Just as human beings age and face the physical complications of living a longer life, so do dogs and cats. For them it comes much sooner, as a 6 year old up to twenty pound dog is already coping with the issues of a person of about forty years. A larger canine, say 90 pounds, at six people years is pushing fifty. Cats age at about the same rate as the up to twenty-pound crowd.
As the significant caregiver, you have a vital role in maintaining your pet's health by careful observation for early signs of potential health problems. A senior pet should be examined by his or her vet at least twice a year. Since their aging is so condensed compared to human aging, visiting their doctor every year or two is like people getting a check up every five to 10 years. This is not soon enough to catch problems and nip them in the bud or provide competent management, insuring comfort and quality longevity.
According to Dr. Susan Nelson, a Kansas State University veterinarian who specializes in pet health care, "Although some age-related diseases may not be preventable, early detection and intervention is key to successful management." The goal of senior pet care is to bless your pet with the best quality of life for as long as possible. The best way to achieve this is by starting conscientious vet care while they are yet puppies and kittens, instead of waiting until faced with a health care issue the may have been waylaid or the onset of those senior year.
Early health warning signs to look for in both dogs and cats include any changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, loss of housetraining, increased thirst, increased urine output, difficulty rising, walking or climbing stairs, confusion or disorientation, persistent cough, new lumps or bumps or changes in sleep patterns. If your pet shows any of these early warning signs, it is time to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Periodontal disease, which is caused by plaque bacteria in the pet's mouth, can develop in pets of any age but it is most serious in the aging senior dog and cat. Dental problems affect the entire body. Bacteria from these inflamed oral areas will eventually enter the bloodstream and affect major organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs.
Other issues possible for the senior pet are, joint/ bone problems, reduction in metabolism, difficulty with eyes/ears as well as liver/kidney dysfunction. Cancer, diabetes, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease and bladder stones are on the list as well. Obesity is the most common health related problem to affect cats and dogs as they get older. Excess body weight increases workload for the heart and almost doubles the risk for circulatory disease and other complications to develop.
October is adopt a shelter dog month. Consider a mature adult who has had a tough time in life. These pets that have lost families through death, divorce or lifestyle change can go through a mourning process but once they become attached to their new family, they want to please as much as possible. Give them a place to live out their lives with peace and love, while enriching your life as well.
Adopting an adult rescue can be the best decision, and addition to your family, that you ever make. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life! Give a dog a chance it otherwise would not have. The same is true for older cats that make the transition to a new home easier than kittens. Grown cats may already be spayed or neutered and up to date on vet care. Mature cats are much more grateful! How can we know? Adopt one and you will know too.
The oldest living dog on record worked as a herding dog in Australia living to be 29 years old. The runner-up, 27 years of age, was a Lab who resided in the home of a game-keeper in England. Other famous notables include Higgins, a terrier on Petticoat Junction and the Beverly Hillbillies(20, Pal, a collie who started the role of Lassie(18) and last but certainly not least, Rin Tin Tin, movie star and German Shepherd who lived to be at least 16 years of age.
Supposedly, the longest-lived cat was in Devon, England, a tabby named Puss, who passed on shortly after his 36th birthday in 1939. In 2007, the family of a black cat named Baby in Duluth, MN claimed him to be 37. Manx and Siamese are among the longest-lived pedigreed cats, while the Jaguar is said to be the longest-lived species of cat, sometimes reaching 30 years.
These pictures were taken a couple of days ago at the shelter. It is sad to see all of these wonderful animals competing for so few homes. Please adopt, do not shop for your new friend…young or old, cat or dog, big or small, boy or girl! The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?"