The Geriatric Pet

By Gillian Ridgeway

As the median population is aging, the boomers are becoming increasingly aware of changes and concessions that should be made to ensure that this transition into their senior years is positive.

With this in mind, lets look at our senior pets. He may still love to chase his ball and seems quite active, but as he matures he will need special care. Most pets entering their seventh or eighth year should be considered a senior citizen, although this can vary from breed to breed. Paying special attention to his diet will be one of your main concerns. Choosing a lower protein food, or one that is specially formulated for older pets should help take the strain off the liver and kidneys. After all, although your pet is still active, you may have noticed that their down time is a little longer these days. They spend more hours napping so their body does not require the amount of protein that a youngster requires. The correct amount and type of protein is especially important for cats, so be sure to check with your Veterinarian before any diet switch.

You may find that the more gray hairs your pet has, the more finicky he is with his eating habits. He will not be requiring the amount of calories per day as he slows down, so he may just not be hungry. Still, keeping a close eye on his body weight and adjusting his diet accordingly is best. His ribs should have a slight covering of fat. Even though you do not want your pet to carry too much weight, one of the first indicators of disease is weight loss and so this should be closely monitored.

Up to this point your pet should have been seeing his Veterinarian for an annual physical exam. Now that he is a senior, this visit should be upped to twice a year. Your Vet may recommend blood work, a geriatric screen. Even if your pet appears healthy, this will keep you informed on how your pet is doing on the inside and make changes to his routine accordingly. There are many medications on the market to help your pet feel more comfortable at this stage of his life. Doing regular blood work will keep an accurate record of any changes and can assist in early detection of problems.

The way you interact with your pet may also need some adjustment. With his decreased eye sight and hearing you may find yourself becoming frustrated…especially when you call your dog and he seems to ignore you! He will thank you for your patience. Your pets failing eyesight may cause him some stresses and anxiety. Make any changes to your home slowly so your pet will have time to become acclimatized to anything new. Keep in mind that arthritis can make it more uncomfortable for your pet to be cradled in your arms, or to keep up on a long jog. Take advantage of all the new information available to pet owners. A supplement prescribed by your Vet may make all the difference to how he feels.

One of the most important weekly activities to do with your senior pet is a mini physical exam. Closely inspect your pet’s coat, skin, and teeth and report any changes or abnormalities to your Vet. Keep a close eye on lumps and bumps that change or grow. Your pets senior years can be some of the most gratifying. After all, we should both be more mellow, both understand one another after all this time, and the bond shared between senior pets and their people is unlike any other. Give a senior a hug!

Gillian Ridgeway, AHT, has worked with dogs for over 33 years. She is director of Who’s Walking Who in Toronto and Ajax. A consultant for TorontoBarks.com, Gillian also writes for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Dogs in Canada. She has appeared on Dogs in Canada TV, Global television, Q107 radio and in Toronto Life, and is co-author of the book, “Citizen Canine.” She travels with the Iams SuperDogs Performance team and teaches learning theory at University of Toronto. Gillian can be contacted at 416-465-3626; www.whoswalkingwho.net

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