Eating and Drinking
Changes in
thirst and appetite are two areas that your vet will only know
about if you report them. While some animals will get more fussy and
others become less finicky as part of the general aging process, these things
can also be an early marker for some disease problems. For example, a
relatively common problem in older cats is
hyperthyroidism. These cats
will often be ravenous and eat very well but
lose weight. Early treatment
can save many complications. A
very thirsty dog might have a number of
problems, including diseases such as
diabetes or
kidney problems. So keep
an eye on your older dog or cat's eating and drinking habits and report any
changes to your vet.
Reduction in taste and smell sensations can contribute to
poor appetites in
older pets. Dividing the recommended daily feed amount into several small
meals a day, warming the food and hand feeding some of the ration can
help to keep the calorie intake up to normal.
Sight
Age can be associated with a loss of sensory capacity. Many animals
will cope very well with being
blind if they are in a familiar
environment and the problem has developed slowly. Blindness
that occurs suddenly can be more difficult for a dog or
cat, as they have less time to adjust to vision loss. Providing
certain scents to indicate particular environmental
features can assist these pets.
For instance, a dot of lemon essence could be placed at the top of any stairs, a dot of eucalyptus oil
adjacent to large pieces of furniture and so forth. If your pet needs to adjust
to a new environment, then consider padding sharp protuberances in the
short term, to reduce the risk of injury. Members of the household might
choose to wear a bell so that the dog can track them in the household
more effectively. Some
eye problems can be painful and cause your pet to
become
depressed or
aggressive. Be sure to have an
eye examination by
your vet if you have any concerns about your pet's vision.
Hearing
Deafness is a common problem for elderly dogs and cats. Sensitivity to
certain pitches is often lost first. For this reason, it can be worth trying
devices such as whistles, to attract attention if your pet fails to respond to
your voice. Hearing may be lost on one side more than the other. This can
result in your pet having difficulty in detecting where the noise has come
from. Obviously, keeping your dog leashed on walks, taking extra care
that your pet is not laying in the driveway when you come home (as he
won't hear your arrival) and taking care not to startle them when asleep
will reduce the risk of problems.
Deaf dogs can be taught to respond to
hand signals and tossing an item such as a small beanbag can gain the
dog's attention. The dog can learn that whenever she sees a beanbag,
she should look for you and a reward will be forthcoming. There are also
owner-operated vibrating collars available. Dogs can be taught to look
for their owner and then follow any hand signal given, at the feel of the
harmless vibration. Obviously this relies on the dog having a reasonable
sense of vision!
Older dogs that have no problems with their hearing may develop a
fear of certain noises.
Thunderstorms and
fireworks are two of the more
common sound
phobias that may arise. The use of a CD of these noises
(available from vets) and
medications can be an important part of reducing
the stress for your dog. However, growing older isn't all bad news.
One benefit of becoming deaf is that some dogs, who have had difficulty
with these noises in the past, now sleep through them blissfully unaware
of any potential for stress!
Mobility Problems
Arthritis and other
musculoskeletal problems can make it difficult for
your pet to bound up those steps or jump on the couch the way he used
to. Providing a step or two can help your cat to find that sunny spot he
has always enjoyed.
Ramps can be a great help for dogs who are having
difficulty traversing up and down steps.
Slippery floors such as polished
boards or vinyl can also be like a skating rink for old, tired legs. Non-slip
rubber runners can provide safe, secure footing. Elderly pets will often feel
much more settled when settled down closely to their owner. They will
be much less stressed if they don't have to traverse a slippery, frightening
surface to reach you!
Slowing down for any reason means that your pet will be burning less
fuel each day. This can predispose to
obesity, which may exacerbate the
initiating problem. Short periods of gentle exercise will help keep your
pet interested in life and keep the heart and joints healthy.
Swimming
can be wonderful if your dog enjoys it. Only do as much exercise as your
pet enjoys. Allow plenty of time to sniff the daisies. You wouldn't drag
Grandma along at a pace she would struggle to cope with – so be sure not
to do the same with your elderly canine companion. It's meant to be fun
for both of you!
Providing additional warmth with
wheat packs or
heat pads,
massage
and appropriate
medications can be beneficial for weary bodies running
at a lower metabolic rate. Moving the heat pad around and hiding small
amounts of dry food around the house are ways to encourage exercise in
some feline couch potatoes.
There are many options to assist with the management of
arthritis in
both dogs and cats. If your pet is showing signs of
joint pain and
mobility
problems, consult your vet about a treatment regime that can be tailored
specifically for it.
Senility
It is now recognised that as dogs and cats age, some will develop problems
that are analogous to
dementia in people. This can result in some of the
following symptoms: a
reduced interest in interacting with owners and
life in general, a
loss of toilet training,
reduced appetite,
periods of staring
into space,
wandering aimlessly or
vocalising for no apparent reason and
disrupted sleep patterns. These problems can impact severely on their
quality of life. There are now
medications available that can help to reduce
these symptoms for many pets. It is important that owners recognise these
symptoms as
senility in their pet, rather than the normal process of aging.
Toileting Problems
Physical disorders can cause problems with toileting. Any disease that
causes
increased thirst and
urination or
tummy upsets can increase the
chance of your pet soiling indoors. A thorough physical exam is a good
starting point if your pet is having accidents. Some problems can be treated
easily. For instance, incontinence can be resolved in some instances by
giving a medication every now and again. Others can be more involved,
so have a chat with your vet.
Make allowances for any
physical limitations your pet may have. A pet with
kidney problems may need to urinate through the night, so providing a dog
door or extra kitty litter might be appropriate. A dog with
severe arthritis
may have difficulty making it outside in time, shifting her
bed closer to an exit door or somewhere with fewer steps
might help. You know your pet better than anyone. Take
a walk in their paws and set them up to be able to toilet
appropriately whenever possible.