Extending Life Quality in Our Aging Pets
As we all grow older, we come to appreciate the effect of time on our bodies and mind: aches and pains from our joints, frequent bathroom trips, mental fatigue and forgetfulness are all familiar to the human aging experience. Our pets, like ourselves, are sadly not immune to age and may grow to experience these same kinds of problems. Having an awareness of age-related problems and knowing the steps to take to slow and improve the aging process can allow us to accomplish some amazing results in longevity and quality for our pet companions.
The first and most important piece of advice is to be proactive. Being aware of potential problems brewing in your pet before they become clinical is key to extending their lives. This is accomplished by doing regular blood screens and watching for trends that point to organ fatigue. The newer blood tests can even pick up very early damage to the liver, kidney, and heart, catching issues way before outward clinical signs would occur. This knowledge can allow early treatments that can halt and even reverse damage. Routine blood pressure screening and new imaging techniques can also show us hidden dangers in our older pets such as high blood pressure and tumors that, if left unaddressed, can lead to organ damage and even death. Finally, touching your older pet every day and being mindful of any bumps or a change in coat or body condition can also be critical in detecting problems early.
Along with early detection, disease prevention is just as important as our pets age. Preventing age related disease through physical fitness, body condition, and proper nutrition is critical in preserving our companion’s physical and mental health well into their golden years. An inability to walk has historically been a common reason for the consideration of euthanasia in larger pets. Preserving mobility is therefore key to these patient’s longevity. Daily exercise through walking, swimming, and playing with toys is a vital habit to start while they’re young and keep up with as they age. Pets may start to slow down as they experience age related joint pain – using nutritional supplements to lubricate the joints can help prevent arthritis and stave off the pain. Newer advancements in arthritis treatments such as cold laser therapy, PRP injections, stem cell therapy, and monoclonal antibody injections for pain have been amazingly effective in keeping older pets active and pain free. Keeping their weight down is also critical.
Finally, cognitive decline is something we are all concerned about in ourselves and in our four-legged children. Recent advancements in medical and nutritional therapy for senility in our senior pets can halt and even reverse mental disease. Stay alert for signs of mental decline such as sleeplessness, confusion, soiling in the house, and forgetting which doors to approach are all clues of cognitive issues. Don’t accept this as normal behavior; let your veterinarian know about these changes so that treatment plans can be started.
We share our lives with our pet companions and as we both grow old together it is our obligation as good pet parents to extend their quality of life in both body and mind. Fortunately, we now have options available to truly make a difference.
For more information, please call 813-723-PAWS (7297) or visit CaringPawsAnimalHospital.com.
