What Should You Know About Caring for Older Pets?

What Should You Know About Caring for Older Pets?

Since you love your cats and dogs so much, you might not want to think about and acknowledge the possibility that they are aging and aging more quickly than you do. Unavoidably, they will age and have specific needs as senior dogs and cats, enabling them to live longer and in better health. Fortunately, you can do several things to promote the comfort of older pets. Additionally, pets live longer than ever because of veterinary medicine, nutrition, and senior pet care improvements.

Read on how you may support your senior pets as they age.

When Does a Pet Become “Old”?

Depending on the circumstance, cats are considered seniors at 11, and small dogs are typically considered seniors at 7. Bigger breed dogs often live shorter lives and are categorized as seniors when they reach the age of about 6 years.

Is Old Age a Disease?

By definition, old age is not a disease and does not cause death. Nevertheless, the concerns brought on by an aging body reduce the quality of life and even cause mortality. As the aging process is so complex, it can be challenging for the veterinary team to discern between changes brought on by age and those linked to prevalent medical disorders.

Things to Expect From Your Senior Pets

Pets’ biological systems, organs, and metabolism change as they age, creating health problems that necessitate vet treatment. With failing sight, hearing, taste, and smell senses with time, our cats’ and dogs’ senses will no longer be the same.

As pets age, their immune systems degrade, and they become more susceptible to illness. Increased thirst, hyperthyroidism, and excessive thyroid hormone secretion indicate kidney disease, which is common and frequently diagnosed.

Caring for Senior Dogs

Here are simple guidelines that you must go by to enable your dogs to live out the most fulfilling years of their lives in health and happiness.

Prevention

It might be best to have the dog in for checkups twice a year as they reach the age of seven because preventive medicine is built on identifying and treating illnesses early on. In addition to a general evaluation, this bi-annual checkup will involve blood, urine, and stool tests, a chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram, and dental examinations. Consider a trusted facility for your pet’s consultations; visit their site here.

Nutrition

Elderly animals must be given formulations made expressly for their age since they have unique nutritional needs. Less salt, more fiber, and proteins of higher quality are a few of them. Some nutrients must be decreased while others must be increased or upgraded in quality to provide adequate nourishment and a longer life span.

Hygiene

It’s critical to frequently brush and bathe your dog with particular dog products, take it on the right walks and exercise routines, and let him enjoy some fresh air and sunshine as part of good hygiene. Take them less frequently to the park and on the street as they age to prevent joint problems and early obesity.

Caring for Senior Cats

These straightforward rules must be followed if you want your cats to enjoy the best years of their lives in good health.

Routine Checkups

Senior cats should visit the veterinarian regularly to get checkups and ensure everything is okay. A twice-yearly trip to the veterinarian is a recommended preventive precaution once the cat starts to exhibit more pronounced age-related changes. Find more about senior health care on burbankpet.com.

Screening and Vaccinations

Senior cats should have blood tests to screen for hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancer, arthritis and other joint problems, feline dementia, and other cognitive diseases.

It is important to remember to vaccinate older cats because their body immune systems deteriorate over time. This is truer now than ever.

Physical Activities

Senior cats must keep up their active habit. Exercise is vital if they wish to retain a high quality of life. An active lifestyle will help elderly cats avoid or delay the onset of diseases like obesity or osteoarthritis, which are frequent in older cats.

Are Senior Pets Too Old for Surgeries?

Your pet is never “too old” to get the excellent care they need. Surgery may be necessary to control infection in bites and open wounds from fights. Ligament tears may necessitate surgery. Also, stabilizing damaged bones can require surgical resetting or metal plate insertion. In urgent situations, it is recommended that you take your pet to the veterinarian’s clinic as quickly as you can to avoid blood loss, infection, or other damage. Navigate this surgery page if you deem your pets need surgery.

Conclusion

As with people, aging is still something normal and anticipated, impacting your pet. It is necessary to realize that as they age, our animal friends will change from the youthful animals they were. Due to these changes, they will not only have more relaxed lifestyles and be less active but also require particular care and attention to make their lives simpler and more comfortable. With proper care, you may watch them evolve into adorable elderly dogs and cats.