Like us, older pets suffer more health issues than younger pets. It’s important to pay close attention as they get age because most pets don’t show signs of many diseases until very late, making treatment less successful and more expensive.
As pets age they suffer a range of diseases influenced by their genes, diet, the environment and the degree of preventive care they’ve received since puppy or kitten-hood. Remember, that for every one human year, pets age by seven.
Like humans, older pets suffer more ailments
Catching early signs of age-related disease will help you make the lifestyle changes necessary to add years to your pet’s life so look out for the following symptoms:
Symptoms of ageing
• difficulty climbing stairs
• difficulty jumping up
• increased stiffness or limping
• loss of housetraining
• drinking more water than normal
• passing urine more often than normal
• lethargy
• panting excessively
• shaking or trembling
• less interaction with the family
• changes in behaviour (excessive barking or confusion)
• changes in sleep patterns
• eating more or less
• bad breath
• changes in weight
Change their diets as they age. Older pets need fewer calories
Some common diseases of older pets include: dental disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (cats), hypothyroidism (dogs), kidney and liver insufficiency, heart disease, arthritis, vision loss, cancer, senility and obesity.
Helping your older pet
- Senior pets should have check-ups at least twice a year. By diagnosing and treating problems earlier, we may be able to slow the disease process and prevent pain and discomfort.
- Have your pet spayed or neutered: 50% of unspayed dogs develop breast tumours by age 10 and uncastrated males can develop prostate, anal and testicular problems.
- Clean your pets’ teeth. Teeth them about teeth cleaning from an early age and they’ll learn to enjoy it. Remember though to use pets’ only toothpaste!
- Change their diet. Older animals have different nutritional requirements; they should consume fewer calories as they are less active and have fewer energy needs. Having an overweight older animal increases the risk of diseases like arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Older pets may be lethargic and need to rest more
What people may pass off as just ‘getting old’ can actually be symptoms of a treatable disease. Please remember to take your older pets to the vet so they have a good quality of life as they get older rather than suffering in silence.
