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Older Pets Need Special Care
YOUR GERIATRIC DOG
On your dog’s yearly examinations, your veterinarian will ask you many question about your dog’s eating habits, drinking habits, attitude and activity level. They are geared to try to discover if your dog 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 dog 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 dogs go 4, 6 or even 10 years without attention to dental health. Smaller dogs have problems with their teeth at a much younger age than do big dogs. Crooked, crowded teeth are more prone to attracting tartar. Bacteria love tartar, and they will take over your dog’s teeth and gums. Teeth get loosened and gums get inflamed. It’s no wonder why some clients say their dog’s appetite is decreased, or that they’ve lost weight. Bacteria in the mouth then have an easy access to your dog’s inner workings—they can infect the heart or kidneys, and cause serious health problems. Address bad teeth before your dog has a more serious problem.
"He just seems so hungry lately."
"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 dog not want to eat (see above); but also many metabolic diseases will alter your dog’s appetite. Diabetes, liver disease and kidney disease are maladies of our older pet population. A simple blood test screens for these diseases, as well as others.
"He can’t seem to drink enough water."
"He always asking to go outside to pee."
Drinking more and urinating more are both common signs of many metabolic diseases, including diabetes and Cushing’s disease. It often is the first and most subtle sign of disease. Dogs may also drink a lot if they have a bladder infection, or if they have a fever due to some other infectious process. Always mention a change in water consumption to your veterinarian, and he or she can collect blood and urine to screen for these diseases.
"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 to find out exactly what the lump is.
"He’s slowing down, and having trouble getting up and down."
Arthritis is a common problem in our older four legged friends. Some breeds are affected at a younger age, and suffer worse than other breeds of dogs. Often, we will recommend x-rays to assess the severity of the arthritis, and also to rule out other more serious problems, such as a tumor. Tick diseases may make arthritis worse, and these can be tested for and treated. We have some options when treating the pain of arthritis, and what medication your veterinarian chooses depends on the age of your dog, and the severity of his disease. You can help your aging pet by keeping him at a normal weight. Obesity makes a bad joint worse. Ask your veterinarian if you need advice on a weight loss program.
"He gets winded easily."
As some dogs get older, they can suffer heart disease. Your vet will listen to your dog’s heart as part of the physical exam. They can hear if your dog 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 job, 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 dog "seems healthy otherwise", he may be trying to tell you something. Look for and pay attention to subtle signs.
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!!