REXANO Caring For Fluffy and Fido in Their Senior Years

Caring For Fluffy and Fido in Their Senior Years

Editorial By Raven Simons, December 2008

We all remember fondly when our pets were young and in their prime. Fido, the dog, fetched his Frisbee non-stop while Fluffy, the cat, chased her laser toy until she lay panting and worn out. Fluffy and Fido were energetic, healthy, easy to care for, and did not need extra effort or consideration. All we needed to do to achieve a healthy happy pet was feed, play with and love, take him/her in for annual exams and vaccinations, and provide the proper structure and socialization needed to get along in our family and human community.

What happens as Fido and Fluffy age? We may see a pet that is slowing down, sleeping more, playing less, and possibly developing health issues that are age related. How can we as pet owners help Fluffy and Fido enjoy their retirement?

Becoming educated on the realities of having an elderly pet is a good start. Issues that we might focus on are proper diet, reasonable activity level, and potential health issues. Awareness and observation are also important tools to use in assisting an elderly pet. When we practice awareness and observe our pets in action we can detect when there is a problem or when changes are needed.

A good example of observation and awareness is in the detection of pain. Cats in particular are very stoic when it comes to pain. This is a result of their evolutionary position of being prey as well as predator. A prey animal cannot afford to exhibit any signs of weakness. When we practice awareness and observation we can see that Fluffy flinches when she jumps from her cat tree. We then can take her to her veterinarian who can diagnose the problem and offer an appropriate remedy.

These skills are also critical when Fido begins to gain weight. There comes a time for the aging pet when changes in diet are important. Fido’s quality of life and longevity will decline if he is kept on the food of his youth and allowed to carry extra pounds. Our trusted veterinarian can advise us as to the proper diet and how to change from one diet to another. She/he can also give guidance on an appropriate exercise regimen.

Our veterinarian is our best friend when it comes to elderly pets. I personally have a cat vet, a dog vet, and a herp (reptile) vet. The clinic I go to also has a vet that specializes in surgery. The vets are also skilled in geriatric (elderly) animals. It is very important that aging pets are given annual examinations and appropriate tests, blood-work, and dental procedures. This helps our companion to have a comfortable life and allows our veterinarian to monitor the animals progress and condition.

Areas for pet owners to monitor are weight, pain, stress, changes in personality, breath quality (rotten breath could mean tooth decay), alertness, urination difficulties and frequency, water consumption (can indicate diabetes or other issues), hearing and sight changes, mobility, cognitive (mental) functions, muscle strength and co-ordination, activity levels, and food consumption. All of these areas can be important indicators of problems or needed changes.

When health problems happen we may need to alter our lifestyles or household accommodations. An elderly dog, or cat, with severe arthritis may need a pet ramp installed to help her/him to a couch, bed, or other resting place. A pet that has gone blind may need to have the furniture kept in the same place and all unfamiliar objects put away on a regular basis. Pets with cavities and tooth decay may need dental work. Animals that have certain health issues may need special medications on a regular schedule. Other handicaps caused by age may need a caregiver who resides in the home and can assist the special needs elderly pet.

Diet is a big concern. We may need to change our pet’s food to a formula calculated for the aging pet. Extra nutrients, pro-biotics, and ongoing awareness may become necessary. Pro-biotics are organisms that beneficially inhabit the digestive tracks of animals. Yogurt is an example of a pro-biotic that can help balance the digestive track of elderly animals.

When life threatening health issues occur we may need to evaluate the feasibility of interventive therapies such as insulin when a pet has been diagnosed with diabetes. Can we maintain the regimen of insulin treatment? How can we gauge when an animal has had too much insulin and is experiencing insulin shock? The diabetes questions are just an example of the questions we need to ask ourselves, and our vets, when determining to treat a condition that is ultimately fatal. We may need to administer various medications via a variety of methods to help our companions enjoy a good quality of life in their twilight years.

What happens when our aging pets are suffering and the situation does not improve? This is when we have a talk with our trusted veterinarian about helping our friend across the “Rainbow Bridge”. Compassionate euthanasia is sad for the entire family, yet sometimes the most kind solution. When we face this choice we can choose to be with our pet when the fatal injections are given. We can then have our pet cremated and hold a ceremony that honors our beloved companion.

Being a mom or dad to an aging pet offers the rich heritage of memories and love. Our senior pets are love angels. To those humans willing to learn, our pet senior citizens gift us a fountain of involvement and experience that teach us about the full lives which our companions have led. With love in our hearts, an adaptable and responsive lifestyle, and the understanding that older pets need a bit of patience and extra care, we can successfully offer our companions what we all might wish to have offered to us in our own twilight years.