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Veterinary Secrets

*November 1, 2005*..........................*Issue#013*


*Andrew Jones,DVM*

*TREATING YOUR SENIOR PET'S PROBLEMS!!*

Greetings from Nelson BC!!

Welcome new subscribers to the 13th issue of Veterinary
Secrets!

What to expect and how to improve/maintain quality of life
with your senior pet.

How old is your pet?

Dogs and cats age much quicker than you and I. Their
development from puberty to adulthood takes place over a
period of 18-24 months (vs about 21 years in people). After
that time, each year if a pet's life is equal to about 4
years of a human life (not 7 years as is commonly thought).
So, a 16 year old Sheltie is the equivalent of an 80 year
old person (not 16 X 7 = 112 human years!). The average life
span of a cat is about 14 years (we see lots of cats well
into the teens and early 20s). The oldest cat reported was
37 years! The average life span of a dog is about 13 year
(small to mid size dog) although smaller dogs often live
well into their teens. The oldest dog reported was 29.5
years!

How old is your pet? Check this chart..


Aging is influenced by your pets:

Size and breed (smaller pets tend to live longer),

Environment (outdoor, free roaming pets are at greater risk
of infectious disease and trauma like being hit by a car),

Nutritional status (obese pets have some very significant
health risks),

Disease status (diseases of vital organs like the heart,
lung, kidney and liver are more common in the older pet as
these organs are prone to wear and tear as they age).

In general, animals 7 years of age and older are considered
at risk for age-related problems.

To improve/maintain the quality of your older pets life, its
important to recognize aging problems early and to manage
these before they become bigger problems.

Their are several common problems that occur as your pet
ages.

*Weight Gain*

The most effective way to prevent this is with a reduced
calorie senior diet and adequate exercise.

DIET. This is the most important thing in creating weight
loss. Your cat should be on a high-protein,
low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. There are specific
high-protein feline diets available at your veterinarian or
you can make your own.

Homemade Cat Weight-Loss Diet 80% poultry/egg 20% veggies
250mg calcium 1/2 Theragran or One-A-Day, (human
vitamin/mineral tablets) 1/2-1 tsp flaxseed oil. (or fish
oil if the cat will accept it) 500mg taurine

Pulverize the vitamin/mineral tablets and mix well with the
remaining ingredients. This can be stored in the
refrigerator, if warming with a microwave, be careful to
avoid hot spots. It may be made tastier by adding a small
amount of garlic powder.

Your dogs diet should also change. I have had good luck with
commercial weight-loss diets higher in fiber, but I have
also seen good success with homemade diets higher in protein
and fiber, lower in carbohydrates and fat. Homemade Dog
Weight Loss Diet Macaroni 2 cups Carrots 2 cups Chicken (no
skin) 1/3 lb One-a-day vitamin 1 tablet Calcium carbonate
(Tums) 1 teaspoon or 1 tablet Ground Flax Seeds 4 teaspoons

Cook all ingredients and mix together to produce a mash. The
average 20lb dog should consume 2.2lbs of this recipe daily
(2 cups).

*Declining Vision*

The most common cause of vision loss is due to senile
cataracts.

Cineraria has been effective in reducing the size of some
cataracts and decreasing cataract formation. To make a
sterile eye solution, purchase sterile saline from a
pharmacy. Using the tincture dilute the mixture with ½
saline and ½ cineraria. Apply 1 drop twice daily to the
affected eye, being careful not to contaminate the eye
dropper. This must be used for 3 months before evaluating
its effectiveness

*Hearing Loss*

This tends to be very gradual in the aging animal.

Recommendation:

Appreciate that hearing loss is gradual.

Older dogs may bite if startled (they cant see or hear as
well).

Warn children and others not to go near a sleeping dog. Wait
until the dog is awake and approach him or her to say
hello.

* Loss of sense of smell:*

This is a particular concern in cats, where their sense of
smell is critical to enjoying a meal.

Recommendation:

Feed a highly nutritious, well-balanced diet and enhance the
odor of food to encourage the older pet to ear. How? Warm
canned food (20-30 seconds in the microwave), sprinkle with
garlic powder (not salt), use more canned food to encourage
the picky eater.

*SKin and Coat changes*

As your pet ages, its immune system becomes less effective
and lumps and bumps become more prevalent. Common dog lumps
are lipomas (benign fatty tumors) and sebaceous cysts (a
skin gland that blocks up).

STIMULATE THE SKINS IMMUNE SYSTEM. Vitamin E and essential
fatty acids are great for boosting your pets skin immune
function: give 100 IU per 10 lbs of body weight daily of
Vitamin E. For dogs use ground flax as the essential fatty
acid source, giving 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food. For cats
use fish oil, giving one 250mg capsule daily.

*Heart and Lung Disease*

Older pets are more likely to develop heart murmurs and lung
problems. They may cough, wheeze, pant more and seem short
of breath with activity.

Recommendation:

Twice yearly examinations by your veterinarian are
recommended. If your pet is developing heart or lung
disease, finding it and treating it early will improve their
quality of life. There are new heart drugs available to help
our aging pets live longer and better lives.

*Kidney Disease*

The first sign of kidney problems may be a pet that drinks
more and urinates more. The pet may lose its appetite, vomit
or become sluggish. Older animals have more problems with
urinary tract infection and some older female dogs develop
urinary incontinence (bed-wetting).

FLUID, FLUID, FLUID. The most important thing that you can
do for your pet with renal failure is to maintain adequate
hydration. Offer lots of fresh water. If your cat isnt a
great water drinker, then make the switch to canned food.

LOWER PROTEIN AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS. Newer research has
shown that the most important thing to restrict in early
kidney failure is phosphorus. This mineral speeds up
destruction of the remaining kidney cells. Stop all dairy
products as they are very high in phosphorus. Feed a
specific, moderately reduced protein diet, such as a premium
quality senior diet, in the early stages. As kidney failure
advances, switch to a restricted protein diet, available
from your veterinarian. Here is a sample homemade
low-protein, low-phosphorus diet:

*Dental Disease*

SIGNS

Your pet has bad breath with yellow or brown teeth. His gums
may be red and he may have difficulty chewing.

CAUSES

Pets dont brush their teeth and dental problems are the
result. Plaque, a thin coat of bacteria, accumulates on the
teeth, it progresses to tartar, leading to gum inflammation.
Bacteria also grows under the gum-line, causing gum
infection (gingivitis) which can lead to tooth loss if not
treated. Cats are prone to a specific type of dental problem
called a FORL (Feline Odonotocalstic Resorbptive Lesion).
This is equivalent to a cavity where the tooth decays at the
gum line.

SOLUTIONS

DENTAL DIET. Ensure that your dog eats a dry kibble with
larger pieces that have to be chewed. Some food companies
now produce specific dental diets which will lower tartar
buildup. They are more abrasive on the teeth and some
contain an enzyme which lowers tartar formation. These foods
are available at your local veterinarian.