Caring for an Aging Pet
Advances in veterinary care and a better understanding of canine and feline nutrition have helped contribute to a longer life expectancy for dogs and cats. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, four out of ten dogs and cats, or nearly 44.8 million pets, are at least seven years old.
Although aging is variable in its rate and effects, the average life span for a dog is estimated be 12 years; for a cat, 14 years. The maximum life span for a dog is said to be 27 years; for a cat, 35 years. Small dogs tend to live longer than large dogs.
The roaming pet's life expectancy is usually less than a pet housed indoors. This may relate to a more stressful life style as the result of accidents, fighting with other animals and exposure to the weather. Neutered male cats generally live longer than those who have not been neutered, perhaps for the same reason.
In fact, the condition of an aging pet is usually a reflection of the care received during its lifetime. The same factors that contribute to a longer life span can be utilized to help an aging pet live comfortably and help control some of the health problems associated with old age.
Day-to-Day Care
The daily care provided a geriatric dog or cat should take into consideration the fact that the pet is a creature of habit. Over the years, a pet has adjusted to its own level of activity, environment and diet. Aged animals are likely to resent, or be stressed by, radical modifications of their habits. Any changes in a pet's life should be kept to a minimum.
The pet's bed should be kept in the same place, preferably in a dry and draft-free area. Older pets can feel the extremes of heat and cold more than younger ones.
An older dog should be dried thoroughly after every bath and each exposure to rain or snow. Older cats who were allowed outdoors at will when they were younger should not be left outside for long periods of time during cold weather. During the warmer months, air conditioning helps an older pet escape hot, humid weather.
Although older pets require more rest, a moderate amount of regular exercise should be encouraged. Adequate exercise that does not overtax the pet helps maintain circulation and maintain muscle tone.
Patience may be needed in caring for your older pet. A gradual decline in kidney function is a normal part of growing old. The older dog may have more accidents, especially at night, or want to go out more frequently.
An older cat may seem to have forgotten its litter pan training. This can be the result of becoming disoriented, senile or losing its sense of balance.
Reduced hearing capability and failing eyesight are common problems of the aging dog and cat. Keeping the physical arrangement of the pet's surroundings the same will help it adjust to these impairments. The geriatric cat may also suffer from some loss of smell.
Stressful conditions, such as illness or exposure, may tax the ability of an older pet to respond. The recovery period from many diseases lengthens as the pet grows older. Complete physical examinations are recommended at least annually. Your veterinarian may advise more frequent examinations, depending on your older pet's physical condition.
Grooming Is Important
Older pets tend to groom themselves less and this can lead to skin problems, particularly with longhaired pets whose haircoats have become matted and tangled. Regular grooming helps remove dead hair, and with cats, aids in preventing hairballs. Hairballs cause more problems for an older cat because the gastrointestinal tract does not function as efficiently and impactions may occur.
Grooming is an excellent time to inspect a pet for any evidence of external parasites such as fleas, as well as unusual lumps or skin lesions which should be examined and treated by a veterinarian.
Comfort Considerations
Being sensitive to (and creative in) solving an aging pet's needs can add to its comfort. For example, if an older pet is arthritic, special attention should be paid to making its environment as comfortable as possible.
Orthopedic beds, available at many pet supply stores, are designed to reduce the pressure on the joints of older pets by providing maximum support and weight distribution.
Preventing Obesity
Overfeeding an older, less active pet invites obesity which may make a pet more susceptible to various physical disorders such as an impaired heart, altered breathing and liver functions, digestive disturbances, and increased stress on the skeleton, ligaments, joints and tendons which can lead to degenerative arthritis.
As a pet's activity declines, its food intake may need to be adjusted to help prevent obesity. To do this:
- Omit feeding food from the table. Often this is sufficient to achieve the desired weight reduction.
- If the pet remains obese, reduce the amount of dog or cat food that is offered.
- Reduce food intake by feeding less daily, perhaps 65 to 75 percent of the previous intake - the amount depends upon the pet's body condition and the veterinarian's advice.
- Feed smaller portions of food more often - you will feed less, but still satisfy the pet.
Moderate exercise for an aging dog should be part of a weight loss program. You may want to discuss an appropriate weight loss program with your veterinarian.
While cats are not likely to respond too a planned exercise program, encourage an aging pet to exercise through play. Find a toy your cat has enjoyed over the years or dangle or drag a piece of string just out of its reach.
Nutrition For Cats
For cats, feed a diet specifically formulated to meet the needs of older cats such as Purina® Cat Chow® Mature Cat Formula. This highly palatable diet has 10 percent less fat, bowl for bowl, than the leading dry cat food.
Nutrition For Dogs
Older dogs become less efficient in metabolizing protein than younger dogs. This is why healthy older dogs require more protein than younger dogs.
This need for protein contradicts a belief held by some dog owners that older dogs should be fed less protein than younger dogs. Perhaps this belief resulted from misinformation associating protein with kidney failure. Once kidney failure is an advanced stages, protein restriction may be recommended to help lessen some of the problems associated with this condition. However, research from several leading veterinary hospitals shows there is no evidence to indicate that protein at an appropriate level in a nutritionally complete and balanced diet causes kidney damage.
Several prominent veterinary nutritionists from leading veterinary colleges independently recommend that protein comprise 20 to 26 percent of the calories for older dogs. How this translates to the percentage of protein in a particular diet as found on the label depends on whether the food is a high calorie or low calorie product. In general, look for a nutritionally complete and balanced dog food containing around 25 percent protein for a healthy older dog.
Along with an appropriate diet, always provide your aging pet with fresh drinking water in a clean bowl.
Caring for an aging pet may require an investment of time and money, as well as patience and understanding. The reward is helping a beloved friend enjoy a healthier, more comfortable senior years.
