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Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer than ever before. However, with this increased lifespan comes an increase in the types of ailments that can afflict senior pets. As pets reach their golden years, there are a variety of conditions and diseases that they can face, including weight and mobility problems, osteoarthritis, kidney, heart, and liver disease, tumors and cancers, hormone disorders (i.e., diabetes and thyroid imbalances), and many others.
Just as the health care needs of humans change as we age, the same applies to pets. It’s critical for pet owners to work closely with their veterinarian to devise a health care plan that is best for their senior pet.
When Does “Senior” Start?
So when is a pet considered a senior? Generally, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds, and cats live longer than dogs. Beyond that, the life span will vary with each individual, and your veterinarian will be able to help you determine what stage of life your furry friend is in. Keep in mind that some small-breed dogs and cats may be considered senior at 9-11 years, while giant breeds are classified as seniors at ages as young as five. Your veterinarian is your best source for more information to determine when your pet has reached the golden years.
Senior Health Exams
Scheduling regular veterinary examinations is one of the most important steps pet owners can take to keep their pets in tip-top shape. When dogs and cats enter the senior years, these health examinations are more important than ever. Senior care, which starts with a regular veterinary exam, is needed to catch and delay the onset or progress of disease and for the early detection of problems such as organ failure and osteoarthritis. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends that healthy senior dogs and cats visit the veterinarian every six months for a complete exam and laboratory testing. Keep in mind that every year for a dog or cat is equivalent to 5–7 human years. In order stay current with your senior pet’s health care, twice-a-year exams are a must.
During the senior health exam, your veterinarian will ask you a series of questions regarding any changes in your pet’s activity and behavior. The doctor will also conduct a complete examination of all of your pet’s body systems. Client education and laboratory testing are also key components of the senior exam.
The Effects of Aging – Sensory Changes
With the senior years come a general “slowing down” in pets. As their major senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell) dull, you may find that your pet has a slower response to general external stimuli. This loss of sensory perception often is a slow, progressive process, and it may even escape your notice. The best remedy for gradual sensory reduction is to keep your pet active - playing and training are excellent ways to keep their senses sharp.
Pets may also be affected mentally as they age. Just as aging humans begin to forget things and are more susceptible to mental conditions, your aging pet may also begin to confront age-related cognitive and behavior changes. Most of these changes are rather subtle and can be addressed in a proactive manner. Regular senior health exams can help catch and treat these problems before they control your pet’s life.
The Effects of Aging – Physical Changes
The physical changes your pets experience are generally easier to spot than the sensory changes. As the body wears out, its ability to respond to infection is reduced, and the healing process takes longer. Therefore, it is crucial to consult a veterinarian if you notice a significant change in behavior or the physical condition of your pet. Many of the signs indicating that animals are approaching senior citizenship are the same for both cats and dogs, but they can indicate a variety of different problems.
A very common and frustrating problem for aging pets is inappropriate elimination. The kidneys are one of the most common organ systems to wear out on a cat or dog, and as hormone imbalance affects the function of the kidneys, your once well-behaved pet may have trouble controlling his bathroom habits. If you are away all day, he may simply not be able to hold it any longer, or urine may dribble out while he sleeps at night. In addition, excessive urination or incontinence may be indicative of diabetes or kidney failure, both of which are treatable if caught early enough.
 Nutrition
Many older pets benefit from specially formulated food that is designed with older bodies in mind. Obesity in pets is often the result of reduced exercise and overfeeding and is a risk factor for problems such as arthritis and heart disease. Because older pets often have different nutritional requirements, these special foods can help keep your pet’s weight under control and reduce consumption of nutrients that are risk factors for the development of diseases, as well as organ- or age-related changes.
Exercise 
Exercise is yet another aspect of preventive geriatric care for your pets. You should definitely keep them going as they get older - if they are cooped up or kept lying down, their bodies will deteriorate much more quickly. You may want to ease up a bit on the type and amount of exercise with an arthritic or debilitated cat or dog. Otherwise, you should keep them as active - mentally and physically - as possible in order to keep them sharp and in shape.
Surgery for the Older Pet
In the event your veterinarian is considering surgery or any other procedure in which anesthesia is needed, special considerations are taken to help ensure the safety of your senior pet.
All Creatures Hospital, Inc. recommends all senior dogs and cats undergo the laboratory testing mentioned above, ideally within two weeks of any anesthetic procedure. A blood pressure evaluation and additional tests might also be recommended, depending on the individual pet. These screening tools can provide critical information to the health care team to help determine the proper anesthesia and medication protocol for your pet, as well as make you aware of any special risk factors that might be encountered.
Pain Management
Pets experience pain just like humans do, and AAHA recommends veterinarians take steps to identify, prevent, and minimize pain in all senior dogs and cats. These guidelines encourage veterinarians to use pain assessment as the fifth vital sign (along with temperature, pulse, respiration and body weight).
The different types of pain include: acute pain (which comes on suddenly as a result of an injury, surgery, or an infection) and chronic pain (which is long lasting and usually develops slowly, such as arthritis). You can play a key role in monitoring your pet to determine whether he suffers from pain.
To help ensure your pet lives comfortably during the senior life stage, it’s critical to work with your veterinarian to tailor a senior wellness plan that is best for your dog or cat. Be sure to monitor behavior and physical conditions and report anything unusual to your veterinarian, who can help your pet head into its senior years with ease.
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