Best twilight years

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE YOUR LOYAL, OLD DOG THE BEST TWILIGHT YEARS YOU CAN?

As our dogs start to get older, they move less and less. They stop playing, like they used to. They sleep more and more and we accept this. After all, it’s natural for our animal companions to slow down as they age, isn’t it? But can we do more to improve their quality of life in their twilight years? This article explores the causes of pain in our older animal companions, tells us how to identify some of the signs of pain, and what we can do to make our older dogs more comfortable.

WHO WE ARE

Animal Health and Hydro is a Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation facility with two branches, one on the East Rand and the other in Pretoria East. Animal Health and Hydro was started in 2009 by qualified Veterinarian Dr Tanya Grantham. For the past 12 years Dr Tanya, or Dr Tee as she is affectionately known, has invested significant time and energy into learning all she can about the methods that enhance the quality of life of in her patients by decreasing the pain they feel. She has an honest desire to help her animal patients to feel better and to provide information to pet parents, so that they are enabled and empowered when making decisions regarding the health and wellbeing of their animal companions.

NOTE: Dr Tanya tells us that conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, and old injuries flare up in the colder weather, resulting in an increase in patients seeking treatment at Animal Health and Hydro, once winter starts to set in. She tells us that it is well-documented that winter weather is associated with an increase in aches and pains. There has been an early start this year because of the wet weather we have experienced this past summer.

THE PROBLEM

Changes in behaviour are often seen as aging, and brushed off as, “the dog is getting older.” However, being aware of changes associated with pain in older dogs, and then acting to minimise the effects of pain, can create a cascade of events which actually improves the quality of life of the pet, and increases longevity. Dogs – particularly older dogs – often show pain in very subtle ways which can be misconstrued as normal signs of aging.

SIGNS OF PAIN

Dr Tee advises us to look out for any of the following signs of pain: limping, excessive grooming, heavy panting especially when the weather is not hot, an inability to get comfortable or pacing (usually at night), whining or whimpering and aggression or behavioural changes. Joint degradation occurs frequently in older dogs and the dog may be less mobile than usual, especially in the morning or after a long walk. There may be changes in weight. Weight gain may occur because the dog is less active or weight loss may be noticed because pain is suppressing the appetite. It is important to acknowledge the aging process because we then become receptive to adjusting lifestyles to achieve the best possible outcome.

WHAT WE CAN DO

Dr Tanya suggests that the following management and lifestyle changes be considered, so as to make your senior pet more comfortable.

Choose an appropriate diet, which is high quality and will help to maintain an ideal body weight. Weight gain can make it more difficult for your older dog to walk, stand, or jump, and reluctant to go on walks. Make it part of your geriatric check up to perform a body condition evaluation.

Add supplements to your senior dog’s diet. Consider fortifying your senior dog’s diet with fatty acids such as DHA and EPA. A glucosamine and chondroitin combination, although not clinically proven to reduce pain, does seem to improve mobility. Hyaluronic acid (HA) may also be used. Oral supplementation with HA increases synovial fluid viscosity, making movement smoother.

Exercise a senior dog regularly. This can help keep an older dog lean and maintain healthy joints and muscles. However, the program must be adjusted to meet the individual dog’s needs. Long and vigorous walks are almost guaranteed to make the dog sore and may speed up joint degradation, so it is best to go on multiple short walks instead. In this way, the muscles will stay strong and supple and appetite will be stimualted.

Improve accessibility and decrease stress factors. In the home this may take the form of a non-slip mat over the kitchen tiles, a ramp leading up to the bed or an orthopaedic bed if the dog does not sleep with you. A thick, warm bed provides a lot of joint support and comfort to an aching body. You must also protect your dog from weather extremes, and should avoid cold and wet weather. You need to provide ample and appropriate shelter during the day and consider bringing them in at night if not already doing so. Lift the dog into the car if he is struggling to jump in, or purchase a ramp to assist with this. We recommend buying a seat belt or harness for the car to limit the amount of balancing the old dog has to do when travelling.

Use supportive therapy for senior pets which can be used as an adjunct to conventional medicine. These therapies include therapeutic laser, acupuncture and physical modalities. Therapeutic laser reduces pain associated with inflammation. Acupuncture enhances blood flow and stimulates the release of endorphins, further assisting with pain management. Massage and heat are wonderful modalities to release tension from aching bodies. Hydrotherapy, whether in the form of warm water, buoyancy and the use of jets, or as a gentle controlled exercise will also improve mobility and muscular strength. The joints are not stressed yet hydrotherapy builds cardiovascular health and core strength.

There is much misinformation and misunderstanding of the nature of pain in our animal companions, the use of medication and their response to these medicines. Being aware of changes in your ageing pet, and understanding that there is much that can be done, will improve your animal companion’s quality of life in his twilight years. If you would like to know more Dr Tanya is running a 5 module online course called Dr Tee’s Pain Prevention Protocol, starting on the 17 May 2022, which can teach you more about giving your beloved companion the best twilight years possible.