|
Older Pets Need Special Care
YOUR GERIATRIC CAT
On your cat’s yearly examinations, your veterinarian will ask you many question about your cat’s eating habits, drinking habits, attitude and activity level. They are geared to try to discover if your cat is having any of the problems commonly associated with old age. Your animal is considered geriatric around the age of 8 years old, but subtle changes may be seen an earlier or later onset. It is important to mention anything unusual that you have noticed to your veterinarian. Discovering and treating diseases at their onset is the best way to ensure your cat lives many healthy and happy years.
"He’s in good health except for his teeth."
Dental health is one of the most overlooked areas in our pet’s lives. Imagine not brushing your teeth for a year, yuck. Well, many cats go 4, 6 or even 10 years without attention to dental health. Bacteria love tartar, and they will take over your cat’s teeth and gums. Teeth get loosened and gums get inflamed. It is no wonder why some clients say their cat’s appetite is decreased, or that they’ve lost weight. Bacteria in the mouth then have an easy access to your cat’s inner workings — they can infect the heart or kidneys, and cause serious health problems. Address bad teeth before your cat has a more serious problem.
"He wakes us up in the middle of the night to eat."
"He doesn’t seem to eat as much as before."
Any change in appetite is something worth investigating. Obvious problems like bad teeth may make your cat not want to eat (see above); but also many metabolic diseases will alter your cat’s appetite. Hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and kidney disease are all common maladies of older cats. A simple blood test screens for these diseases, as well as others.
"He can’t seem to drink enough water."
"I’m scooping a lot more urine out of his litter box."
Drinking more and urinating more are both common signs of many metabolic diseases. It often is the first and most subtle sign of disease. Cats may also drink a lot if they have an infection and a fever. Always mention a change in water consumption to your veterinarian.
"What’s this lump?"
Lumps and bumps are a common old age problem. Always point out a new discovery to your vet. He or she may then recommend a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy.
"He’s slowing down."
"He gets winded easily."
As some cats get older, they can suffer heart disease. Your vet will listen to your cat’s heart as part of the physical exam. They can hear if your cat has a murmur. Depending on the severity of the murmur, it may need to be checked out by a cardiologist. The cardiologist can see how well the heart is doing its jobs, and can also prescribe medications to help along a failing heart.
Getting older is something none of us can prevent, but we can make certain that we screen for disease so that we can intervene early. Even if your cat "seems healthy otherwise", he may be trying to tell you something.
A geriatric blood and urine screen can be done in the office and results returned in 1-2 days.
Dental cleanings are done Monday through Friday, ask for an appointment.
A cardiologist comes to our practice once a week. Ask your vet for more details.
THE BEST HEALTH IS PREVENTATIVE HEALTH!!