AGING IS NOT A DISEASE!

AGING IS NOT A DISEASE!

Just like humans, pets are living longer thanks to scientific research into aging. The key to keeping your pets in good nick for longer is simple: diet, exercise and regular vet check-ups for vaccinations, worming and to diagnose disease early on.

We caught up with Dr Rebecca Welsh of Toowoomba Veterinary Hospital to talk about how we can understand and look after our aging cats and dogs.

WHAT IS A SENIOR PET?

Small dogs – over 10 years old Large dogs – over 8 years old Cats – over 12 years old Cats and some small dogs can live to be 15 years and more! Rebecca says as long as animals have quality of life, age is no barrier.

DENTAL DISEASE

Dental health is a constant battle for small dogs and it starts from when they are puppies. Rebecca says that around 80% of dogs they see at Toowoomba Veterinary Hospital have some dental disease. “The problem is that dental disease doesn’t just affect teeth,” she said. “It can lead to health problems elsewhere in the body, such as the heart and kidney.”

“Start good dental hygiene from the getgo – when your pet is still a baby. And make sure they chew on dental chews like Greenies and Oravet. Bones from the butcher can help but we do find some animals chip their teeth on tough bones. “Most importantly, don’t feed your pets people food – and no matter how big those pleading eyes get, never feed them sweets!”

DIET

Pet food is scientifically formulated to provide a complete and balanced diet. Rebecca advises a high-quality brand of pet food such as Hills or Royal Canin. Choose the right food for your pet’s needs ie puppy, working dog, senior, delicate tummy, dental disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.

ARTHRITIS

Stiff joints can limit your pet’s daily routine so follow Rebecca’s advice to keep your pet safe and healthy:

► Keep pet within healthy weight range

► Ensure regular gentle exercise - walk on the grass instead of concrete.

► Ask your vet about joint supplements for animals, arthritis injections, anti-inflammatory, acupuncture and physiotherapy.

TYPICAL SIGNS OF AGING

Eyes - Thankfully dogs rely on their sense of smell more than their eyes but when their vision starts to go, they can injure themselves by walking into doors or tripping down stairs. It is important to get your pets eyes checked by a veterinarian as there are some diseases that can cause vision loss, for example cataracts in dogs with diabetes.

► Don’t move the furniture too often as they rely on familiar surroundings.

► Leave lights on during the night.

► Keep pathways clear.

► Watch them and help them through doorways and especially up and down stairs

HEARING

When a pet is deaf, we need to change our behaviour to help them. Deafness can be a normal part of aging but it is always a good idea to ask the vet to examine your pets ears if you are concerned.

► Sometimes they can hear a loud bell or a gong to get their attention

► Or you can wave at them, shine a torch

► They may not come to you anymore; you’ll have to go to them

► Be extra careful around traffic which they may not hear

DEMENTIA AND LOSS OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Rebecca says doggy dementia can be hard to define so it’s important to rule out medical conditions that might be causing unusual behaviour such as pain or Cushing’s Disease. Symptoms of dementia can include night terrors – when the pet wakes up in the dark, “lost” and panics; pacing or standing still in a corner; being overly anxious when alone; toileting in the house. The main treatment for doggy dementia is lots of love, but there are some medications and diets that can help. Ask your Vet about options for your individual pet.

INCONTINENCE

You don’t have to live with this! Ask your vet about a strategy which might include medication, stay-dry mats, special bedding and training.

MOBILE VET

Visits to the Vet can be stressful for some animals and especially older cats and dogs. To address this Toowoomba Veterinary Hospital have introduced a weekly mobile service which offers vaccinations, senior health assessments and dental check-ups. If an animal needs further tests, then they will be encouraged to visit the clinic or we can potentially collect them for procedures such as dentals.