O
ften the first sign of
ageing in our pets
is a general decrease
in activity levels, a
tendency to sleep longer
and a loss of interest in
the goings on in
the home. Senior
pets are more
susceptible to
health problems and
behavioral changes.
Digestion
can get
impaired in old age.
The diet should be light but nutritious.
Good quality senior foods are
recommended which contain the
correct nutritional contents to meet
the needs of the older pet.
Dental disease
affects around 85%
of dogs and cats over the age of
3 years. This disease is a very
underestimated and common disease
that can severely affect our pets
health and wellbeing. Not only
does it affect the mouth, the huge
quantities of bacteria found in plaque
and tartar can enter the blood stream
causing problems in the heart, lungs,
liver, kidneys and even the brain.
Arthritis
is another common problem
in senior pets. They can start to feel
stiff and suffer pain in their joints.
There are many products available
which can help. Don't accept painful
joints as part of ageing - let us help
you give your pet the quality of life
they deserve.
Heart and circulatory disease
Signs of
heart disease may include coughing,
lethargy and reluctance to exercise.
Good management and medicines
can slow the progression of cardiac
disease and give your pet a longer,
more comfortable life.
Thyroid disease
is common in older
cats. Weight loss but with and
enthusiastic appetite, hyperactivity
and a fast heart rate are all
symptoms. A simple blood test
can diagnose this condition.
Kidneys
are vital for life and kidney
failure is seen in as many as 18%
of the UK cat population. Kidney
disease is a slow process and early
detection will enable you pet to
receive diet or treatment to slow the
progression of the disease. Signs
include weight loss, lethargy,
increased drinking and urination,
vomiting and bad breath.
Diabetes
can give similar symptoms to
kidney problems. A urine test can
detect the first signs of diabetes and
a blood test can confirm the disease.
Diabetes cannot be cured but simple
routine and good management and
in some cases medication, will allow
your pet to continue his senior years
with very little change.
Growths
can appear on your pet as
they get older. Most of these lumps
are nothing to worry about but your
vet should be made aware of any
growths you find on your pet.
Sadly we cannot stop our pets from
getting older but pet owners can
delay the signs of ageing with good
management and regular health
checks. Make an appointment for
your senior pet health check up and
help your pal grow old gracefully.
by
Lindsay Grant,
Northvet Veterinary Group
Heart disease...
The heart consists of 4 chambers and 2 main pipes
(vessels), there are also valves to direct the blood
flow. Later in life heart disease can affect dogs and
cats due to a variety of reasons:
Types of heart disease
l
Valve disease
- often in older pets valves can
become diseased
l
Heart muscle disease
- often later in life the
muscle can start to fail (cardiomyopathy)
l
Rhythm changes
How do I know if my animal may have
heart disease?
There are various signs to look out for, although
these signs can also be due to other causes. It is
always best to contact your vet practice as soon
as you detect any problems.
Lethargy, slowing down on walks, coughing,
swollen abdomen - often due to fluid
accumulating, pale gums, collapse, lack
of appetite, breathing difficulties.
What your vet can do
Your vet will work with you and discuss the
history including the signs you have noticed, a
full clinical examination of the entire body is
very important, using a stethoscope to check
the heart. The vet will be able to check the heart
rate and rhythm, the pulse, and the chest. There
may be a murmur present (this is a change in the
heart sounds which can suggest heart disease).
Heart tests
Various tests are available including blood tests,
ultrasound scans, x rays, blood pressure,
electrocardiogram (ecg). The ecg is a piece of
equipment which checks the heart's rhythm (it
produces a graph on the screen or paper similar
to heart machines used in human hospitals).
From the tests the vet and owner can establish
what the cause of the heart problem is and also
use this information to decide on the best
treatment plans.
Treatment
It is very important that the vet and owner work
together to check that the daily routine is correct
in a dog with heart disease. The weight of the dog,
type of diet and type of exercise are all important.
Medicine is mainly in the form of tablets, they are
designed to work on the cardiac muscle, or the
vessels, diuretics are also used to remove fluid
which may accumulate in the abdomen or chest.
In some rare cases surgery is needed.
DID YOU KNOW...
The heart consists
of
4 chambers
and
2 main vessels
The heart functions as a pump
in the circulatory system, it helps to circulate blood firstly to the
lungs to receive oxygen. It then receives the blood back and pumps it around the rest of the body
to provide the organs with nutrients and energy.
by
Gary Jennings,
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
IS YOUR DOG OR CAT READY FOR ITS
MOT?
d Heart
ing
isease/
e Tolerance
Pressure
Skeletal and Muscles
Lameness/Stiffness
Muscle wastage
Abdomen
Pain/Discomfort
Abdominal lumps
Kidney Disease/
Increased thirst
Digestive Disorders