former being more prevalent. Nuclear sclerosis is the same reason many humans need to wear bifocals. However, don’t count on doggy bifocals any time soon, so just be patient and realize that things are just not as visually clear for them anymore. Pets and people slow down as they age…there is no other way to say it. However, that does not mean that you or your pet need to become a couch potato. Regular exercise does wonders for your pet…not to mention you. However, I cannot stress enough that you need to go at your pet’s own pace. For example, a dog with severe arthritis may not do very well on an all day hike in the mountains. A 30 minute stroll through York River State Park or around the neighborhood may be more appropriate. Regular exercise helps every system in the body. However, in my opinion, the most important is mental status. Dogs and people alike can have degrees of dementia. Anything to help them stimulate their senses such as a walk through the park can only help. This also helps them maintain muscle mass to help support their joints, improves cardiovascular function, and so on. Grooming should also not be overlooked. This can be more of an issue in cats, causing hair mats, but many dogs also benefit from brushing their coat once every week or so. A good quality senior pet food also helps them get the appropriate nutrition and help maintain a healthy weight. I have found that many folks have a special bond with their pet when they may be dealing with a similar ailment…such as arthritis. Tackling these problems together and helping your pet maintain their health is good for your health too.
There is no secret regarding taking care of your senior pet. Spending time with him or her, putting that extra blanket on their bed, observing for any change in behavior, monitoring their appetite, periodically checking their weight, etc. are all things that help them maintain a high quality of life. Although a cliché, there is truth to not putting off until tomorrow what you "and your pet" can do today. It seems like it was only the other day that I took my 6 week old beagle named Jack home with me during summer break….
