Are your pets aging? Here are signs you should look out for | Pet Peeves
Dear readers,
The aging of a beloved pet can creep up on us. Suddenly that little puppy is 10 years old or more. Don’t miss the signs of aging.
Hearing may not be as acute in the older pet. In fact, pets often just go deaf "suddenly." It isn’t really sudden but it seems that way because our pets hide their hearing loss until they cannot hide it anymore. Visitors get all the way to the door before your dog begins to bark, or they do not hear you call them for dinner. Unless your pet’s hearing loss is related to a severe ear infection (which is rarely ever the case) there is not anything to be done for it. Hearing loss is just part of the aging process.
Vision can become a problem as the eyes age and cataracts form. The lens of the eye begins to cloud and form visible cataracts as early as seven years of age. It does vary and some dogs are much older when cataracts become a problem. Pets may have trouble recognizing you until you get close to them or they hear your voice. It is best to move slowly as you approach the animal that can’t see well and speak up so that they know it is you. When pets don’t see well, being outside is dangerous. Be sure you are with them when they go out or limit the time they are outside.
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As pets age they become slower to rise, or they become unsteady on their feet. This is often the beginning signs of arthritis. If at all possible, by the time your dog is seven years old get your pet started on some form of joint supplement. Don’t mistake CBD oil for a joint supplement. Joint supplements contain several vitamins as well as antioxidants and glucosamines and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). A few good choices are Dasuquin, Glycoflex, Phycox or Cosequin.
If arthritis pain is causing your pet discomfort, your veterinarian can help you choose a good pain medication. Many of these pain medicines are NSAIDs. NSAID stands for Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatories. These drugs are in the same category as our aspirin and ibuprofen, but they are made for dogs and are safer.
As pets age, their liver and kidneys often begin to have compromised function. If your pet has been diagnosed with liver or kidney disease, NSAIDs would not be a good choice for pain control. There are alternatives such as gabapentin and tramadol that are safe for the older pet.
Adequan is another treatment for arthritis. It is an injection that is given weekly for six weeks then it is given once a month. It aids in joint lubrication and healing. Adequan is very safe and can be given to pets with liver or kidney concerns.
How will you know that your pet has problems with its kidneys or liver? Blood work can give you the heads up if your pet is having a problem.
It is recommended that any dog or cat over seven years old get a wellness profile. Wellness blood work evaluates a wide range of values including liver, kidney, blood sugar and thyroid.
Blood work can pick up problems early when they are more likely to be treatable. A good time to get this blood work is at your annual appointment. If it is not offered to you, you can request that it be done. If blood work indicates there is a problem of any kind, a plan can be put together to help your older pet live its best life.
Finally, as pets age, there can be signs of cognitive disfunction. Some pets no longer sleep well and may pace around the house and act agitated. If other conditions are ruled out, there are medications that can help calm the pet so that it sleeps better at night.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Signs a pet is aging and how to best support them | Pet Peeves
